Is Voting For A Third Party A Wasted Vote?

[EmilyAlexandra]

The only “wasted” vote is a vote given to the anti-catholic, pro atheist, pro satan, anti woman, anti minority, pro death democratic platform.

I think you would have a hard time justifying any of those allegations.

• Anti-Catholic: Joe Biden is a Catholic. He may not be the most orthodox Catholic in your opinion, but he is not anti-Catholic.
• Pro-atheist: Kamala Harris is a Baptist. Neither she nor Biden are pro-atheist. The United States has strict separation of religion and state enshrined in the Constitution. The government cannot take a position on the existence of God.
• Pro-Satan: Come on, surely you’re just being silly now.
• Anti-woman: The Democratic Party was the first major political party in the US to have a female candidate for vice president and is the only major political party to have a female candidate for president. Have you heard how Biden talks about his two wives? Have you heard how Trump talks about women?
• Anti-minority: Biden has promised to seek justice for Jacob Blake.
• Pro-death: Pro legal abortion, yes. That is the only shred of truth in what you say.

 

[OraProNobis333]

Let’s clarify here:

Anti-Catholic: Joe Biden may be Catholic by virtue of his Baptism, but his policies and positions in civil society represent an attack on Catholic values, the faith, and the Church itself.
Pro-Atheist: Kind of ties in to the first. The Biden-Kamala administration will seek to suppress freedom of religion, removing religious exemptions from morally suspect laws. We will see more religious institutions (hospitals, schools, etc) being forced to hire people practicing sinful lifestyle choices, forced to hire and use “preferred pronouns” even when it contradicts a persons God given identity, etc.
Pro-Satan: Not really being silly. The democratic platform booed God more than once at their conventions. If they are no “for” God, they are against God. And to be against God is to be for Satan, directly or indirectly.
Anti-Woman: The democratic party has never been pro-woman. The fact they have women in leading roles is great but does not mitigate their policies that advocate for abortion, contraception and other things that lead to the denigration and objectification of women.
Anti-Minority: Look at any and all democratic cities and see how well the minority communities are doing under Democratic leadership. And as for Jacob Blake, what justice is required? Have you not seen the video of him fighting with two police officers? Did you not know that he had a knife? Since when is shooting someone who is an active threat to society something that requires justice?
Pro-Death: They are not just pro abortion. They are pro euthanasia. And look at the horrible effect that has had. There are cancer patients who are being terminally diagnosed who want to fight the cancer and buy as much time as they can, to be with their loved ones and come to peace with their impending death. And now, thanks to the wonderful gift of Euthanasia from the Democrats, insurance companies are saying, “No. We won’t cover these expensive treatments. But we will cover this pill/injection that will take your life. It will only cost you a few dollars out of pocket.”

 

[Shakuhachi]

Pro-Satan: Not really being silly. The democratic platform booed God more than once at their conventions. If they are no “for” God, they are against God. And to be against God is to be for Satan, directly or indirectly.

This entire “God” issue is sacraligeous. First off, whose “God”? Christian?, Jewish?, Muslim? Hindu? we are a pluralist nation and need to day that way.

Second, even within the Christian tradition there is so much diversity on beliefs and practices that we need to stay clear of imposing any particular group.

That is not to say we cannot have moral laws based on beliefs as long as we can also defend them with logic.

There is a difference between being against “God” as a religious cudgel and being against God as a supreme being. Mostly what is argued about is an idol or image or personal preference of God.

 

[OraProNobis333]

There is only one Truth. Societies have a moral obligation to defend and promote Truth. There is no moral reason to defend false religions.

 

[Shakuhachi]

So the United States has a moral obligation to defend Catholic teaching?

I don’t think so.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s pretty obvious from the many, many threads on here that some Catholics think Biden/ Dems are immoral, other Catholics think Trump/ Repubs are immoral, and those who take such views are not going to be talked out of their respective positions. At this point it seems fruitless to even bother to discuss. If you want to think either Biden or Trump is in league with Satan, feel free.

Everybody just go to the polls or the ballot box or the post office, vote for who you want, and thank God we live in a free country that allows us all to do our voting in secret so we don’t have to worry about our neighbors, our fellow parishioners, or anyone else giving us a hassle about it.

 

[OraProNobis333]

In God’s eyes, every nation has that obligation. Man made law does not trump God’s law.

 

[Shakuhachi]

Every nation has an obligation to defend Catholic teaching?

 

[Montrose]

Is voting for a third party in United States elections a wasted vote? What if a third party is the only way that you can vote without violating your conscience?

You can not vote or spoil your vote.

 

[bob4]

In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. “People in every nation enhance the social dimension of their lives by acting as committed and responsible citizens” ( Evangelii Gaudium , no. 220). The obligation to participate in political life is rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person. . . . As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life” (nos. 1913-1915).

 

[StudentMI]

It’s pretty obvious from the many, many threads on here that some Catholics think Biden/ Dems are immoral, other Catholics think Trump/ Repubs are immoral, and those who take such views are not going to be talked out of their respective positions. At this point it seems fruitless to even bother to discuss. If you want to think either Biden or Trump is in league with Satan, feel free.

What’s that line from Waiting for Godot?

“Nothing to be done.”
“I’m beginning to come 'round to that opinion.”

 

[ioannes_pius]

You’re not obliged to vote contrary to what we’ve been propagandized with since infancy.

Pope Pius XII appears to disagree:

Catholic organizations are conspicuous only by their absence. Consequently, there is a heavy responsibility on everyone, man or woman, who has the right to vote, especially when the interests of religion are at stake; abstention in this case is in itself, it should be thoroughly understood, a grave and a fatal sin of omission. On the contrary, to exercise, and exercise well, one’s right to vote is to work effectively for the true good of the people, as loyal defenders of the cause of God and of the Church.

(Papal Directives for the Woman of Today, 1947, my emphasis)

 

[Grigsby]

Brother, vote as befits your conscience, as is your duty. Never let anyone berate you into “tactical” voting. The two established parties have no right to your vote.

 

[Lucy_1]

Because is the way the US system is set up, then yes—a third party vote is a wasted vote.

I’m not telling you what to do. I’m just answering the thread title

I think this depends on what a vote is for. Is it better to vote for the least (though very) objectionable candidate, or is it better to vote for someone who aligns with Catholic values even though he won’t win? This is what I’m really struggling with.

Knowingly throwing away a vote to combat that kind of evil would constitute a sin of omission.

But how can it be a sin of omission because you are trying to elect a candidate with moral policies? I’m not culpable for how the election turns out. In fact you could argue that people who are voting for the “lesser of two evils” instead of voting for someone who aligns with Catholic values are committing a sin of omission. (Not that I’m arguing that)

However, Alabama is not a “battleground state”; it is sufficiently red that the Democratic presidential ticket has no chance of winning.

Would you vote for Trump if it was a battleground state?

 

[DaveBj]

Would you vote for Trump if it was a battleground state?

If the polling was close in Alabama, then yes, I would vote for Trump. Once again I would be holding my nose; I really dislike him as a person, but he’s by far a better choice than anyone on the Democrats’ long list.

D

 

[spruce]

In our day, many Catholic’s consciences have led to relativism which is diabolical.

I agree. Relativism is diabolical. I have not seen anywhere in this post where you have said that some Catholics are diabolical. It’s an important differentiation, relativism vs. people.

 

[Shakuhachi]

Considering the way electoral college works, it may be a waste.