Question about voting issue

[Bluebright]

I understand how you feel I dont have an interest in politics either. For me it is mostly because I dont understand a single bit of it, partly because I am a foreigner and I never learnt the basics of the government in school and partly because I got ill and find it really difficult to learn new things. But the church requires us as citizens in a free country to make an effort to learn something about political parties so that we are at least informed enough to vote. It’s a little easier these days as summaries can be found online about most parties and what they stand for. That might suit your social anxiety as you can read a summary of each party in the comfort of your own home? also they may post them through your letter box or put up leaflets in local community centres or libraries where you can take a copy and read what each one is about. I know it is very very boring, but it is really the only way to make an informed decision. Your church can usually provide a guideline of what things to look out for such as supporting the poor and disabled, supporting climate change etc. If your church has no such thing, then look on your dioceses website or failing that use the corporal and spiritual works of mercy as your guideline. God bless you, I feel your pain, we just had a vote too and I go through the same stress as I find politics tedious and unfathomable too.

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

Okay. Wow. Fair enough.
Imma see if I can delete my comment.

 

[sebo3e]

I meant i never ever voted in my life i maybe know this but i dont know how other things works hope misunderstanding is cleared

 

[sebo3e]

Thanks alot for understanding but sadly i am not shure if we have such a thing but i really aprishiate this thanks again and yeah sigh now i dont know what to do enymore

plus i am not even shure for whu to vote if i ever vote because we already many support anti christian values i know there s some third party i can vote but you know what s weird i never voted so this is all new to me

 

[Elf01]

Thanks alot for understanding but sadly i am not shure if we have such a thing but i really aprishiate this thanks again and yeah sigh now i dont know what to do enymore

plus i am not even shure for whu to vote if i ever vote because we already many support anti christian values i know there s some third party i can vote but you know what s weird i never voted so this is all new to me

The main thing is to find the candidate or party that best aligns with your values and vote for them.

Second, when you get to choose candidates in party lists, you get more chances for “tactical voting”. For example, you can vote for a party list and a specific candidate in that list specifically to show support, to encourage him, to encourage the party to move closer to his position.

Exactly. If there are multiple candidates for a party you can also send a message by not having another candidate from the party as your next preference.

 

[sebo3e]

yeah but sadly i need to go with someone else example my dad but doubt enyone wants but i can try i am afraid to go by my self because of fear social anxiety etc it s hard and big pressure if you dont get what s that

social anxiety is fear of group of people so when i am near around group and journalist there etc i start to shake and this is big pressure that s why maybe someone if go with me can help but if not its questionable if i can go

 

[pnewton]

I think the person is trying to follow Catholic teaching though, and this is something that the Catholic Church (and no court) has said.

How is it moral to choose evil?

The dilemma is addresses in the USCCB’s Faithful Citizenship. Paragraph 36 even says that a voter may decide not to vote, though calls this an extraordinary step.

 

[sebo3e]

i am really sad now because i dont know where to go to vote because i dont go out at all much plus i whould need tomsone to guide me but nobody wants to show its messed up whould you pray for my family please that help me?
but that s done in reality not on forum

 

[spiderweb]

Wrong. The Catechism (CCC 2240) in the section on “Duties of Citizens” says voting is “morally obligatory”:

[2240] Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote , and to defend one’s country.

“To exercise the right to vote”, does not say that one is required to vote. As I also stated in a slightly later post: “It is possible that not voting could be a sin of omission. For example: not long ago in Ireland it was voted to legalize abortion. Not voting against that was sinful as an act of omission.”

I also stated in that same post: “If you are required to vote by law, then it would be sinful because it would be disobedience to civil authority”.

If you do not support any candidate especially for their moral stance, we are not required to just go and vote for a right-in candidate because the Church requires that we show up. You can also exercise your right to vote by not voting period. We do this all the time in other areas such as boycotts.

In some countries, you are required by law to vote. This is not the case in most places, and the Church does not require it if it is not obligatory by law. And many issues are not as clear cut morally as the abortion bill.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Sounds like you’re going through a lot of twisty verbal machinations because you don’t want to admit the Catechism says it’s a moral obligation.

“Moral Obligation” is pretty clear to me. Two words vs. four complicated paragraphs from a stranger on the Internet. I’ll go with the Catechism, thanks. Not voting without a really good excuse is sinful.

 

[sebo3e]

Is this legit excuse

I have social anxiety where i fear people if i example came near tons of people i whould shake so bad that everyone whould see me weird way and also not shure where you go vote as well but shure if someone go with me that whould help but i am not shure if that s ok if you get me? plus another problem is

I dont know the candiates that very well even so i saw on tv whu is for what and so on but still there s still some things i do not know enough if you get me sometimes i dont really follow politicans so its hard to make a choice here did you come to such problem before to?

plus every portal i readed use catechism to and call it sin of omisson thing but in our country isnt really obligation to vote just by your own will so not shure what to think if you get me

I know i have a choice to get huminlated for showing my disorder to everyone and vote
or stay home and do nothing and worrying i know its weird and feel guilty for not going when i dont know candiates so well maybe i know one but still

And last thing i forgot to say to be honest if i never had this disorder anxiety ocd ptsd things it whould be so easyer for me i could go out withoud fear vote withoud fear doing everything else!!! but sadly it is how it is i cant change that

 

[spiderweb]

or write-in, or vote for all other issues and people on the ballot besides the one problematic race, but you are morally obligated to vote and not just sit home on your tuchis.

You are making an exception to what you claim we are morally obligated to do. If I am not mistaken, this is the Universal Catechism for Catholics in all Countries. There are places where a person is required to vote by civil law and we would be obligated to obey those laws.

The point of paragraphs 2238-2243 is to obey civil authority in the interest of the common good. If you believe you are required by the Church to vote, then do so.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

If you have a legitimate mental illness that keeps you from being able to meet your moral obligations, then that means you aren’t making a free-will choice. In that case you would have a responsibility to seek proper treatment for your illness and whatever help you need so you can function as a member of society. I would also suggest that if you are this unwell, it is probably interfering with many areas of your life and you should be talking to your doctor and to a priest and not asking us here on the Internet. We are not permitted to give medical advice.

 

[spiderweb]

Talk to your parish priest. Tell him everything including the ocd ptsd, and then just be obedient to his answer in good conscience either way. If you don’t like his answer, just except it as penance for yourself or offer it up for another, then be at peace.

 

[sebo3e]

yeah that s good idea so i should talk to a priest about this not shure how it whould react i am afraid that i could get judged or laughted you know or priest have respect? i noticed church do have alot times stigma to here and there noticed that

plus i never been to doctor to diagnoze my mental disorder but i know i have it from learning on the internet by watching my self i do since i was a child i had ocd obessive compulsive disorder and anxiety came from my trauma experience in shcool from being abused with ptsd then got worse now

now i fear everything and shake hardly go out depend on others so on sadly cant go to doctor no job no health insurance sadly i depend on my parents i feel like i am a mess you know? like a person whu is lost in the desert dont know what to do whu need help but nobody support and doctors are xpensive that s why i am here to ask for ehlp i readed good articles but still hope prayer can help i belvie it can

 

[sebo3e]

I understand does that mean i better not take communion because of my fear wont go to ellections tummorow?

plus its hard to talk about this issue because of stigma and you know when there s many people around need privacy a bit dont want that everyone find out i have mental disorder i am not even shure what can happen can i get huminlated if i tell priest?

 

[spiderweb]

I understand does that mean i better not take communion because of my fear wont go to ellections tummorow?

I’m sorry, I can’t give you an answer on that, because it would only be my opinion. The sooner you talk to the priest the better. Ask for a private meeting or at least a private phone conversation. I think you will be surprised at how understanding and compassionate and ultimately helpful he could be for you. Far better than any of us can do through this forum. Say a prayer, know that Jesus is with you, and trust that it will be ok. Easier said than done, I know. Try to have Faith.

 

[sebo3e]

I understand do you think i should take a risk and force my self to do this or maybe force my self to go vote?

 

[spiderweb]

Forcing yourself to go vote would be like torturing yourself, but it doesn’t help the situation in the long run. Talking to the priest may be more difficult to do, but it could help the social anxiety and other things down the road as well.

 

[sebo3e]

yeah that s great so i should try and talk to priest i guess and avoid forcing my self

also i best ask him when everyone go out right because i dont like when many people are around and listen moustly when its about disorder stigmatization and that s great idea what you told me i can try to pray that i can tell priest everything withoud fear