Should you confess this?

[Mattjolley]

Me and my younger brother were discussing this at the table today; in light of the european elections that occurred today (yesterday now technically) if one voted for a questionable party such as the British National Party, should this be considered as a sin? My answer was not to mix politics and religion, haha. Well, so long as the party wasn’t openly anti-catholic in its agenda. What do you all think?

For the record niether of us voted for that odious organisation!

Matt

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Me and my younger brother were discussing this at the table today; in light of the european elections that occurred today (yesterday now technically) if one voted for a questionable party such as the British National Party, should this be considered as a sin? My answer was not to mix politics and religion, haha. Well, so long as the party wasn’t openly anti-catholic in its agenda. What do you all think?

For the record niether of us voted for that odious organisation!

Matt

All Catholics are required to always exercise their moral conscience, in all matter of everyday life.

The sinfulness of the voting choice would depend on the reason that vote was cast the way it was.

 

[Mattjolley]

So if one felt they were voting for the right reasons, I.E, the party of choice was the right one for their country, and not driven by other, more sinful motives, then its alright?

As you can see we failed to develop an answer between ourselves, so thanks for the help!

Matt

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

So if one felt they were voting for the right reasons, I.E, the party of choice was the right one for their country, and not driven by other, more sinful motives, then its alright?

As you can see we failed to develop an answer between ourselves, so thanks for the help!

Matt

You must make an informed choice, engaging your Catholic conscience as well. There will never be an election where all or even one of the candidates are “perfect”.

 

[jwashu]

You must make an informed choice, engaging your Catholic conscience as well. There will never be an election where all or even one of the candidates are “perfect”.

Take the US elections last year.

We had one candidate who said they were pro-life but actually failed the “Catholic” pro-life test if someone took the time to do it (the USCCB send out the form). This person was also pro-war, death penalty and offered no programs or ideas to help the poor.

On the other hand we had a candidate who was offering programs for the poor, was against the death penalty etc etc… but failed the major pro-life question because they were pro-choice.

Thus truly neither candidate was perfect or really even acceptable as a choice.

However if someone voted for the first candidate because they felt he was more pro-life than the other their vote was fine.

If someone voted for the second person because they felt the other things were important… that would be fine.

However if someone voted for the first because, and only because, he was in favor for the death penality then that would be an issue because it goes against the teachings of the Church, just as if someone voted for the second because he was pro-choice.

Politics and Faith aren’t easy, as stated above, no one is perfect. Do your best research, look through the lies that all sides will put forth, pray and make the best decision you can.

Joe

 

[Middleman]

What is the specific problem with the British National Party? I’m not familiar with their platforms.

 

[Mintaka]

I don’t think “I voted for X Party” would be how you’d phrase it.

You’d say something more like, “I voted for X Party even though I knew they actively support Gravely Sinful Thing Y, and even though I knew there wasn’t any good enough reason to counterbalance that.”

“I voted for X Party even though I knew they actively support Gravely Sinful Thing Y, but heck, the Z Party was promising to kill and eat all redheads immediately upon installation in their posts, so I figured that was worse” would not be a sin.

 

[Mattjolley]

What is the specific problem with the British National Party? I’m not familiar with their platforms.

They are widely renowned for being anti-immigration,and believe in giving ‘british jobs to british workers’. Many in the UK see them as the biggest far-right threat this country has seen since oswald moseley’s brownshirts.

I suppose if one had voted for them, since they hardly promote equality, (no matter how they disguise their views) you would have to confess that the party you voted for was not in line with Catholic Moral Teaching, since they are seen as the lowest of the low in English politics.
However, if one firmly believed they were the right party to vote for, according to Catholic Morals, and had their reasons for believing this, then it isnt necessary to confess, right? Anyhow I personally can’t see how anyone could reconcile the teaching of the Church with these thugs.

 

[cargau]

The sinfulness of the voting choice would depend on the reason that vote was cast the way it was.

I believe that if a Catholic deliberately voted for a candidate who was pro abortion, embryonic stem cell research, etc. they would be in grave danger of sin even if they liked his economic policy. I believe that your logic may give rise to relativism.

Peace.

 

[Middleman]

They are widely renowned for being anti-immigration,and believe in giving ‘british jobs to british workers’. Many in the UK see them as the biggest far-right threat this country has seen since oswald moseley’s brownshirts.

I suppose if one had voted for them, since they hardly promote equality, (no matter how they disguise their views) you would have to confess that the party you voted for was not in line with Catholic Moral Teaching, since they are seen as the lowest of the low in English politics.
However, if one firmly believed they were the right party to vote for, according to Catholic Morals, and had their reasons for believing this, then it isnt necessary to confess, right? Anyhow I personally can’t see how anyone could reconcile the teaching of the Church with these thugs.

Is there something inherently morally wrong in wanting to limit or stop immigration? I personally would like to see immigration to the U.S. curtailed.

 

[markhiggins01]

Every mainstream party in the UK is evil in their teachings.

Labour, Conservative and LibDem are all utterly pro death and against the Church’s teaching on marriage yet no one is shouting from the pulpit against catholic who voted for these when 90% of Catholic did!

What nonsense.