U.S. Bishops to finalize document giving guidance to Catholic voters

[buffalo]

U.S. Bishops to finalize document giving guidance to Catholic voters

                   [U.S. Bishops to finalize document giving guidance to Catholic voters](http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=10898)
                   

              Washington DC, Nov 6, 2007 / 12:24 pm ([CNA](http://www.catholicnewsagency.com)).- The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is preparing to vote on guidelines for Catholic political participation, the Associated Press reports. The bishops will decide this month upon the content of the guide, titled "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship." Though the guide will emphasize pro-life concerns and bioethical issues, it will also explain Catholic teaching on torture and conduct in war.

Spokane Bishop William Skylstad, president of the conference, spoke highly of the document. “Given the complexities of our political situation, this is a very good teaching document for the bishops and we’re really very committed to it,” he said.
Though past guides were finalized in committee meetings, this year the full body of around 300 bishops will publicly debate and vote on the guide.
A draft of the document calls abortion and euthanasia intrinsic evils, “pre-eminent threats to human dignity because they directly attack life itself, the most fundamental human good and the condition for all others.” Torture, human cloning, racism, and the targeting of noncombatants in war are also condemned as acts that can never be justified.

more…

 

[KathleenElsie]

The draft also rejects Catholics voting for candidates because of their pro-choice stands, in which case the voter would be “guilty of formal cooperation in evil.” Voting for a pro-abortion candidate is “remote material cooperation” with evil, which can only be justified if there are “proportionate reasons.”

Well I wonder what many pro-choice voters will think of this. If I read the draft correctly war and torture are not proportionate. They are not to be condoned, but, do not allow for a vote for pro choice candidate.

 

[buffalo]

Well I wonder what many pro-choice voters will think of this. If I read the draft correctly war and torture are not proportionate. They are not to be condoned, but, do not allow for a vote for pro choice candidate.

Yeah, it sure does end it as many have argued the previous Bishops statements as being proportionate and we are not one issue voters. This should put the kabash on it for sure.

 

[estesbob]

Yeah, it sure does end it as many have argued the previous Bishops statements as being proportionate and we are not one issue voters. This should put the kabash on it for sure.

Those catholics who have put their politics before their faith were rationalizng voting for pro-abortion canidates before there was a war of any discussion of torture. They will rationaliz voting for the abortion apologists in spite of what the Bishops say. the sad part they will do their darndest to convnce everyone that their view reflects Catholic Teaching.

 

[buffalo]

Those catholics who have put their politics before their faith were rationalizng voting for pro-abortion canidates before there was a war of any discussion of torture. They will rationaliz voting for the abortion apologists in spite of what the Bishops say. the sad part they will do their darndest to convnce everyone that their view reflects Catholic Teaching.

Sad but true. They will continue to wiggle, but we have more documentation.

 

[Holly3278]

Awesome news!

 

[Ender]

Sad but true. They will continue to wiggle, but we have more documentation.

You are more optimistic than I am. I suspect that the wording will be sufficiently fuzzy not just to allow but to encourage the same rationalizations as we have seen in the past and for this reason: there are way too many bishops who don’t believe that, given a viable alternative, it is not appropriate to vote for a candidate who supports abortion and they are not about to approve a document that makes such a clear statement. I’m sure that many have voted for pro-abortion candidates in the past and will continue to do so and will not wish to damage those politicians chances by leading Catholic voters away from them.

Ender

 

[Sr_Sally]

Pat Robertson managed to wiggle himself into endorsing a pro-abortion candidate. I am sure someone whose pro-life credentials are not as strong as his once were can manage it also. So sad.