How To Vote Catholic
Pope John Paul II: Apostolic Exhortation The Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World (Christifideles Laici), 1988:
"The inviolability of the person, which is a reflection of the absolute inviolability of God, finds its primary and fundamental expression in the inviolability of human life. Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights -- for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture -- is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition of all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination“ (19).
--Pope John Paul II: Encyclical Letter
The Gospel of Life (Evangelium Vitae), 1995
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship:
A Call to Political Responsibility from the Bishops of the United States
"The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life is always wrong and is not just one issue among many," the bishops stated. "It must always be opposed."
- Why Does the Church Teach About Issues Affecting Public Policy?
- Who in the Church Should Participate in Political Life?
- How Does the Church Help the Faithful to Address Social and Political Questions?
- What Does the Church Say about Catholic Social Teaching in the Public
Square?—Seven Key Themes
- Applying Catholic Teaching to Major Issues: A Summary of Policy
Positions of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
- Goals for Political Life: Challenges for Citizens, Candidates, and
Public Officials
Doctrinal Note: The Participation of Catholics in Political Life
In the face of fundamental and inalienable ethical demands, Christians must recognize that what is at stake is the essence of the moral law, which concerns the integral good of the human person.
This is the case with laws concerning abortion and euthanasia (not to be confused with the decision to forgo extraordinary treatments, which is morally legitimate). Such laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death. In the same way, it is necessary to recall the duty to respect and protect the rights of the human embryo.
Analogously, the family needs to be safeguarded and promoted, based on monogamous marriage between a man and a woman, and protected in its unity and stability in the face of modern laws on divorce: in no way can other forms of cohabitation be placed on the same level as marriage, nor can they receive legal recognition as such.
How To Vote Catholic
by Deal W. Hudson
W. Hudson provides the framework in which we as Catholics are to participate in the political arena. He provides the voter a clear understanding of the principles of Catholic moral and social teaching and addresses the confusion among Catholics regarding non-negotiable issues grounded in fundamental truth and non-binding prudential judgments on policy issues.
Click here for PDF of "How to Vote Catholic" Guide
Ten Easy Steps to… Voting with a Clear Conscienceby Fr. Frank Pavone
Fr. Frank Pavone has put together a booklet called “Voting with a Clear Conscience,” which summarizes the message he delivers around the country regarding the moral considerations of voting.
Fr. Pavone provides answers to the following.
- What do the Pope and Bishops say about our duty to vote?
- What issues are most important in deciding which candidate to support?
- What if no candidate seems right?
In 1998, the United States Catholic Bishops issued Living the Gospel of Life, their most comprehensive statement on the political responsibility of Americans. In that document they made this plea: “We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity meaningfully to participate in building the culture of life. Every voice matters in the public forum. Every vote counts. Every act of responsible citizenship is an exercise of significant individual power” (n. 34).
read “Voting with a Clear Conscience”
Catholics In The Public Square
by Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted
Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted encourages Catholics to take an active role in politics, addressing the folllowing questions...
Should Catholics take into account their own faith at the moment of voting?
It only makes sense that if Catholics are supposed to live their faith in all of their daily activities that they should also take their faith into account while voting. As noted in the Second Vatican Council's teaching, " every citizen ought to be mindful of his right and his duty to promote the common good by using his vote ." ( Gaudium et Spes , 75)
In preparing to vote, Catholics need to understand their faith so that their consciences are properly formed. Subsequent to this formation, it is important to research all of the important issues and candidates that will appear on the ballot. Only after sufficient preparation and prayer, is a Catholic fully ready to discharge his or her responsibilities as a faithful citizen and cast a meaningful vote.
Can Catholics honestly disagree in matters of politics, social or cultural issues?
In 2002, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a document entitled Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding Participation of Catholics in Political Life , that addresses the existence of political matters in which Catholics may disagree. There are, indeed, many issues upon which Catholics may legitimately differ such as the best methods to achieve welfare reform or to address illegal immigration.
Conversely, however, there are other issues that are intrinsically evil and can never legitimately be supported. For example, Catholics may never legitimately promote or vote for any law that attacks innocent human life.