Ethan Walker
Catholics are the largest single religious denomination in America, and their votes are highly sought after by political candidates. However, there is no single Catholic vote, and Catholics have diverse political beliefs and allegiances. When it comes to voting, Catholics are guided by their faith and the teachings of the Church. They are called to promote the common good, protect human life and dignity, and build a civilization of truth and love. Abortion is considered a primary issue for Catholic voters, with the Church teaching that it is an intrinsic evil that must be opposed. Other key principles that guide Catholic voters include social justice, the value of the family, and the separation of church and state. Ultimately, Catholics are expected to use their judgment and follow their consciences, informed by their faith and values, when casting their votes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Voting is a civic duty | Voting is a right and a critical way to carry out Christian duty |
| Voting is a blessing | Voting is a moral obligation |
| Voting is a responsibility | Voting is a privilege |
| Voting is a temporal, practical thing | Voting is a vocation |
| Voting is an opportunity to promote the common good | Voting is a way to improve the moral fabric of the state and nation |
| Voting is a way to be an active disciple | Voting is a way to live out faith |
| Voting is a way to follow the mind of Christ | Voting is a way to be guided by moral convictions |
| Voting is a way to address matters of grave importance to human welfare | Voting is a way to build a civilization of truth and love |
| Voting is a way to contribute to society | Voting is a way to make society more just |
| Voting is a way to be guided by conscience | Voting is a way to apply Catholic teachings |
| Voting is a way to be informed | Voting is a way to engage in intelligent conversations |
| Voting is a way to promote life and protect human dignity | Voting is a way to oppose intrinsic evils |
| Voting is a way to promote the right to life | Voting is a way to reject abortion |
| Voting is a way to promote peace and justice | Voting is a way to uphold natural law |
| Voting is a way to promote the values of family and social justice | Voting is a way to support the winner |
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What You'll Learn
Abortion
Catholics are generally discouraged from voting for pro-choice or pro-abortion candidates, as abortion is considered an intrinsic evil. However, some Catholic voters face a dilemma when both mainstream candidates support abortion. In such cases, Catholic voters may decide to vote for the candidate deemed less likely to advance a pro-abortion position and more likely to pursue other authentic human goods. This decision should be made cautiously, considering if there are "proportionate" or "truly grave moral reasons" that could justify voting for a candidate who supports abortion rights.
Some Catholics argue that it is not a sin to vote for a candidate who is not perfect in all aspects of Catholic teaching, even if they support abortion rights, as long as their overall policies will result in less harm and more good. This is especially relevant when the alternative candidate holds other views that are considered immoral or harmful, such as supporting policies that negatively impact the poor.
In rare cases, a Catholic may materially cooperate with a candidate who supports abortion rights if their cooperation is remote and there is a proportionately good reason for doing so. However, Catholics must never formally cooperate with abortion by directly voting for a candidate solely because they support abortion rights.
It is important to note that Catholic voters are not bound to vote solely on the issue of abortion, and personal conscience plays a significant role in how Catholics decide to cast their votes.
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Conscience
When forming their conscience, Catholics are guided by the Church's teachings, which provide a cohesive and consistent perspective on current issues. This includes the three key principles of human dignity, solidarity, and subsidiarity, and how they uphold the common good. Catholics are called to vote with a focus on human dignity, recognising that every person is made in the image and likeness of God.
To make an informed decision, Catholics should study Catholic Social Teaching and reflect on how it applies to the candidates and issues at hand. This involves researching the candidates' positions, commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence specific issues. While it can be challenging to find a candidate or party that perfectly aligns with all of the Church's teachings, Catholics should prioritise issues that directly affect human dignity and the common good.
Additionally, Pope Francis has emphasised that Catholics should be multi-issue voters, considering a range of equally sacred issues and concerns. This reflects the social dimension of Catholic belief, where the Holy Spirit is believed to be at work in everyone and all social bonds.
Ultimately, voting as a Catholic is about expressing love for God, neighbours, and the world, and working towards a society that reflects Catholic values and teachings.
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Civic duty
Voting is considered a civic duty and a moral obligation for Catholics. The Church teaches that Catholics should approach voting with the intention to promote the common good and protect human life and dignity. This means that Catholics should vote with the intention of improving the moral fabric of the state and the nation.
Catholics are called to bring their principles and values into the voting booth and to vote according to their conscience, applying the teachings of Jesus Christ and core faith values to their choices. This means that Catholics should not vote for candidates who promote intrinsically evil acts, such as abortion, euthanasia, racist behaviour, assisted suicide, or redefining marriage in ways that violate its essential meaning.
While the Church does not endorse specific political candidates, Catholics are encouraged to study the Church's social teachings and apply them to contemporary issues. This includes evaluating candidates' policies and character, rather than obsessing over politics, and making decisions based on moral convictions rather than attachments to political parties or interest groups.
Voting is one of the most important responsibilities of citizens, alongside paying taxes and defending their country. Catholics are encouraged to see voting as a blessing and an opportunity to work for the good of society and promote the common good. This involves considering the needs of the weakest and most defenseless members of society and seeking to address them through the democratic process.
In summary, Catholics are called to approach voting as a civic duty, informed by their faith and values, with the intention of promoting the common good and protecting human life and dignity.
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Morality
Catholics are expected to vote with a purpose: to promote the common good and protect human life and dignity. The Church teaches that Catholics have three primary responsibilities as citizens: to pay taxes, to defend their country, and to vote. Voting is thus considered a civic duty and a moral obligation. Catholics are expected to approach voting with the "mind of Christ", spending time with Holy Scripture and volunteering to serve the poor, the needy, and the outcast.
Catholics are instructed to form their consciences in the light of Catholic teaching and to follow their consciences when applying the teachings of Jesus Christ and core faith values to the voting choices they make. Catholics are expected to evaluate the issues and candidates in the light of their Catholic faith and to vote accordingly. This means that Catholics should be guided more by their moral convictions than by attachments to a political party or interest group.
Abortion is considered the primary issue that Catholic voters should be concerned with. The USCCB's guidebook for Catholic voters lists abortion as the "preeminent priority". Other issues that Catholics should consider include euthanasia, assisted suicide, racist behaviour, subjecting workers or the poor to subhuman living conditions, and redefining marriage in ways that violate its essential meaning.
When deciding which candidate to vote for, Catholics should consider the policies that the candidates will enact and how these policies align with Catholic values. While it is important to be informed, Catholics should not obsess over politics. Instead, they should seek to be informed enough to cast their vote intelligently and participate in conversations within their familial, social-political, or ecclesial settings.
In some cases, a Catholic voter may decide to vote for a candidate who does not fully align with their values on a particular issue if they believe that candidate will do the least moral harm overall. However, if a candidate's position promotes an intrinsically evil act, such as legal abortion or racist behaviour, a Catholic voter may legitimately disqualify that candidate from receiving their support.
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Political obsessions
The Catholic Church has historically had a complex relationship with politics, evolving over time and exerting significant influence within nations. While early Catholic thinkers like Eusebius of Caesarea advocated for Church neutrality, Saint Augustine's theory of minimal involvement allowed the Church to legitimize even pagan governments that preserved social order and respected the Church's freedom. During the High Middle Ages, popes like Gregory VIII and Innocent III held considerable sway over European Christian states, claiming supremacy over kings.
In the modern era, the Church has engaged with democratic ideals, endorsing a unique form of democracy rooted in communitarianism and Catholic values. Pope Leo XIII, in his encyclicals, embraced democracy as the most Catholic form of governance, provided it benefits the lower classes, serves the common good, and prioritizes communitarianism over individualism. This stance laid the groundwork for Catholic social teaching, which rejects both capitalism and communism.
Catholics have been active participants in American elections since the mid-19th century, with a notable "Catholic vote" in the late 19th century, where 75% of Irish and German Catholics supported Democratic presidential candidates. The Church's opposition to abortion has been a consistent factor in American politics, with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops leading the anti-abortion movement before the Roe v. Wade decision.
Today, Catholic voters in the United States comprise 25% to 27% of the national electorate, and their votes are influenced by various issues, including abortion, LGBTQ rights, universal healthcare, workers' rights, and immigration. While there is no longer considered a single "Catholic vote," Dr. John Green of the University of Akron suggests there are now "several Catholic votes," reflecting the diversity of perspectives among Catholic voters.
The Church's teachings on human life and dignity remain central to Catholic political engagement. Bishops, as teachers of the faith and moral law, emphasize the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death. They counsel Catholic public officials, including those supporting abortion, on their obligation to act consistently with these teachings, even if it conflicts with popular political opinions.
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Frequently asked questions
No. Catholics are to use their judgment and follow their consciences as they apply the teachings of Jesus Christ and the core faith values to the choices they make in the voting booth.
Our nation’s founders sought to “separate church and state” in the sense of prohibiting the establishment of any particular denomination as the official religious body of the nation. However, this does not forbid religious organizations to address matters of grave importance to human welfare.
Catholics are called to vote with a purpose: to promote the common good and protect human life and dignity. The USCCB’s guidebook for Catholic voters lists abortion as the “preeminent priority”.
We are taught from an early age to form our consciences in the light of Catholic teaching. Catholics are challenged to live out their faith by getting actively involved — by voting and engaging in other civic activities.
