Joshua Bennett
Voting as a Catholic can be a daunting experience. With a multitude of issues and imperfect candidates, Catholics are often faced with a challenging decision. However, it is important to remember that voting is a civic duty and a moral responsibility for Catholics. The Church provides principles and guidance to help Catholics make informed decisions that align with their faith and values. Catholics are encouraged to form their consciences, study Scripture and Church teachings, and seek to understand God's will. They should prioritize the common good, protect human life and dignity, and stand up for the most vulnerable. While the Church does not endorse specific candidates, Catholics are expected to use their judgment, guided by their moral convictions and the teachings of Jesus Christ. This involves evaluating candidates' commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence issues that matter to Catholics. Ultimately, Catholics should strive to make the best choice possible, promoting justice, peace, and the protection of the weak and vulnerable through their votes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Voting approach | Both/and approach, factoring in every issue, while also recognizing that some have greater weight than others |
| Voting purpose | Promote the common good and protect human life and dignity |
| Voting guide | Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) |
| Voting preparation | Spending time with Holy Scripture and the Blessed Sacrament, volunteering at a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, etc. |
| Voting preparation | Prayer, for instance, for humility to receive the Church’s teaching with openness, prudence to discern how to best vote, etc. |
| Voting preparation | Studying Scripture and Church teaching, using reason to study key issues in light of this teaching, etc. |
| Voting preparation | Studying the Church’s social teaching and applying it to contemporary issues |
| Voting preparation | Studying how the faith’s teachings about the human person and society apply to the relevant issues of the day |
| Voting preparation | Evaluating the candidates by visiting their websites, paying attention to what the candidates say in interviews and debates, etc. |
| Voting considerations | Candidate's commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence a given issue |
| Voting considerations | Candidate's personal morals and policies |
| Voting considerations | Candidate's ability to influence the common good and affect human dignity if elected |
| Voting considerations | Candidate's stance on abortion and gender ideology |
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What You'll Learn
Understanding the role of Catholic teachings in politics
Voting is a civic duty, but for Catholics, it is also a moral obligation. The Church teaches that Catholics have a responsibility to stand up for the most vulnerable in the public square. This means that Catholics are called to vote with a purpose: to promote the common good and protect human life and dignity.
Catholics are encouraged to form their consciences according to the teachings of the Church and to vote according to their consciences. This involves studying Scripture and Church teachings, as well as praying for insight and guidance from the Holy Spirit. The Church's teachings on human dignity, the sanctity of human life, the obligation to protect and serve the most vulnerable, and the purposes of marriage and family, should inform a Catholic's voting decisions.
While the Church does not endorse any particular candidates or political parties, Catholics are called to evaluate the candidates and issues in light of their faith. This means considering how the policies and character of each candidate align with Catholic teachings and how they will influence the common good and affect human dignity if elected.
Abortion is a key issue for many Catholic voters, as the Church strongly opposes it due to its belief in the sanctity of human life. Other issues that Catholics may consider include how to treat newcomers at the border, protect religious freedom, steward natural resources, and factor the poor into economic policies.
By allowing their faith to inform their voting decisions, Catholics can be a light to their state and nation, promoting the truths of their faith in the public sphere.
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Abortion and euthanasia
Abortion has been a consistent focus of Catholic voters. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law". This teaching has been reiterated by popes, bishops, and theologians throughout history, and remains a fundamental aspect of Catholic doctrine. The Church views abortion as an intrinsic evil, asserting that human life must be protected from the moment of conception. This belief is reflected in the Australian Catholic Bishops' statement that "abortion is an unspeakable crime".
The Catholic Church's opposition to abortion is based on the conviction that life is a gift from God and that only He has the authority to determine when it ends. This belief also underpins the Church's stance on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. The Church teaches that life should not be prematurely shortened and that issues leading to desires for euthanasia, such as poor pain management or feelings of being a burden, can be addressed through better palliative and psychological care.
When voting, Catholics are encouraged to prioritize candidates who reflect their values. While no candidate is perfect, Catholic voters are advised to assess candidates' moral character and the policies they will enact. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) provides a guidebook for Catholic voters, listing abortion as the "preeminent priority". This guide, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship", emphasizes the importance of participating in the democratic process and encourages Catholics to approach voting as a civic duty and a blessing.
While abortion and euthanasia are critical issues, Catholics are also reminded that politics involves prioritization. Other issues, such as helping the poor and those in need, are also fundamental expressions of Catholic faith. Thus, Catholic voters are encouraged to consider a range of factors when deciding how to vote, weighing the importance of various issues and the overall virtue of the candidates and their policies for the promotion of the common good.
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Protecting the vulnerable
Voting is a civic duty, and Pope Francis has said that each person also has a "vocation as [a] citizen". This means that voting takes on a moral dimension for Catholics. The Church's teachings shed light on important truths about human nature, such as the dignity and sanctity of every human life, the obligation to protect and serve the most vulnerable, and the purposes of marriage and family.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) guide, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship", states that Catholics are "blessed to be able to participate in our nation's political and public life". However, this can be stressful due to the current political climate, with wars abroad and domestic strife. The Church teaches that Catholics have a responsibility to stand up for the most vulnerable in public life. This includes protecting those who are poor, disadvantaged, and oppressed, and ensuring that all people of faith are given meaningful opportunities.
Catholics should not obsess over politics, but rather focus on informing themselves sufficiently to cast their vote and participate in intelligent conversations. The policies that candidates will enact hold the greatest weight when choosing who to vote for. If a candidate is advocating for good moral policies and there is good reason to believe they will carry them out, Catholics can vote for that person.
In addition to selecting a presidential candidate, voters may also be voting for state representatives, members of Congress, and justices of the Supreme Court. It is important to remember the significance of local races and issues that impact counties, municipalities, and school districts. Catholics can be a light to the state and the nation by allowing the truths of their faith to inform their voting decisions.
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Prayer and discernment
Catholics are encouraged to form their consciences according to the teachings of the Church, spending time in prayer with Scripture, and studying the principles of Catholic social teaching. This involves developing the virtue of prudence to discern the true good in circumstances and to choose the right means of achieving it. Prayer is essential to discern the will of God, and Catholics are encouraged to pray for humility to receive the Church's teaching and prudence to discern how best to vote.
Catholics should also take time away from social media and political noise to spend time with Holy Scripture and the Blessed Sacrament. This can involve volunteering at a soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or crisis pregnancy center, serving the poor, the needy, and the outcast. By engaging in such activities, Catholics can live out their faith and put on "the mind of Christ" before voting, as encouraged by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
In addition to prayer and discernment, Catholics should evaluate candidates by taking into account their commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence a given issue. While no candidate is perfect, Catholics can look for those who advocate for good moral policies and have a strong likelihood of carrying them out. Ultimately, Catholics should be guided more by their moral convictions than by attachments to any political party or interest group.
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Candidate evaluation
Voting as a Catholic can be a challenging experience. Catholics are called to vote with a purpose: to promote the common good and protect human life and dignity. The Church does not tell its followers whom to vote for, but it does provide guidance on how to evaluate candidates and make informed decisions. Here are some key considerations for candidate evaluation from a Catholic perspective:
Forming a Catholic Conscience
The first step in candidate evaluation is to form a Catholic conscience by familiarising oneself with Catholic social teachings. This involves studying how Catholic teachings about the human person and society apply to contemporary issues, such as abortion, immigration, religious freedom, environmental stewardship, economic policies affecting the poor, and the vision of family life. Resources like the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "Faithful Citizenship," and "Forming Consciences" can provide valuable guidance.
Evaluating Candidates' Positions
After forming a Catholic conscience, the next step is to evaluate the candidates' positions on various issues. Catholics should research and gain familiarity with the candidates' stances on matters involving human life and dignity. This includes understanding their commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence specific issues. Reading candidate websites, watching debates, and referring to voter guides can aid in this process.
Applying Prudence
Voting requires the exercise of prudence, which helps determine the most fitting choice among available alternatives. Catholics are encouraged to evaluate candidates beyond partisan stances, recognising that some issues carry greater weight than others. When faced with imperfect candidates, prudence guides voters to select the one deemed less likely to advance morally flawed positions and more likely to pursue authentic goods.
Prayer and Reflection
Prayer and reflection are integral to the candidate evaluation process. Catholics are encouraged to seek wisdom through prayer, silence, and reflection, allowing their faith to inform their voting decisions. This includes taking time away from political noise and seeking guidance from God regarding their hopes, concerns, and worries.
Civic Engagement Beyond Voting
Catholic civic engagement extends beyond casting a vote. Catholics are encouraged to actively participate in Church-sponsored "get-out-the-vote" drives, nonpartisan voter education initiatives, and multi-issue candidate forums. After the election, Catholics can connect with policymakers through networks like the Florida Catholic Advocacy Network, which educates and mobilises Catholics on public policy issues pertaining to human life, dignity, and the common good.
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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 core faith values in the voting booth.
The separation of church and state does not forbid religious organizations from addressing matters of grave importance to human welfare. The Church has clear principles for how best to achieve justice, peace, and human welfare.
We are often forced to choose between flawed political agendas. The virtue of prudence is necessary when approaching the voting booth. We must strive to make the best choice possible to build a more just and peaceful world through morally acceptable means.
Catholics are called to vote with a purpose: to promote the common good and protect human life and dignity. Catholics should study how their faith’s teachings apply to the relevant issues of the day and evaluate the candidates accordingly.
