How Should Catholics Vote?
Summary
TLDRThis video explores the Catholic Church's stance on voting, emphasizing the civic duty of Catholics to engage in public life. The script discusses the challenge of choosing candidates who may align with some Catholic values but not others. It highlights six key issues identified by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: human life, religious liberty, marriage, wealth disparity, immigration, and violence. The video encourages Catholics to vote conscientiously, prioritizing the common good, and to remain actively engaged in political dialogue, even after the election, to promote positive change.
Takeaways
- 🗳️ Voting is both a privilege and a responsibility for Catholics, even when the candidates do not perfectly align with Catholic values.
- 📝 The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops publishes a voter guide each election to help Catholics prioritize their values when voting.
- 👶 Human life issues like abortion and euthanasia are key concerns for Catholics, focusing on the protection of the most vulnerable.
- 🙏 Religious liberty is essential, and Catholics must consider which candidate will best safeguard the freedom of all to practice their religion.
- 💍 Marriage is a foundational concept, and Catholics are encouraged to support candidates that promote traditional family values.
- 💸 Economic inequality is a growing issue, and Catholics are urged to vote for candidates who address the needs of the poor and workers' rights.
- 🌍 Immigration reform is a major issue, and Catholics are encouraged to consider candidates that offer humane solutions for undocumented immigrants.
- ☮️ Catholics should prioritize peace and stability, particularly in relation to global conflicts and violence in society.
- 📖 Catholics must form their consciences through Church teachings, scripture, and reputable sources, engaging in thoughtful dialogue.
- 🔧 Voting is the start, but Catholics have a duty to continue working with elected officials to advocate for their values and improve society.
Q & A
What is the primary message conveyed to Catholics about voting in the upcoming election?
-The primary message is that voting is both a privilege and a responsibility for Catholics, even when no candidate perfectly aligns with Catholic values. Catholics should prioritize issues based on the guidance of the Church and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Why should Catholics not abstain from voting even if no candidate fully represents their values?
-Catholics should not abstain because voting is a civic duty, and it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each candidate. Abstaining would mean not contributing to decisions that can protect vulnerable communities or uphold important values.
What role does the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops play in helping Catholics make informed voting decisions?
-The US Conference of Catholic Bishops publishes a voter guide each election to help Catholics prioritize their values and inform their consciences. This framework helps them navigate complex decisions where candidates may not align perfectly with Catholic teachings.
What are the six key priorities identified by the bishops for this election?
-The six key priorities are: human life issues (abortion and euthanasia), religious liberty, marriage and family, wealth disparity, care for undocumented immigrants, and issues related to war, terror, and violence.
How should Catholics handle situations where a candidate supports some Catholic values but opposes others?
-Catholics are encouraged to weigh the overall pros and cons of each candidate. They should consider the most pressing issues, like human life and the common good, and vote for the candidate who offers the greatest benefit, even if they don't fully align with all Catholic teachings.
Why is human life considered the most important issue for Catholics in this election?
-Human life is regarded as sacred because every person is made in the image and likeness of God. Protecting the dignity of human life, particularly in matters like abortion and euthanasia, is foundational to Catholic teachings.
What does the Church teach about the role of personal conscience in voting?
-The Church teaches that personal conscience plays a crucial role in voting, but it must be well-formed. Consciences should be informed by Church teachings, Scripture, and the realities of the current social and political environment.
How should Catholics approach their political engagement after the election?
-Catholics are encouraged to stay engaged after the election by continuing to communicate their values to elected officials. Regardless of whether they voted for a particular candidate, Catholics should advocate for the common good and remain involved in civic life.
What is the significance of ‘the common good’ in Catholic political thought?
-The common good refers to the well-being of society as a whole, especially the poor and vulnerable. Catholics are called to prioritize the common good over personal benefit, making sacrifices when necessary to ensure the flourishing of others.
What is the Church’s stance on voting for a candidate with problematic views in certain areas?
-The Church acknowledges that no candidate will perfectly align with all Catholic values. Catholics can vote for a candidate with problematic views in some areas as long as they prioritize the candidate’s virtuous positions in other areas and remain committed to addressing flaws after the election.
Outlines
🗳️ The Catholic Responsibility to Vote
This paragraph stresses the importance of voting and civic engagement for Catholics. It acknowledges that while choosing a candidate can be difficult due to imperfect alignment with Catholic values, abstaining from voting is not an option. The paragraph questions how Catholics should approach elections when no candidate fully represents their beliefs and introduces the discussion of what the Church says about voting in upcoming elections.
✝️ Core Catholic Values
This section describes the values Catholics stand for, such as peace, justice, charity, and morality. It reflects on the challenges of finding a candidate who represents all these values in elections. Although every candidate might support certain Catholic values, they may oppose others, leading Catholics to a difficult decision-making process. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops offers guidance to help inform Catholic consciences when voting.
📜 Six Priorities for Catholic Voters
The bishops identify six critical priorities for Catholic voters to consider: human life (abortion and euthanasia), religious liberty, marriage, wealth disparity, care for undocumented immigrants, and addressing war, terror, and violence. Each issue presents moral considerations that Catholics must weigh when choosing a candidate, as no single candidate may fully align with all of these priorities.
🤔 Navigating Moral Dilemmas in Voting
This paragraph explores the dilemma of voting for candidates who may have strong positions on one issue but problematic views on another. It highlights the bishops' advice to focus on three overarching principles: the dignity of human life, the common good, and the formation of consciences through Church teachings and societal engagement. It encourages Catholics to consider these principles carefully while voting.
💬 Civic Engagement Beyond Voting
This section emphasizes that civic duty for Catholics does not end with voting. Regardless of the election outcome, Catholics must continue engaging with elected officials and advocating for their values. The paragraph underscores the need for Catholics to communicate with their representatives and work for the common good, regardless of who is in power, recognizing that no candidate is perfect.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Civic Duty
💡Catholic Values
💡United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
💡Human Life Issues
💡Religious Liberty
💡Common Good
💡Conscience Formation
💡Marriage and Family
💡Wealth Inequality
💡Dialogue and Engagement
Highlights
Catholics have a civic responsibility to vote and engage in public life.
Even when candidates don't fully represent Catholic values, Catholics should not abstain from voting.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops publishes a voter guide to help Catholics prioritize their values in elections.
The bishops emphasize six key issues: human life, religious liberty, marriage, wealth disparity, care for immigrants, and war/violence.
Human life issues such as abortion and euthanasia are at the forefront, as recent trends have negatively impacted Catholic views.
Religious liberty must be safeguarded for all faiths, with concerns over secularism's growing influence.
Marriage has been redefined, raising concerns about its impact on the foundation of family and society.
Wealth inequality has increased since the 1980s, with a focus on supporting the poor and workers' rights.
Undocumented immigrants play a critical role in the U.S. economy but lack legal protections, calling for humane immigration reform.
Catholics must consider how political decisions affect the common good and society, not just individual benefits.
The dignity of human life is a foundational principle for Catholics, rooted in the belief that all life has inherent worth.
Catholics are encouraged to form their consciences by engaging with Church teachings, societal issues, and reliable news sources.
Voting for a candidate does not equate to endorsing all of their views; Catholics are advised to weigh the pros and cons.
Regardless of who wins an election, Catholics should remain engaged, holding elected officials accountable to represent their values.
The Catholic voice must be active in civic life, pushing for continuous improvements even after elections.
Transcripts
As Catholics, we take our civic duty to vote and be engaged in public life seriously. It is
not only a privilege that we get to vote for our elected officials, but a responsibility.
A responsibility, given the choice in candidates most years, that many would prefer not to have.
But just because the candidates for a given position don’t perfectly represent Catholic
values doesn’t mean we should abstain from voting or that it doesn’t matter
who we vote for. What does the Church say about voting in this upcoming election
and how should we go about making our decisions? This is Catholicism in Focus.
—
As Catholics, we stand for many things. We are a people of peace and justice,
of charity and responsibility, of family and morality. We believe that God has a vision for
how the world should be and that it is our responsibility, in part, to make it happen.
If only there was a candidate that stood for all of the things that we do.
In every election, we are forced to choose between candidates that get some things right
and some things wrong. It’s probably safe to say that every candidate on every ballot stands for
something we can endorse while also standing for something we find problematic. So what do we do?
Rather than disengage from the process, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops publishes a
voter guide each election to help inform our consciences, giving us a framework to best
prioritize our values. This year, the bishops identify six priorities that should get extra.
One, human life issues like abortion and euthanasia. These are the places
where the dignity of human life are most easily overlooked or discarded,
and recent years have seen major steps in the wrong direction for Catholics.
Which candidate will do more to protect the most vulnerable?
Two, religious liberty. The Constitution protects the free practice of religion and this needs to
be safeguarded, not just for Catholics but people of all faiths. As secularism continues to creep
into our country, it’s become easier and easier to step on the autonomy of religious people to
practice their faith freely. What will happen to religious practice under each candidate?
Three, marriage. In recent years, the concept of marriage has been redefined, unsettling
the foundation of family and society. Which candidate best models and promotes family living?
Four, the growing disparity between rich and poor. Since the 1980s,
wealth inequality has skyrocketed in this country—the rich are getting richer and
the poor are getting poorer, with the middle class largely disappearing. Who will support
the needs of the poor and workers rights, and eliminate factors that lead to poverty?
Five, care for undocumented immigrants. Everyone in America agrees that the current
immigration system is broken. Desperate people are fleeing here for asylum,
where they provide an essential component to our economy while enjoying no benefits or protections
under the law. Which candidate will provide the most humane solution to this problem?
And six, war, terror, and violence. Israel and Ukraine threaten the safety of our world,
and guns in our schools continue to unsettle our society. While violent
crime rates have been dropping in this country since the early 1990s,
much more needs to be done. Who will be the calm, peaceful force to bring peace?
Six critical questions… that cannot be answered in favor of any one candidate.
And so what do we do if we are still faced with such a dilemma,
when a candidate may be great for ending abortion but horrible for people in poverty?
When a candidate may be do wonders for undocumented immigrants but damage to
religious liberty? The bishops encourage us to consider three overarching principles:
First, it is critical that we remember our
responsibility to respect the dignity of human life.
From the very beginning we have known that human life is special. In Genesis chapter 1, we read
that human beings were created in the image and likeness of God, meaning that every life is marked
with indelible worth. Our worth comes, not from what we do, but from what God has done in us.
Meaning that all humans—no matter their race, religion, nation, wealth, age,
usefulness, or even behavior—are afforded certain rights that must be protected.
Every life matters.
And since every life matters,
there must be attention given to the second point, the common good.
As human beings, we are inherently social creatures, interconnected in society,
dependent on each other. The way we act as individuals has an affect on the people around us.
When we engage in politics, then, it is not permissible to seek benefits only for
ourselves—we must consider how policies affect society as a whole, with particular attention
given to the poor and vulnerable, those who are least able to defend themselves.
Sometimes we need to make personal sacrifices so that others might flourish.
We do this, as the bishops suggest as their third point,
because we have a “responsibility… to form our consciences and participate in
the civic life of this nation.” This requires a number of considerations.
Such as the teachings of the church itself. While our consciences are deeply personal,
they are not subjectively oriented, but must be oriented towards the foundational
truths of the Divine Revelation found in Scripture and Tradition,
and the magisterial teachings handed down from the teaching authorities.
These teachings cannot live in a vacuum but must be exercised,
which means understanding the particular issues of the day. It is our responsibility not only
to know what problems our world is facing but to ensure that we are educating ourselves from
the most reputable news sources so that we are guided by facts not manipulation.
Our consciences are also formed by participating in society with others,
engaging in what the bishops refer to as “reasoned, compassionate,
loving dialogue,” learning from others and shaping those around us by our values. It
is not our goal to defeat our enemies but to seek a better world together.
Something that our elected officials can ultimately help us with, which is
why our civic duty begins with voting but doesn’t end there. Once someone is elected,
regardless of whether we voted for them or support their stances, we have an obligation to remain in
contact with them, communicating our values to them so that they will properly represent us.
If the squeaky wheel gets the grease, then the Catholic voice has to be the one squeaking.
Which, I think I think takes a bit of the pressure off of voting itself,
reminding us that no matter who wins, there will always be work to do. There are no perfect
candidates and there is no problem voting for a candidate with problematic views in one area if
you’re voting for them because of their virtuous positions in other areas. Voting for a candidate
is not an endorsement of everything that they do, but rather a weighing of the pros and cons,
recognizing that more work will need to be done no matter who gets elected. As Catholics,
we must inform our consciences, vote for whomever we think will provide the
greatest overall benefit, and then work like mad to fix their flaws.
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