The New Evangelization and Its Connection to Voting In November: Strive To Heal, Elevate and Perfect Our Culture

9/24/2012

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evils must not be tolerated.

This message, however, so crucial to the future spiritual and physical health of our children and our nation, one which is in reality grounded in charity, will not solidify in an atmosphere of careless or indifferent voting. It is vital for Catholics and other Christians to be carefully taught what their voting responsibility entails, including the importance of voting from an informed moral perspective and in accordance with a properly formed conscience. If this does not take place, the problems we are experiencing will not only continue, they will amplify.

Irresponsible voting manifests itself in various ways. These include: a failure to make the distinction between intrinsic evils (e.g., abortion, embryonic stem-cell experimentation, euthanasia, etc.) which can never be supported, and those social and economic policies which fall under the realm of prudential judgment (e.g., tax rates, entitlement programs, debt reduction, the implementation of just immigration policies, etc.); a stubborn adherence to partisan politics which leaves no room for evaluating a particular candidate on his or her personal philosophies on such grave issues as the human person's inviolable right to life; support for a political candidate which is based merely on how "good" he or she looked or sounded during a debate speech; voting strictly in accord with a narrow "economic mindset" that relegates all other matters below financial health; and voting from an individualistic "what's good for me" perspective that ignores the common good collectively, to name a few.

All of the above fail to utilize a process of proper moral discernment when voting. That, indeed, is precisely the problem with America today. That is, Americans have fallen for a false freedom which is detached from the moral law. Stuffed wallets and individualistic ambitions are idolized while grave moral evils are condoned. If this disastrous situation remains unaddressed, our nation will continue to deteriorate. "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain" (Psalm 127).

The Hierarchy of Evils Must Not Be Ignored

The tendency to fail to make the proper distinctions between different kinds of moral issues is the most serious of all voting errors. The U.S. bishops warn against a "moral equivalence that makes no ethical distinctions between different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity. The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed" (FC 28). There is a hierarchy of evils among moral issues, and intrinsic evils, such as legalized abortion and euthanasia, are the very worst of them. They must not be ignored.

In a recent interview with National Catholic Reporter (NCR) journalist John L. Allen Jr., Archbishop Charles Chaput gave a series of forthright and laudable responses to some pointed questions. Of particular relevance, is Allen's question about Catholic voting practices. He asked the Archbishop, "Do you believe a Catholic in good faith can vote for Obama?"

Archbishop Chaput responded: "I can only speak in terms of my own personal views. I certainly can't vote for somebody who's either pro-choice or pro-abortion.

"I'm not a Republican and I'm not a Democrat. I'm registered as an independent, because I don't think the Church should be identified with one party or another. As an individual and voter I have deep personal concerns about any party that supports changing the definition of marriage, supports abortion in all circumstances, wants to restrict the traditional understanding of religious freedom. Those kinds of issues cause me a great deal of uneasiness."

It is important to note that, while he spoke from a personal position, Archbishop Chaput does not make those types of decisions or statements in isolation of a careful process of moral discernment which takes into consideration the Gospel, the divine law, the natural moral law, and the teachings of the Catholic Church whose Divine Founder is Jesus Christ. The Archbishop's vision on these matters is penetratingly clear precisely because it is based on God's revealed truth which is transmitted through the Church.

That American culture can be healed, elevated and perfected while anti-life political candidates who support absolutely the intrinsic evil of legalized abortion are elected into public office is absurd.

"There are some things we must never do," wrote the U.S. bishops, "as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor. ...
- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Voting in November, November election, formed conscience, forming conscience, voting as an informed Catholic, teaching of the Church on voting, intrinsic evils, moral discernment, Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Republican, Democrat, Social Just

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1 - 10 of 11 Comments

mgm.
7 months ago
Vance' If the EPA and OCHA made jobs go away why then did the Republicans when they control the government on and off over the last 40 years make those departments go away and save millions of industrial jobs and gain the vote of the workers of the saved jobs? Let me see radical unions made jobs go away ,if the job goes away why should a person need a union ?the union loses membership , that no longer pay dues,dues that the unions can use to push their radical left-wing agenda .and active membership the Boss can tell who to vote for.
vance
7 months ago
mgm, no, Obama hasn't been around for the last 40 years but the EPA, OCHA and radical left-wing Unions were. These are what shut down our manufacturing and sent them over seas.
mgm.
7 months ago
Janusz.The factories have been going away the last 40 years of my working life,I can drive around my home town and see the empty lots that plants sat on that I once worked at.I was lucky to go from one decent paying job to the next as plants shut down I don't think President Obama been in office for 40 years.
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem
7 months ago
F.K. Bartel's article on .New Evangelization' in the context of the November election is " integral, holistic" to heal, elevate and perfect our culture. The spirituality and values we live is the culture we produce. To that extent, man cannot isolate spirituality from socio-political life. In this sense, the separation of Religion and Politics, "give to God what belongs to God and to Caesar what belongs to Caesar" becomes pragmatically hard for the laity unlike the hierarchical Church. The Church exists in and for the world. our moral integrity is the foundation upon which a new form of culture ( Sub- structure) is built up for the posterity to grow in a viable culture of life, for Jesus said, " I have come that you may have life and life abundantly" and " your happiness may be complete". As a matter of fact, every decision one takes and every relation we build up with neighbor and nature around, with God and one another is going to have an impact on the yet unborn. However, the unbridled " Liberty" of the Democrat is as dangerous as the " anchored conservatism" of the theocrats or Republicans. Hence, the stand of Church, in my opinion should be to" stand for Truth ( Jesus said,"I Am the Truth..") not for Parties".
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem
techwreck
7 months ago
mgm, it is fascination to hear some one who believes that they can get God to think their way when they are at "the pearly gates". mgm must be quite a talker to believe that he/she can convince God that the Ten Commandments and the New Testament were wrong. Lots of luck in your conversation with your Creator!
vance
7 months ago
As a Pro-Life activist, I find myself and the Pro-Life movement on "The Outside of the Church". Archbishop Chaput is one of a "Handful" of Bishops who is a heroic leader of our church. The problem is that the vast majority of Bishops and priests are Liberals who are in the Back pocket of the Democrat Party. America will not convert until the vast majority of the Bishops and priests convert.
Janusz
7 months ago
I find mgm's comments absolutely fascinating...That is why Roe vs. Wade has yet to be overturned!
Let's re-elect President Obama and we will not have to worry about unions going away, because the factories will go away.....
mgm.
7 months ago
Yeah maybe the party the Bishops want me the vote for might make abortion go away they never did in the last 40 years but me thinks not ! I know they will if in power do what they can to make labor unions go away work safety rules in your plant unionize or not ,child labor laws too and lets not forget that same party's out right attempt to disfranchise voters that they believe will vote for President Obama with their all of a sudden concern for voter fraud ( yeah I know the argument against abortion too unless you are born you've never had the chance to work in a unsafe mine or foundry and experience explosions) .I think it's funny that that same party that says President Obama is following ideals out of " Old Europe" has no problems with us following the Bishops men that represent the oldest institution of "Old Europe" ( in fact older then the nations of Europe)the Catholic Church and vote President Obama out and the Republicans in! When I'am dead and stand before God I will have no problem explaining my voting ,I voted for the party the I believe would do the most good for the unborn and the living and that's not Republican .P.S.does anybody seriously think God will judge your life on how you voted ,Christ when on Earth never said what Roman political fraction to support or be against .
Kasoy
7 months ago
Aside from voting with true discernment (with a well-formed conscience), there is another more important task for Catholics: to raise morally upright children and grand children so we can assure that immoral leaders will never be elected to office in future elections and we will have more good Catholic politicians and public servants who truly live out Catholic moral values.
abey
7 months ago
The only hope for America would be to treat this election on "Moral basis".

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