A well-informed Catholic voter
We will be voting again in early November. There is a complexity to voting. We must be thoughtful and respectful as we choose and vote. Then, after officials are elected, our responsibility as citizens is not finished. We are to live by the teachings of Christ on a daily basis, not just when we vote. In Vatican Council II, the following was said about lay people: “Lay people are not only bound to penetrate the world with a Christian spirit, but are also called to be witnesses to Christ in all things in the midst of human society.” (Guadium Et Spes, n. 43).
Therefore, we are “to penetrate the world with a Christian spirit,” reminding the world of the principles and values by which we Christians live. For this reason, we must LIVE those principles and values! For instance, we cannot be pro-life and pro-family, but not care about domestic violence or poverty. Another example is that we cannot support the police and the criminal justice system, and not pay attention to gun laws and voters’ rights. They are linked issues and we must be aware of how we live these values.
Catholic teaching on the principles of the “role of government and subsidiarity,” as well as the rights and obligation of all persons regarding “participation,” can guide us as we prepare to vote. The so-called “mid-term” elections ought to raise our awareness of the collective responsibility we have as citizens. The U.S. Bishops have taught about these principles:
“In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. . . The obligation to participate in political life is rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do.” (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, No. 13).
A well-informed Catholic voter considers many issues and respect for life is first among them. Catholics are not single-issue voters. We consider the relationships among issues as we decide for whom to vote and how to advocate for laws and policies. Some of those other issues include (not in order of priority): domestic abuse, support for pregnant mothers and families, immigration, labor rights, environmental justice, poverty, global climate change, the criminal justice system, health care, gun violence, housing, hunger, human trafficking, voting rights, war, access to clean water, etc. I have written about many of these issues in past bulletin articles. Furthermore, our “mission appeal” this last month raised our consciousness about some of these issues in Peru. Our government and elected officials influence global policy and we must be aware! We must consider the Christian spirit by which we live.
Peace, Fr. Andy