Voting Guidelines for Catholics

10-13-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Leonard F. Villa

The threat of abortion remains our pre-eminent priority because it directly attacks our most vulnerable and voiceless brothers and sisters and destroys more than a million lives per year in our country alone. Introductory Note, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the Bishops Conference of the United States - https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship-title

A Catholic’s guide to voting Part I (to be continued)

Q. What are the key principles that should guide us as we enter the voting booth?
A. The three non-negotiables are key: FIRST NON-NEGOTIABLE - Protection of life in all its stages, from the first moment of conception until natural death; SECOND NON-NEGOTIABLE - Recognition and promotion of the natural structure of the family - as a union between a man and a woman based on marriage - and its defense from attempts to make it juridically equivalent to radically different forms of union which in reality harm it and contribute to its destabilization, obscuring its particular character and its irreplaceable social role; THIRD NON-NEGOTIABLE - The protection of the right of parents to educate their children. Plus promoting and defending the dignity of the human person; supporting the family and subsidiarity in local, state and national institutions; working for the common good where human rights are protected and basic responsibilities are met; and acting in solidarity with concern for all as our brothers and sisters, especially the poor and most vulnerable.

What does subsidiarity mean? The principle of subsidiarity reminds us that larger institutions in society (such as the state or federal government) should not overwhelm or interfere with smaller or local institutions (such as the family, local schools, or the Church community). Yet larger institutions have essential responsibilities when local institutions cannot adequately protect human dignity, meet human needs, or advance the common good .What does the common good mean? The common good is to be understood "the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily. It includes respect for the person as such; it should make accessible to each what is needed to lead a truly human life: food, clothing, health, work, education and culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family, and so on; and the common good requires peace, that is, the stability and security of a just order. It presupposes that authority should ensure by morally acceptable means the security of society and its members. It is the basis of the right to legitimate personal and collective defense.

Q. Is there anything Catholics must always reject?
A. Our faith reminds us that we must always reject and oppose “intrinsically evil” actions of any sort. Acts such as the taking of innocent human life are so deeply flawed that they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor. This is why the church so strongly opposes abortion and physician-assisted suicide (euthanasia). In each case, the lives of the weak and the vulnerable are endangered, and there can be no good reason to allow the taking of these innocent lives or to vote for legislation that would allow these evils to result. Likewise, our church opposes other actions that both violate human dignity and are destructive of life, such as human cloning or the destructive research on human embryos. The church condemns genocide, torture, the targeting of noncombatants in acts of terror or war, and racism, for they too are severe violations of human rights and human dignity. Related concerns are excessive consumption of material goods, unjust discrimination, and the narrowing redefinition of religious freedom.

Proposal 1: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
A statement of the Catholic Bishops of New York State

On November 5, faithful citizens throughout the nation will have the opportunity once again to exercise their sacred right to vote. Pope Francis has reminded us that as thoughtful Catholics, we must participate in the public square for the sake of the common good. Every Catholic is called to do the work of properly informing his or her conscience and voting for candidates and policies that will best advance the natural law, the protection of human rights, the dignity of the human person, the sacredness of all life, and the teachings of Christ and His Church. It is a presidential election year, and there are important votes to be cast for Congress and the state Legislature as well. Importantly, in New York, like several other states, there is also a critical referendum on the ballot.

Educating oneself will be especially important in the case of Proposal 1, sometimes referred to as the “Equal Rights Amendment.” The title suggests a noble cause, as all children of God should be treated equally under the law. However, this proposed amendment to the state Constitution is broadly written and could have dangerous consequences if enacted, which is why we oppose it and urge you to vote no.

The measure would, effectively, permanently legalize abortion without restriction and up until the moment of birth in New York. Aside from being redundant in a state that already has stripped away all abortion limitations, the amendment would render impossible any change to the law if the hearts and minds of New Yorkers were ever to shift toward protecting the child in the womb.

The amendment’s sweeping language and inclusion of “age” as a protected class could also lead to parents’ rights being stripped away. Courts could decide that parents have no authority over their minor children on important matters and permit children to make destructive and permanent decisions on their own which they could well live to regret, including but not limited to so-called “gender affirming” treatments and surgeries. The relationship between parents and their children is sacred. Parents must be able to support and guide their children in accord with the natural law, without interference from the government or courts, which would be reaching beyond their competency.

Proposal 1 is a wolf in sheep’s clothing that could lead to darkness for many New York families. This amendment disregards the lives of unborn and struggling children in the name of political agendas. It could have dangerous consequences for these children and their parents. As they look to make their voices heard in the public square, faithful Catholics should consider these consequences and vote no. Likewise, they should thoughtfully vote their informed conscience up and down the ballot so that we might usher in change for good.

September 5, 2024 Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta

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