Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Dallas (Agenzia Fides) – Two Bishops from the US Catholic Bishops' Conference, Bishop Kevin J. Farrell of Dallas and Bishop Kevin W. Vann of Fort Worth, have issued a joint statement encouraging Catholics to vote in the upcoming elections, in accord with their fundamental convictions to defend life, the family, and marriage between a man and a woman.
The Bishops recall the fact that October, in the United States, is Respect Life Month and therefore, as Catholics, it is the perfect time to “reflect upon the gift of life...and focus our attention on the many attacks against human life that exist in our culture today.” These are of special relevance in light of the upcoming Presidential elections in the country, “where the protection of life itself, particularly that of the unborn, is very much at stake.” Thus, there is a great importance in voting with a well-formed conscience that is aware of “the Church's clear and unambiguous teaching on life issues.”
In this sense, the Bishops recall the document published by the US Catholic Bishops in November of last year, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” in which clear guidelines were offered to aid the faithful in forming their conscience in regards to the many potent questions of today. The two Bishops clarify the definition of “intrinsic evils,” that “can never under any circumstance or condition by morally justified.” Among these are abortion, the promotion of same-sex unions, and public policies that allow euthanasia, the repression of religious liberty, racial discrimination, and destructive human embryonic stem cell research.
Abortion and euthanasia have become constant threats to human dignity. In fact, the Bishops denounce the fact that “each year in our nation, more than one million lives are lost through legalized abortion. Countless other lives are also lost through embryonic stem cell research.” Thus, in the coming months, as the nation once again elects its leaders, it “affords us an opportunity to promote the culture of life in our nation. As Catholics we are morally obligated to pray, to act, and to vote to abolish the evil of abortion in America, limiting it as much as we can until it is finally abolished.”
In addition to the large problem of abortion, there are many other issues that are also cause for concern among Catholics, such as immigration reform, healthcare, the economy and its solvency, care and concern for the poor, and the war on terror. For these problems, there are “many possible solutions...and there can be reasonable debate among Catholics” on these possible solutions. These are matters of “prudential judgment” that cannot be equivalent to those that are “intrinsic evils,” such as abortion.
They go on to explain “the only moral possibilities for a Catholic to be able to vote in good conscience for a candidate who supports this intrinsic evil,” which would be “if both candidates running for office support abortion or 'abortion rights,' a Catholic would be forced to then look at the other important issues and through their vote try to limit the evil done” and “if another intrinsic evil outweighs the evil of abortion.” However, they clarify the fact that “to vote for a candidate who supports the intrinsic evil of abortion, or 'abortion rights,' when there is a morally acceptable alternative would be to cooperate in the evil – and therefore, morally impermissible.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 20/10/2008)
