. . . That many Catholics (of good will) are unclear or uncertain about Catholic teaching regarding the issue of voting?

You have probably heard that ‘a Catholic has to weigh the various positions of the Candidates for public office’. . .

That is true, however. . . not all moral acts are equivalent in consequence. (For instance, the act of murder is judged and penalized differently than say, the act of grand theft. Both are morally wrong but have very different consequences). Not all moral acts are the same, and not all moral issues are the same.

The Catholic Church defends human life from conception to natural death. Abortion is never a morally acceptable act, without exception. Abortion is never a morally tolerable option. Euthanasia is never a morally acceptable act. Both are the deliberate taking of a human life – premeditated murder. The American Bishops in their teaching document “Living the Gospel of Life” list different moral issues such as racism, poverty, employment, education, housing, and health care as important matters to consider, and Catholics must work for the best outcome on these very important issues. But to be absolutely clear, the Bishops also say that “being right on such issues can never excuse a wrong choice regarding direct attacks on innocent human life. . . All direct attacks on innocent human life, such as abortion and euthanasia, strike at the very foundation of all other rights”. The most fundamental right is the right to life. There is not a single issue or even a list of issues that would justify the killing of even one unborn child. Bishop Thomas Olmsted, the retired Bishop of Phoenix, writes the following in his wonderful “Catholics in the Public Square”: “In preparing to vote, Catholics need to understand their faith so that their consciences are properly formed. Subsequent to this formation, it is important to research all of the important issues and candidates that will appear on the ballot. Only after sufficient preparation and prayer, is a Catholic fully ready to discharge his or her responsibilities as a faithful citizen and cast a meaningful vote.”

While the Catholic Church does not ‘endorse’ candidates for public office, much less any political party, our Bishops, as individual Bishops, and as a National body (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops), regularly address important issues, as official “teachers of the Faith.” They assist us in the right formation of conscience, so that we can carry out our civil duties and responsibilities based upon the guidance of the Holy Spirit in union with the Church’s teaching. As Catholics, we believe that the Church enjoys the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit in a way that is far greater and more certain than that of the Holy Spirit’s guidance of any individual. Our belief in this Spirit-breathed authority, which marks a difference between ourselves and other Christian churches, is called the Magistrium – the teaching Office of the Church – endowed with authority from God and providing clear and certain teaching for the People of God.

As we prepare to vote, take the time to be an informed voter, and always vote with a well-formed conscience! Copies of Bishop Olmsted’s excellent little book is available at the entrances of the church for you to pick up, read, and to share with others!