By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Bishops from the state of New York have issued a new pastoral letter stating that the right to life trumps all other issues in the voting booth, including party loyalty and other issues such as the economy or education.
In a pastoral letter entitled “Our Cherished Right, Our Solemn Duty,” Archbishop Timothy Dolan and seven other bishops are reminding Catholics that they are called to look at politics the same way they are called to look at everything – through lens of faith.
” While we are free to join any political party that we choose or none at all, we must be cautious when we vote not to be guided solely by party loyalty or by self interest. Rather, we should be guided in evaluating the important issues facing our state and nation by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teachings of His Church.”
In view of this, Catholics must be aware that not every issue is of equal moral gravity. As they state in their recent document, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the inalienable right to life of every innocent human person outweighs other concerns where Catholics may use prudential judgment, such as how best to meet the needs of the poor or to increase access to health care for all.
“The right to life is the right through which all others flow. To the extent candidates reject this fundamental right by supporting an objective evil, such as legal abortion, euthanasia or embryonic stem cell research, Catholics should consider them less acceptable for public office. As Faithful Citizenship teaches, ‘Those who knowingly, willingly, and directly support public policies or legislation that undermine fundamental moral principles cooperate with evil.’”
Even though the job of investigating candidate positions may be daunting, it must be done. “Thus it is absolutely necessary for good citizens to take a careful look at every candidate and to vote accordingly for the better candidates.”
Some key questions to ask candidates are:
– Do you agree with the need to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Roe v. Wade, which struck down all state laws criminalizing abortion and established a woman’s “right” to abort her unborn child in the womb?
– Do you oppose the state’s “Reproductive Health Act” or the federal “Freedom of Choice Act” which both go beyond Roe v. Wade, guaranteeing a fundamental right to abortion with no restrictions or regulations?
– Do you support a ban on physician-assisted suicide?
– Do you oppose government funding for human embryonic stem cell research?
– Do you oppose the death penalty?
– Do you oppose using taxpayer money to fund abortions?
The document contains a list of other questions to ask such as how the candidate stands on parental rights in education, protecting marriage, immigration reform, access to health care, protecting the poor and preserving religious liberty.
“While we as the Bishops of New York State cannot and do not endorse candidates for office, we encourage you to properly form your conscience by reflecting on the moral and social teachings of our Church,” the bishops conclude.
“. . . (A)nd we strongly urge you to vote on Election Day. For when you vote, you are exercising your cherished right and your solemn duty as Americans and as Catholics.”
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