As the Holy Father taught in Deus Caritas Est, “The direct duty to work for a just ordering of society is proper to the lay faithful” (no. 29). This duty is more critical than ever in todayʼs political environment, where Catholics may feel politically disenfranchised, sensing that no party and too few candidates fully share the Churchʼs comprehensive commitment to the life and dignity of every human being from conception to natural death. Yet this is not a time for retreat or discouragement; rather, it is a time for renewed engagement. (“Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.)
WHAT WE HOLD
MOST DEAR
MOST DEAR
As lay Catholics struggling to be faithful to the call of our bishops, we have arrived at the following judgments.
When going to vote, what lies closest to the heart surfaces: we hold most dear the experience of the fact of Christ, present in the Church. We do not hope for salvation from politics or politicians. Nevertheless, we understand the critically important role that politics plays in our common American life.
For this reason, two concerns matter most to us and we will vote according to which candidates and parties demonstrate an authentic care for these concerns.
First: Freedom of Religion. Political power must recognize faith’s undeniable contribution to the defense and broadening of human reason and its promotion of authentic human progress. This is a guarantee of freedom for everyone, not only for Christians. And this freedom must include the freedom to speak, convince, act, and build in the public square; religious freedom relegated to one’s private life is not religious freedom at all.
Second: The Common Good. Those who hold political power must do so as a service to the common good of the entire nation.
We consider the recognition and defense of three self-evident truths regarding human beings the minimum commitment to the common good: the right to life from conception to natural death; the irreplaceable value of the family, founded on the marriage between a man and woman; and the right of every human being to be born into and educated by that family formed by his or her parents.
For the common good, we further seek politicians and political parties that value subsidiarity, a partnership between the public and private sectors facilitated by a robust non-profit sector. At the same time, we seek persons engaged in politics who recognize that subsidiarity can never annul the solidarity we owe to all our brothers and sisters living in this nation. There is no care for the common good that ignores basic human needs of millions in our nation.
These judgments will determine our support for particular candidates and political initiatives in the upcoming elections.
September 2008
Communion and Liberation USA
7 comments:
Good guidance. I'd have like some mention of solidarity along with the common good.
Just a note to say that I added the bolding to better reflect the typography of the flyer.
Thanks, I see it now. Comment retracted. I was reading quickly
and I received new corrections to the punctuation today. I'll fix them when I get a chance...
Please, there are other concerns:
It is a scandal that an outwardly Christian administration acts against the teachings of our Lord:
The administration has a doctrine of preventative war, but Jesus said
"All that take the sword shall perish with the sword."
The administration promotes tax cuts as a moral good, but Jesus said "Render therefore to Caesar the things, that are Caesar's: and to God the things that are God's."
The administration uses severe interrogation techniques, but Jesus said "Love your enemies."
Talk with non-American non-Christians. The last eight years make not just America, but even Christianity seem evil.
Edmund,
Aren't your concerns part of the second criteria above, the common good?
Yours,
Fred
Some concerns of mine
I'm concerned many folks will vote against Obama b/c they're being racist which is a grave
sin.
I'm concerned many so-called "conservatives" are being racist against Mexicans, and Latinos in general, regarding the immigration debate.
I'm concerned that even though Republicans controlled the White House and Congress for
six years but did nothing to stop or limit abortions.
I'm concerned even if Roe vs. Wade is overturned that the abortion issue will just be returned to the states. Many states will choose to allow abortions. This doesn't resolve this moral dilemma.
I'm concerned that all of McCain's foreign policy advisors are the Neocons that got us in
the Iraq and Afghanistan mess to begin with.
I'm concerned that this country is addicted to oil, a 20th century industry. I'm concerned many folks are deaf and not hearing the clarion call of Thomas Friedman towards embracing ET (Environmental Technology, the 21st century industry.)
I'm concerned our educational system is not competitive with the rest of the world.
I'm concerned that our country, once the greatest super-power, is on her downward slope
down off the mountain-top. India followed by China are the next giants.
I'm concerned many folks can't afford decent health-care in this country.
I'm concerned of the debt this country has, as well as the personal debt many folks now
carry because of our consumeristic and materialistic culture.
I'm concerned our country is falling into another Great Depression. How many lives have
already been destroyed? How many homes have been lost? How many life-savings are
now gone?
I'm concerned the infrastructure (the highways, the bridges, the levies, etc.) in this country
are falling into disrepair.
I'm concerned my kids are going to grow up in my country being worst off than I was.
I'm concerned about the salvation of my soul. I entrust everything to Our Lady.
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