This is a special edition of 7 Quick Takes Friday. This is NOT a political blog. There is, however, an important US mid-term election next Tuesday with repercussions important to faithful Catholics.
This format was launched by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary. Some Fridays I participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. In this special case, the items are all related.
Catholics have a moral obligation to vote and to do so with a well formed conscience:
Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country…
…The Council exhorted Christians to fulfill their duties faithfully in the spirit of the Gospel. It is a mistake to think that, because we have here no lasting city, but seek the city which is to come, we are entitled to shirk our earthly responsibilities; this is to forget that by our faith we are bound all the more to fulfill these responsibilities…
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation…
USCCB
The EWTN Guide to Catholic Teaching and Voting is very good. The Most Rev. Raymond (Cardinal-designate) Burke (Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura and Archbishop Emeritus of St. Louis) also published guidance on the obligation to vote properly. Finally, CatholicVote.org is quite informative. Update: see also Marcel’s An Open Letter To Politicians.
My list (consistent with the above) of areas in the US election next week that should be of particular concern to faithful Catholic voters include:
- Life issues, especially abortion – pro-abortion candidates support an intrinsic evil through their votes. There is no valid justification for any faithful Catholic to vote for a pro-abortion candidate over a pro-life one.
- Homosexual “marriage” – is an attack on the family, harmful to society and harmful to Catholics who are necessarily part of that society. It is seriously misguided to believe that the normalization of the grave sins embodied in homosexual acts do not affect you and your family. There is no God given right to such sinful unions. Opposing sinful behavior is never discrimination.
- Slipping into socialism – an attack on true Catholic social justice beliefs. Saints and popes have warned us of the evil inherent in this political philosophy.
Your vote is powerful and desperately needed. There is no charge. You can make a difference, but not if you sit on the sidelines. Please vote!
The Catholic “five non-negotiables” briefly explained by Tim Staples:
Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama speak on socialism and nationalized healthcare:
Not Democrat. Not Republican. American, the last best hope:
As Catholics, we hate it when non-Catholics tell us (incorrectly) what we believe. We also hate it when we see our faith distorted then attacked by the “press.” No matter what your political views, we at least share a lot with the “tea party” in suffering those same problems. Bill Whittle explains what the tea party actually believes and – very importantly – why. You might be surprised:
Bill continues with a very good defense of the Catholic doctrine of subsidiarity (herein discussed as “elitism” for a wider audience):
Bill concludes his excellent primer by explaining the very, very basics of microeconomics:
The secular mainstream media (MSM), never friends of Catholics BTW, is in a panic. It would appear that despite their best efforts, many American voters are discovering the truth anyway and thinking for themselves. Andrew Klavan explains their frustration:
Next Tuesday we have a choice. Elections have consequences and when the polls close, we must live with ours.
…this choice:
…or this choice:
Choose wisely. Vote Catholic.
Loyal readers, there will be no new post next Tuesday in order that this one may remain the first item through election day. It also gives me a day off! The usual (Tuesday / Friday) schedule continues next Friday.
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