The 'Elusive' Catholic Vote

2008-04-18T10:28:00.000-07:00

The presidential election looms closer with each passing day, and everyone with a keyboard and a voice is eager to sound off.
Devout Catholics in the United States are often left in a difficult position when it comes to electing their leaders. The economy, the war in Iraq, our unilateral approach to foreign policy - these issues leave all voters reeling as we attempt to find footing and a solid moral decision.
Many Catholic writers, clergy, and laity have spoken in the last couple decades, and their voice is clear. Vote for the candidate that is against abortion. Apparently, it’s that simple. Watch some sound bites from the candidates, read an article about how they’ve treated the issue in the past, and their you have it! Choice made.
Deacon Keith Fournier of Catholic.org has written articles at length concerning the issue. He clearly states in reference to abortion and embryonic stem cell research that he “…will not support any candidate who is wrong on this issue…” I respect the man’s opinion, particularly since it seems to be the zombie-like mantra that most practicing Catholic voters repeat ad nauseum. One can hardly speak to a devout Christian without them stressing vehemently that this is the single issue of our time; that the Almighty will most certainly mete out swift vengeance to us here and in the hereafter if we do not vote solely on this topic. I cannot help but wonder if perhaps we aren’t being a little short sighted, and perhaps a tad irresponsible.
First of all, perhaps this sounds selfish - but is it not our duty as mothers and fathers to care about the children we do have? That is to say, the economy effects everyone, not just pro-abortion pundits. The social teaching of the Catholic Church in the United States asks it’s members to forget about your wallet, forget about the family you love and strive to live for. You need only think about the unborn children, lest you dance with sins of a grave matter. Some go as far as to say that voting for a pro-abortion candidate is tantamount to full cooperation with abortion itself.
Am I being selfish? Maybe. But as Catholics and parents is that not our vocation? To put our family first? We know we are to put others before ourselves, but others before out spouse and children as well?
Another issue markedly absent in Catholic political discussion is the environment. Granted, Pope Benedict XVI has been clear that our duty as human beings is to be responsible and care for our planet. How do I know this? I certainly didn’t read it in a Church bulletin or during a politically charged homily. The discussion seems to be a moot point to United States Catholics, despite the fact that abortion and stem-cell research will be a distant memory if our planet becomes completely uninhabitable due to negligence.
As Catholic voters, we are all used to playing the numbers game when determining who is the ‘more’ pro-life candidate. We must look at abortion, stem-cell research, the death penalty, etc. We should even look at the war in Iraq and our foreign policy - which candidate is likely to cause less suffering and death in the overall picture?
It seems that due to the influence of a few rather obtuse individuals, Catholics have become one-issue voters. This becomes self-defeating because candidates know this, and they can play it to their advantage. Senator John McCain, while he supports the death penalty, the war in Iraq, embryonic stem cell research, and does not seem to care for the environment, he claims he is against abortion. With that single declaration, he seems to have obtained the Catholic vote.
Aren’t we better than that?

The Contradiction of American Catholics

2007-09-11T13:46:00.001-07:00

As an orthodox Roman Catholic, I am often frustrated by the attitudes of many people who share my religion. Catholicism in America has been Protestantized to the point that well meaning Catholics do not realize the inherent contradictions and fallacies of their beliefs. As a result, non-Catholics, understandably, do not have a clear conception of what it is to be Catholic, let alone know what the Church teaches.
One of the main things that bug me is how incredibly judgmental Catholics are. I repeatedly hear 'orthodox' Catholics talk about how 'so-and-so' committed suicide (as an example) and how 'so-and-so' is going to hell. Random church goers weren't given the authority to condemn people to hell. Also, wasn't it precisely that attitude that Jesus railed about against the Pharisees? "You brood of vipers..." ring a bell?
In order for something to be a mortal sin (a sin that is serious enough to cut a soul off from God's grace, rendering salvation impossible until forgiveness is sought) it must meet three criteria:

1.) Action must be a grave matter
2.) Person committing the grave matter must be aware of it's severity and sinfulness
3.) Full consent of the will

Now let's take a closer look at the example of a grave matter I provided above: suicide. Generally speaking, a person that is in a state of such despair that they are willing to take their own life, is probably not playing with a full deck. Usually these people are very disturbed emotionally (perhaps by traumatic experiences or simply their state in life) or may have mental pathologies, rendering rational thought improbable. When factors like these are present, it is impossible to say if a person can give their full consent to an action. Actions made under duress of any kind may not be a basis for eternal damnation, and only God can determine where a soul ends up after death. Based on this, I do not condone assuming anyone is in hell, from Mother Teresa to Adolf Hitler.
The idea that people who commit suicide automatically go to hell is so prevalent that it has even been represented in the mediocre film "Constantine", where one of the main character's sister kills herself, and based on that the Catholic Church would not give her a Catholic funeral because that person was damned. (I'm not aware of any Catholic being refused a funeral anyway, it's pretty absurd.)
Let's move on to the idea of being 'pro-life'. Now, I think it is fair to say that any Catholic claiming loyalty to the teaching of Rome will agree that abortion is reprehensible at best. However, I find that their are many Catholics that while they claim to be against abortion (and to them that means they are 'pro-life') have no objection to the death penalty. How this is possible, I'm not entirely sure. I wonder if they realize that 'death' is the opposite of 'life'. I wonder if they ever take a minute to think for second, "Hmm... I am pro-life and I advocate the death penalty. Something sounds a little off here, oh well!"
My understanding is that per John Paul II, the death penalty can only be considered if the person still poses danger to society at large even if incarcerated. I can't think of any persons that meet that description off the top of my head, but I'm sure they're out there.
Now for the topic that irritates me the most: marijuana. Catholics, although they may not be conscious of it, already agree that the civil law is not a litmus test for morality. If it were, they would not be against abortion. However, I have been amazed at how many 'orthodox' Catholics are staunchly, emotionally opposed to the use of marijuana.
When you approach them and ask why, invariably one of their first responses is "Well it's against the law". Getting by this is easy, and when you do, the next is "Well it's sinful".
For some time now I have been honestly thinking about the alleged 'sinfulness' of marijuana, and have questioned Catholics on the subject extensively. They will often say that the Church is against it, and repeat this ad nauseum, although they are ever unable to produce documentation of any kind regarding the subject.
I wonder if these people are aware of an elderly man who resided in California and was using marijuana legally and medicinally to control nausea. Federal officers arrested him, threw him in prison, and put him on a different nausea medication. It wasn't long before he was found dead in his cell, choked to death on his own vomit.

These are just a couple examples of the attitudes I mentioned in the beginning, and it all stems from poor catechism to Catholic laity. Most Catholic school teachers are one of two types: Heretical or Reactionary. Either way, 50% of the time students are not learning legit Catholic teaching.
We cannot expect a new 'springtime' at any point this century unless we begin to teach our children solid Catholic doctrine at home and begin to distinguish our attitudes from our erring Christian brothers, the Protestants.

An Orthodox Liberal Catholic

The 'Elusive' Catholic Vote

The Contradiction of American Catholics