The New Evangelization and Its Connection to Voting In November: Strive To Heal, Elevate and Perfect Our Culture

9/24/2012

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actions are so deeply flawed that they are always opposed to the authentic good of persons. These are called 'intrinsically evil' actions. They must always be rejected and opposed and must never be supported or condoned. A prime example is the intentional taking of innocent human life, as in abortion and euthanasia" (FC 22).

Blessed John Paul II wrote that "abortion and euthanasia have become preeminent threats to human dignity because they directly attack life itself, the most fundamental human good and the condition for all others" (Living the Gospel of Life 5 [qtd. in Faithful Citizenship]).

It is difficult to imagine how the health of our nation can be improved in any way by placing political officials who support the intentional killing of unborn children and other intrinsic evils into positions of authority and power over others. To do so is not to heal, elevate and perfect, but rather to wound, dismantle, and destroy.

Nevertheless, some will here object. It is said that voting is complex, messy, with all kinds of social justice issues to be considered, so it is incorrect to give too much attention to intrinsic evils. Those who refuse to vote for anti-life politicians are infected by tunnel-vision, they say. Often cited is the following quote from the Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life: "The Christian faith is an integral unity, and thus it is incoherent to isolate some particular element to the detriment of the whole of Catholic doctrine. A political commitment to a single isolated aspect of the Church's social doctrine does not exhaust one's responsibility towards the common good" (4).

However, the above quote must not be read in isolation of what comes before it: "It must be noted also that a well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals" (ibid.). Politicians who adhere to intrinsic evils also, more often than not, support them and advance them, turning them into political programs and agendas.

A vote for anti-life politicians has the effect of perpetuating intrinsic evils through the ongoing de-formation of society. While it is true that a "political commitment to a single isolated aspect of the Church's social doctrine does not exhaust one's responsibility towards the common good," it must also be remembered that our responsibility toward the common good requires that we oppose with "maximum determination" those intrinsic evils which attack the right to human life:

In Christifideles Laici Blessed John Paul II wrote: "Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights -- for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture -- is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination" (38).

Authentic participation in the New Evangelization requires one's proper exercise of the right and duty to vote. But that cannot occur in the absence of careful, reasoned and informed moral discernment; nor can it occur if the hierarchy of evils is ignored and moral distinctions are rejected. For Catholics, living as a citizen of an earthly nation cannot be separated from living in the household of God, as a son or daughter of the Father, as if our Faith can be compartmentalized or put aside one moment and embraced the next. Nor can our Christian faith be set aside in the voting booth with indifference to Christ and his Church.

The most relevant question is this: when I stand before Jesus Christ, will I be able to justify my voting choices, or will whatever I say merely be an attempt to rationalize them? The answer to that question makes all the difference.

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F. K. Bartels is a Catholic writer who knows his Catholic Faith is one of the greatest gifts a man could ever receive. He is a contributing writer for Catholic Online. Visit him also at joyintruth.com
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Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Voting in November, November election, formed conscience, forming conscience, voting as an informed Catholic, teaching of the Church on voting, intrinsic evils, moral discernment, Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Republican, Democrat, Social Just

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1 - 10 of 11 Comments

mgm.
8 months ago
Vance' If the EPA and OCHA made jobs go away why then did the Republicans when they control the government on and off over the last 40 years make those departments go away and save millions of industrial jobs and gain the vote of the workers of the saved jobs? Let me see radical unions made jobs go away ,if the job goes away why should a person need a union ?the union loses membership , that no longer pay dues,dues that the unions can use to push their radical left-wing agenda .and active membership the Boss can tell who to vote for.
vance
8 months ago
mgm, no, Obama hasn't been around for the last 40 years but the EPA, OCHA and radical left-wing Unions were. These are what shut down our manufacturing and sent them over seas.
mgm.
8 months ago
Janusz.The factories have been going away the last 40 years of my working life,I can drive around my home town and see the empty lots that plants sat on that I once worked at.I was lucky to go from one decent paying job to the next as plants shut down I don't think President Obama been in office for 40 years.
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem
8 months ago
F.K. Bartel's article on .New Evangelization' in the context of the November election is " integral, holistic" to heal, elevate and perfect our culture. The spirituality and values we live is the culture we produce. To that extent, man cannot isolate spirituality from socio-political life. In this sense, the separation of Religion and Politics, "give to God what belongs to God and to Caesar what belongs to Caesar" becomes pragmatically hard for the laity unlike the hierarchical Church. The Church exists in and for the world. our moral integrity is the foundation upon which a new form of culture ( Sub- structure) is built up for the posterity to grow in a viable culture of life, for Jesus said, " I have come that you may have life and life abundantly" and " your happiness may be complete". As a matter of fact, every decision one takes and every relation we build up with neighbor and nature around, with God and one another is going to have an impact on the yet unborn. However, the unbridled " Liberty" of the Democrat is as dangerous as the " anchored conservatism" of the theocrats or Republicans. Hence, the stand of Church, in my opinion should be to" stand for Truth ( Jesus said,"I Am the Truth..") not for Parties".
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem
techwreck
8 months ago
mgm, it is fascination to hear some one who believes that they can get God to think their way when they are at "the pearly gates". mgm must be quite a talker to believe that he/she can convince God that the Ten Commandments and the New Testament were wrong. Lots of luck in your conversation with your Creator!
vance
8 months ago
As a Pro-Life activist, I find myself and the Pro-Life movement on "The Outside of the Church". Archbishop Chaput is one of a "Handful" of Bishops who is a heroic leader of our church. The problem is that the vast majority of Bishops and priests are Liberals who are in the Back pocket of the Democrat Party. America will not convert until the vast majority of the Bishops and priests convert.
Janusz
8 months ago
I find mgm's comments absolutely fascinating...That is why Roe vs. Wade has yet to be overturned!
Let's re-elect President Obama and we will not have to worry about unions going away, because the factories will go away.....
mgm.
8 months ago
Yeah maybe the party the Bishops want me the vote for might make abortion go away they never did in the last 40 years but me thinks not ! I know they will if in power do what they can to make labor unions go away work safety rules in your plant unionize or not ,child labor laws too and lets not forget that same party's out right attempt to disfranchise voters that they believe will vote for President Obama with their all of a sudden concern for voter fraud ( yeah I know the argument against abortion too unless you are born you've never had the chance to work in a unsafe mine or foundry and experience explosions) .I think it's funny that that same party that says President Obama is following ideals out of " Old Europe" has no problems with us following the Bishops men that represent the oldest institution of "Old Europe" ( in fact older then the nations of Europe)the Catholic Church and vote President Obama out and the Republicans in! When I'am dead and stand before God I will have no problem explaining my voting ,I voted for the party the I believe would do the most good for the unborn and the living and that's not Republican .P.S.does anybody seriously think God will judge your life on how you voted ,Christ when on Earth never said what Roman political fraction to support or be against .
Kasoy
8 months ago
Aside from voting with true discernment (with a well-formed conscience), there is another more important task for Catholics: to raise morally upright children and grand children so we can assure that immoral leaders will never be elected to office in future elections and we will have more good Catholic politicians and public servants who truly live out Catholic moral values.
abey
8 months ago
The only hope for America would be to treat this election on "Moral basis".

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