Voting: a right and responsibility
Canadian Catholics are being called upon as citizens to exercise their right to vote. The Church encourages and reasserts its belief in “the political freedom and responsibility of citizens.”1 By exercising their right to vote, citizens fulfill their duty of choosing a government and at the same time send a clear signal to the candidates being presented by the political parties. Political candidates are citizens too. In addition, they assume responsibility for the well being of the public. Their commitment and dedication are a generous contribution to society’s common good. Indeed, the purpose of the political community is the common good.2 What is the common good? It is “the sum of those conditions of … social life whereby people, families and associations more adequately and readily may attain their own perfection.”3 Examples of the application of Catholic moral and social teaching The following are examples of how Catholic moral and social teaching is to be applied. They do not constitute a political platform but a magnifying glass by which to analyze and evaluate public policies and programs. 1. Respect for life and human dignity: from conception to natural death Choosing life means:
What positions are the candidates taking? 2. Building a more just society The desire to create a more just society includes:
What positions are the candidates taking? 3. The person and the family Promoting the integrity of the person and family includes:
What positions are the candidates taking? 4. Canada in the world: providing leadership for justice and peace Believing in justice and peace includes:
What positions are the candidates taking? 5. A healthy country in a healthy environment Protecting the environment means, among other things:
What positions are the candidates taking? Voting means using your judgment Exercising the right to vote means making enlightened and well-thought-out judgments about the choices available. There are times, however, when these choices may prove very difficult. The Church reminds us that “in this context, 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 in which the fundamental content of faith and morals is replaced by the introduction of proposals differing from this content or opposing it.”4 It is a sign of a healthy community when informed and responsible citizens engage in an ongoing dialogue on majorsocial issues with their political leaders. This is precisely the kind of community we should strive to support and develop.5 No less is expected of us, since we are all called to be truly responsible for one another, especially for the most vulnerable members of our society. August 2015 Episcopal Commission for Justice and Peace Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops ____________ 1 Second Vatican Council, The Church in the Modern World, no. 76.3 2 Second Vatican Council, The Church in the Modern World, n. 74.1 3 Second Vatican Council, The Church in the Modern World, n. 74.1. 2 4 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Note: On Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life, no. 4. See also the Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2242. 5 For key social and political issues of importance to the Bishops of Canada, see the website of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops at www.cccb.ca. .
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Father's Blog
Rev. Fr. Christopher Tracey
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