JUSTFaithful Citizenship

Should Catholics Vote?
You men and women in public life, called
to serve the common good, exclude no
one from your concerns; take special care
of the weakest sectors of society.

– John Paul II, World Day of Peace, 1997

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As Catholics, we are called to participate fully in the political
process of our nation. One of the most effective ways we can do
this is by participating in primarie elections and caucuses and by voting. Voting allows us to promote the social values
of our faith, like protecting human life and dignity, building a
just and fair society, and helping the poor and vulnerable. But
when it comes to choosing a candidate who best represents these
values, we are often left wondering – just how should a faithful
Catholic vote?

In recent years some have suggested that we can answer this question
by applying a simple “litmus test” of a few selected issues.
But common sense tells us that deciding who to vote for is much
more complicated. Some candidates tell us what we want to hear
in order to get elected. Others, once in office, lack the political
will to follow through on their promises. These are things
Catholics must consider before going into the voting booth.
Most importantly, however, we need to understand that our
Church’s social teachings call us to consider a broad range of
important issues – on everything from poverty to war, human
rights, abortion, and the environment. There is no Catholic
voting formula, and there is rarely, if ever, a perfect candidate
for Catholic voters. Deciding how to vote can be difficult,
but it is a task we all must take seriously and prayerfully in order
to be faithful citizens.

Catholic Social Teaching
The social values of our faith are expressed in Papal letters, encyclicals,
and council documents as well as the Scriptures and
writings of our early Church fathers. Together, these documents
make up the body of Catholic Social Teaching.

Seven Key Themes of Catholic Social Teaching
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Call to Family, Community, and Participation
Rights and Responsibilities – to One Another, Families, and
Society
Prioritizing the Needs of the Poor and Vulnerable
The Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers
Solidarity with all Humanity, Regardless of National, Racial,
Ethnic, and Ideological differences
Care of God’s Creation

– U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Three Principles for Catholic Voting
Deciding how to vote is not easy, but the following three principles
can help you make a sound and faithful decision:

I. Inform Your Conscience
Inform your conscience on the Church’s Social Teaching by reading
documents such as the U.S. Bishops’ Faithful Citizenship
(www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship), and by talking with your pastor.
Research statements and voting records of the candidates on issues such
as the respect for human dignity, justice, and peace.
Discuss issues of Catholic citizenship with family, friends and Church
officials.

II. Apply Prudence to Choices
Look for the candidate who will do the most in concrete terms to promote
the dignity of human life, justice, and peace.
Reject “Litmus Tests” that reduce Catholic issues to one or a few issues.
Voting for a candidate who fails to endorse all of Church teaching can be
justifiable if the candidate would produce results consistent with Church
principles once in office.

III. Vote for the Common Good
Will the candidate promote a society in which neighbors see each other as
brothers and sisters of God? Will the candidate reject a get-what-you-can
culture that validates greed and materialism?
What will the candidate do to address affronts to human life and dignity
such as poverty, torture, abortion, war, the death penalty, and a lack of
freedom and opportunity?
Does the candidate believe that the health, security, and prosperity of
our nation are inextricably linked to the health, security and prosperity
of the rest of the world? In short, does s/he believe we are in this together
or going it alone?
Does this candidate support an economic system that demands opportunity
and human dignity for all – a living wage, health care, affordable
education, and human rights?
Does the candidate put principles ahead of power and personal profits?
Do they respect the sacred trust between citizens and their public officials
to put the common good ahead of special interests?

Some Issues Important to Catholics
Abortion
Death Penalty
Discrimination
Environment
Euthanasia
Genocide
Global Arms Trade
Human Rights
Immigration
Jobs
Marriage
Minimum Wage
Nuclear Disarmament
Poverty
Religious Freedom
Stem-Cell Research
War
Workers’ Rights

– U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,
Faithful Citizenship, 2003

“Our human interdependence...is
not a feeling of vague compassion or
shallow distress at the misfortunes of
so many people, both near and far. On
the contrary, it is a firm and persevering
determination to commit oneself to the
common good; that is to say to the good
of all and of each individual, because we
are all really responsible for all.”
– Pope John Paul II, 1989

The common good is not the same as charity. As St. Augustine
teaches, “charity is no substitute for justice withheld.” A common
good culture protects the middle class, as well as the rich
and poor. At its core lies the Catholic belief that our lives are
interdependent. We look out for our neighbors not out of
charity but out of love, and the understanding that we are
all safer, healthier, and freer in a world where we take care
of one another.

A culture of the common good demands justice for all Americans,
as well as citizens of other nations. It is based on a belief
that the health, security, and prosperity of American must
go hand-in-hand with the well-being of all peoples, and that
our common humanity must be made stronger than our divisions.
We are, in a moral and strategic sense, in this together.
As people of faith, we must overcome a culture of excessive
materialism and individualism, and see our duty to the human
community as essential to being responsible individuals.
The common good is not solely a Catholic value – the first
three words of the U.S. Constitution, “We the people,” remind
us that concern for the common good is also a founding principle
of our nation.

Frequently Asked Questions
Are all Catholic issues equally important?
No. While we ought to consider the full range of Catholic issues
when we go to the voting booth, this does not mean that
all these issues are equally important. Issues that bear directly on
the life and dignity of human beings, such as abortion, poverty,
torture, and war, demand our most urgent attention.
Pope John Paul II, for example, told an American audience in
2000 that the poverty of billions of men, women, and children
is “the one issue that most challenges our human and
Christian consciences.”
Some have argued that because some issues are never morally
acceptable, these alone must determine our vote. This point of
view not supported by Church teaching. Our challenge is to embrace
the fullness of Catholic issues and make an informed and
balanced decision that will best provide for the
common goodof all humanity.
As Catholics, we vote for the common good because it is at
the core of our Faith. We all want to live in a world in which
everyone enjoys security, freedom, and the opportunity to lead
fulfilled lives. And we want our children to have this as well.
This is only possible if we make prudent political decisions and
work to build a society based on justice and dignity.
As long as you inform your conscience, use prudence, and maintain
a commitment to the common good, you are well on your way to
making a decision that is consistent with the call of our Catholic faith.