Participation in political life is a moral obligation.  Even Thomas Aquinas calls humans “political animals.”  Voting is not a private act but shared work.   It would be so much easier to ignore the complexities and dilemmas of elections and to whom my conscience directs me.  As Catholics, we have a deep tradition of Catholic Social Teachings based on Scripture and the past 120 years of Papal documents.  “We cannot uphold an ideal of holiness that would ignore injustice in the world.” —Pope Francis, Gaudete et exsultate, par. 101     Voting cannot be based on a single-issue.  Two primary principles are honoring the human dignity of every person and the common good.  How can I know that I am voting for human dignity and the common good?  While no candidate is perfect and meets all of our Catholic values, we are required by conscience to study the record of each and participate in our common civil life as a citizen. Network Lobby has produced the Equally Sacred Checklist to help guide our vote for an elected official with the highest probability for just policies and moral leadership. Click here for this important resource, or see below.

Abortion is often held up as the divider between the moral and the immoral. But in conversations, I have not found anyone on either side of the “aisle” who is FOR abortion.  The debate is what would effectively lessen the incidence of this terrible tragedy?  One side creates policy to restrict access to control behavior.  The other side proposes to increase support services for mothers and families and reduce poverty, which decreases the demand for abortion.  When we look to Western Europe with a high level of social programs for mothers and families and universal access to healthcare, we note that the incidence of abortion is significantly lower than in the US. 

To be a moral and responsible citizen in a pluralist country requires the virtue of prudence.  Prudence matures with experience, study, and prayer as we continue to form our consciences.  Prudence applies moral principles to particular situations in particular time and place (the context).  Often the choice may not be ideal, but it offers the art of possibility.  Which possibility supports a fuller “culture of life”?   We have the privilege and duty to fully participate in our American communal life.  We, the Body of Christ are graced to foster right relationships, heal broken systems, and birth the extraordinary LOVE of God through our encounters and civil actions.