Voting As If What I Believe Matters

A little over a week from now, November 5, I plan on going to Sauk Centre’s polling place. Then I’ll vote.

I’m not looking forward to that. But I’ll vote anyway.

That’s because I’m an American. Voting is part of being a responsible citizen.

Since I’m also a Catholic, voting responsibly involves comparing how we should behave to what the candidates have been saying and — perhaps more to the point — doing.

If one of the candidates struck me as an obviously-good choice, then I would cast my vote for that one: and maybe say that you should, too.

But I’m stuck with the reality we’re experiencing. So instead, I’ll —

• Share links to resources that discuss the ‘should behave’ aspects of public life
• Mention why I think voting makes sense
• Look forward to not seeing election angst in my news feed

This week’s post is shorter than most:

• Citizenship Without Hate and Fear: Resources
• Hot Button Issues and Loving My Country Anyway
  • Obligations
• Prayer and Perspective

Citizenship Without Hate and Fear: Resources

First off, two links: (1) to a booklet in PDF format, a bit over 50 pages; and (2) to a page recommending that we talk and act as if our neighbors matter, with links to resources that might help.

1. “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship ”
   A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States,
   United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
2. Civilize It: A Better Kind of Politics
   usccb.org/civilizeit

I think the booklet’s “Introductory Note” makes sense: reminding us that people and principles matter.

I’m quoting this bit, partly because it discusses the issue with more authority than I’ve got:

“Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” , Introductory Note, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops [emphasis mine]

“…Election seasons, therefore, should contain a sense of gratitude and hope. Our love for this country, our patriotism, properly impels us to vote.

“But increasingly, it seems, election seasons are a time of anxiety and spiritual trial. Political rhetoric is increasingly angry, seeking to motivate primarily through division and hatred. Fear can be an effective tool for raising money. The most heated arguments online often get the most clicks. Demonizing the other can win votes.

“We propose once more the moral framework of ‘Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship’ precisely as pastors, inspired by the Good Samaritan, with the hope of binding these wounds and healing these bitter divisions. This document is not based on personalities or partisanship, the latest news cycle, or what’s trending on social media. Instead, it reflects the perennial role of the Church in public life in proclaiming timeless principles: the infinite worth and dignity of every human life, the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity. Not sure what these mean? We invite you to read a copy of ‘Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship’ and learn more….”

The USCCB has a page on their website with the same title, and a link to the booklet, along with other resources:

“Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship ” , Office of Justice and Peace, USCCB

“…Learn More

“Read ‘Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship ‘ : A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States (en Español), which provides a framework for Catholics in the United States. (English PDF | PDF en Español)

“As a complement to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the bishops also approved six new bulletin inserts (en Español) to help the Catholic faithful put their faith into action.

• New Introductory Note to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship | en Español
• The Role of the Church in American Political Life | en Español
• The Dignity of the Human Person | en Español
• The Common Good | en Español
• Solidarity | en Español
• Subsidiarity | en Español

Hot Button Issues and Loving My Country Anyway

It’s been 16 decades since decent Americans told Abraham Lincoln that his remarks about slavery were political liabilities.

They were, arguably, right. But so was he.

Slavery is a bad idea and we shouldn’t do it. People aren’t property. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2414)

Lincoln was re-elected, despite his divisive rhetoric. Slavery, as it existed before 1863, is no longer part of our culture.

But America still isn’t a perfectly perfect country.

On the ‘up’ side, I haven’t run across activists demanding reparations for families victimized by the Confiscation Act of 1862 and the Thirteenth Amendment. Or a candidate promising that, if elected, he or she will revoke the Emancipation Proclamation.¹

That sort of thing lets me hope that 16 decades from now, most Americans will think that human beings are people. Even human beings who are too young, too sick, or too old, to defend themselves.

We do learn. Slowly, sometimes, but we do learn.

Obligations

On the whole, I like being an American. That’s partly because I think my country is a very great deal more than our politicians and bureaucrats.

I’m also a Catholic. I take my faith seriously, so how I see the world, and what I think is important, isn’t entirely determined by my native culture’s mores.

I think that I should act as if loving God, and my neighbors, matters. And that everybody is my neighbor. (Matthew 5:43–44, 7:12, 22:36–40, Mark 12:28–31; 10:25–27, 29–37; Catechism, 1789)

I’m also obliged to do what’s possible in public life. That includes recognizing humanity’s solidarity and respecting authority. Within reason. (Catechism, 1778, 1915, 1897-1917, 1939-1942, 2199, 2238-2243)

Loving my country is another obligation. Again, within reason. Letting love of country slop over into worship of country is a bad idea. A very bad idea. (Catechism, 2112-2114, 2199, 2239)

Loving my country doesn’t take much effort. Usually. I don’t even mind voting. I think it’s a pretty good way of getting citizen feedback.

But I do not think our system is the only ‘correct’ form of government. Different cultures and eras have different needs and preferences. That’s okay. Provided that the system follows natural law: ethical principles that apply to every time and place. (Catechism, 1915, 1957-1958)

Prayer and Perspective

Again, I think voting makes sense.

For one thing, it’s a fairly effective mechanism for getting citizen feedback.

For another, it encourages those in authority to keep folks like me in mind while they do their jobs.

And since I can vote, as a Catholic I’m obliged to provide feedback that may help the common good.

One more thing.

There’s a prayer in my daily routine — it’s in last week’s post² — that mentions “…this most critical time…”.

Maybe whoever wrote the prayer meant “most” as a synonym for “very”. But I kept perceiving “most” as “surpassing all others” or “supreme”. So when it’s just me doing that prayer, I say “…this critical time…”.

I know there have been other “critical” times in my country’s history, and figure there will be more in our future. I’m not entirely convinced that today’s mess is the worst we’ve experienced to date. And I sure don’t know what will be happening next.

Maybe I’m being overly-cautious. And that’s another topic.

At any rate, I’ve shared what I believe, and why it matters, before:

• “Wisdom, Love, Life, Voting and Making Good Choices” (October 19, 2024)
  Guest post, Fr. Greg Paffel
• “Principles, Priorities, Politics: and Being Catholic” (September 21, 2024)
  • Pope Francis and Our Choices
    • Doing His Job — and Doing Mine
• “Liberal? Conservative? Republican? Democrat? No: Catholic” (July 27, 2024)
• “Capital Punishment: It Could be Worse” (February 3, 2024)
  • Acting As If Human Life Matters
  • Responsibility and Dignity: For Everyone
  • “…An Increasing Awareness….”
• “Edited Twins, Genetic Engineering and Bioethics” (March 11, 2023)
  • Procedures, Perspectives and People
  • Louise Joy Brown, HEK 293 and Me
    • Bioethics, From a Former Lab Rat’s Perspective

¹ Hot button issues of 1860s America:

• Wikipedia
  • 1864 United States presidential election
    • Temporary split in the Republican Party
  • Abraham Lincoln
    • Reelection
  • Abraham Lincoln and slavery (“…one of the most discussed aspects of his life….”)
  • Confiscation Act of 1862 (“…seizure of land and property from disloyal citizens (supporters of the Confederacy)….”)
  • Emancipation Proclamation (Proclamation 95, a presidential proclamation and executive order (1863))
  • Presidency of Abraham Lincoln
  • Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution (abolished slavery and most involuntary servitude (1865))

² A tip of the hat to Fr. Greg, for letting me post this transcript:

• “Wisdom, Love, Life, Voting and Making Good Choices” (October 19, 2024)
  • footnote 4 “A Prayer for Our Country”, from Men of the Sacred Hearts, menofthesacredhearts.org