Bishops: Faith should shape how people vote in '08

[babylonsister]

Bishops: Faith should shape how people vote in '08

By Cathy Lynn Grossman, USA TODAY

Created: 11/14/2007



BALTIMORE - The nation's Catholic bishops Wednesday approved a statement on the nature of "faithful citizenship" that hammers home the "intrinsic evil" of abortion and reminds Catholic voters that their choices in the 2008 elections "also may affect" their salvation.

Politicians and public officials also are cautioned that their "spiritual well being" is affected by their actions.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrapped up its fall meeting here by nearly unanimously approving a long version of the statement and a shorter, more conversational version to be inserted in parish bulletins.

Both stress life issues such as abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, artificial contraception and racism are "evils" that can never be supported.

Yet there's also room for a prudential voter, seeing no candidate in line with Catholic teachings, to weigh other critical moral issues such as poverty, peace, or social justice.

It is "a summary of Catholic teachings; It is not a voter guide," said Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, in presenting the results of seven committees input.

It is intended to offer "theological, not ideological" framework on "what it means to be a Catholic and an American, a believer and a voter."

The language sternly reminds Catholic voters, "if they fail to form their consciences they can make erroneous judgments."

The statement says voters can go astray because of "ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to one's passions, assertion of the mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of the Church's authority and her teaching."

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http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=83708

[rurallib]

1. Tax their fucking churches and other property. n/t

[babylonsister]

3. Yes. Where's the separation and why is this allowed, or legal? nt

[Cleita]

2. I've got news for them. Faith is guiding my vote, faith that my

vote will count and that we have honest elections.

As far as the Church is concerned it's time to penalize them on their tax free status every time they cross the line between separation of church and state and this would seem to be one of those times.

[Bitwit1234]

4. In that case, our faith should tell us NOT to vote republican

[sakabatou]

5. Oh yes, the evils of The New Deal

:eyes:

[OHdem10]

6. Cnn ran a piece on this yesterday . Priests explaining

that Catholics choose from a menu of Social Justice Items.

There is to be no one saying who can and cannot recieve Communion.

More Flexible approach than last election when extremists
were out trying to deny communion and politicize the sacraments.

[graywarrior]

7. I'm surprised the Catholic church still has money with all the settlements they've paid out

due to the fact that their priests "failed to form their consciences causing them to make erroneous judgments" about having sex with altar boys.