For Catholics, responsible citizenship, which includes voting, is very important. However, certain critical issues have not been addressed or explained very well to Catholic voters in this election season.

Although many Catholics are not single issue voters, be advised that a political candidate’s position on a single issue may disqualify that candidate from receiving a vote from a faithful Catholic. A “disqualifying issue” pertains to actions of intrinsic moral evil: actions which can never at any time or under any circumstances be promoted, committed or enabled by a faithful Catholic. A disqualifying issue is of such gravity and importance that it renders a candidate unacceptable for public office at the national, state and local level.

For example, a candidate who supports abortion or any other intrinsic moral evil disqualifies herself or himself as a person a Catholic can vote for. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ position states that the Catholic must always oppose policies that violate human life or weaken its protection. Therefore, intrinsic evils such as abortion and euthanasia must be vigorously opposed. A political candidate who supports these policies disqualifies herself or himself as a person a Catholic may vote for.

Political candidates may not be perfectly aligned with Catholic teaching on every issue. What if, for example, neither candidate for a political office is completely pro-life? Then Catholics must make an attempt to limit the evil aspects of abortion, by determining which candidate would cause the least damage. It follows from St. John Paul II’s encyclical “Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life)” that if neither candidate is completely pro-life, then a voter should cast his ballot for the candidate who will most likely limit the evils of abortion.

The Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation PAC has published its 2018 Pro-Life Voter’s Guide comparing the candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and Pennsylvania State Senate. The Voter’s Guide will be available for viewing on Nov. 2 at www.paprolife.org. Thank you for voting pro-life.

L.L. MacMonagle

Fairview, PA