How do Catholics voters feel about being told by Bishops that their choices "may affect their salvation"

Question

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2007-11-14-bishops-meeting_N.htm?csp=1

Answer 1

Real American Roman Catholics never listen to sermons that have political messages in them. We go to church for deep personal reasons - not political party fund raisers or debates. We help people and raise children. We deal with worldly matters after time with GOD and community.
Never during.

This is a time when many families change parishes, and rearrange mass times to avoid certain priests. Children mass attendance rise.

After we return to worldly matters - we shake our heads that priests are in the news - not doing their calling - but sounding so decisive and insulting.
NO human knows how to get into heaven, but saying stupid things can't be one of them.

You know - technically I have no clue how millions of people will view this. I leave the church during political speeches. Men have no say in abortion issue. Trying to scare people to vote for the wrong person, just because she/he will support 1 issue of over a million is not logical. Communities are messy - issues are messy - tunnel vision/deaf ear to other voices is insulting to honest political people and forefathers intent.

Answer 2

You have mis-stated the article. This is not what the Bishops said. Did you read the whole thing? The role of the Church is to guide the sheep...as Christ said "Peter feed my sheep." That is what the Church does. IF the Church did not tell Catholics that it's important to form their conscience...then the Church is remiss in it's duty to God.

"if we do not warn our people that choosing intrinsic evils will have an impact on their salvation, then we will truly fail as teachers,"

This is the purpose of the authority of the Church...to guide the faithful in this world of such temptation and secularism. It's difficult for many to figure out just what is right and wrong. If the Church, as the representative of Christ on earth, says "abortion is wrong and this is why" then a Catholic has the ability to make an informed decision. They can still choose a pro-abortion candidate but they must form their conscience with prayers and information.

As a pro-life voter...I may be faced with ultimately two people who are both pro-abortion running for president. I must then form my conscience based on other aspects. That is what they Bishops are telling us...and it is their duty to do so.

Answer 3

It's been done prior to every national election. The key is that they are raising voter's conscience by reminding them that their choice of candidate may not support what is right & wrong or what is truly in line with Catholic teaching such as candidates views on abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, artificial contraception and racism are all "evils" that can never be supported.

Seeing no particular candidate totally in line with Catholic teachings right now, the bishops are asking Catholics to be prudent and make their choices basically for the lesser of two evils perhaps, weighing critical moral issues such as poverty, peace, social justice, etc. in their decision.

They are not telling Catholics how to vote, but want you to vote your conscience and try to hold true to Catholic teachings in your decision of which candidate to support.

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."

How it relates to salvation is best summarized from the statement which 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."

Answer 4

According to ANY Christian teaching, your choices CAN affect one's salvation. If you choose not to follow or accept Christ, your choice was to forgo that salvation.

But to your point, the Catholic Bishops REJECTED the inclusion of a statement that voter choices would affect salvation. The statement made was to form consciousness, not to condemn voters, and that particular language was specifically NOT included in the document.

Answer 5

If I elect a candidate who is pro-abortion, for example, I would have contributed to putting a person in office who can dangerously alter the lives of people in society, not to mention end the lives of the unborn. My vote would have helped do that. We make moral choices everyday with everything we do. Why should a political election be any different?

God bless.

Answer 6

I never finished reading the entire article. It is boring but the question is not though.

For me it is this simple, the church and the government are two different estates. Let religion wander on its own affairs and leave politics alone.

Through the course of history, religion has terrible shortcomings. True leaders should think beyond religious doctrines. Voters should just listen to their own knowledge of what is good or bad.

Sometimes, the very religion which suppose to enlighten the people, misleads them.

Let the people vote on their own accord and not "scare" them with doctrinal tools of religion. That is freedom and democracy flawless.

Answer 7

Call to Faithful Citizenship is published every national election cycle. catholics know their salvation is theirs to lose based on conduct. BUT before you make any determination on what it means to "vote Catholic" read the whole Bishops document. One teaching is not to be taken over the other and choices will have to be made based on which candidate holds closest to the most beliefs, not closest to just one.

It means vote according to your conscience and morals, which all people do Catholic or not as far as I know.

Apparently most people don;t see through the fact that you twisted this, but oh well.

Answer 8

The bishops are expressing common sense. Our choices as co-rulers in a democracy affect our relationship with God, just as the choices of Herod, Pontius Pilate, and Nero affected their relationships with God.

From the USA Today article: "Both stress life issues such as abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, artificial contraception,* and racism are 'evils' that can never be supported."

Let's take racism as an example. Could a racist be in a state of grace? It seems to me to be a rebellion against God, who created us in his own image.

Similarly, could you be God's intimate friend and call for killing babies by abortion or sick people by euthanasia?

The job of the bishops is to take Christ's message (written in a time when no one could vote) and interpret it in a day where we are responsible to act democratically.

Just as Herod was a vicious enemy of God when he ordered the massacre of infants in Bethlehem and vicinity, we become vicious enemies of God if we sign on to the massacre of the innocent unborn in a democracy.

Cheers,
Bruce

*The bishops were wrong to put contraception in the same category as infanticide, euthanasia, and racism.

Answer 9

"Political choices faced by citizens have an impact on general peace and prosperity and also may affect the individual's salvation," the bishops said. "Similarly, the kinds of laws and policies supported by public officials affect their spiritual well-being."

Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, who helped draft the document, said the bishops are simply asking Catholics to "examine their consciences."

"When you look at eternal salvation, God is the only judge," said DiMarzio, of the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. "All we have the ability to do is to warn people."

Guess maybe folks should read the ENTIRE article, hmm?

Answer 10

I always listen very carefully to what the Bishops, the successors to the Apostles, have to say.

I will do my best to vote in accordance both with my conscience and the teachings of the Church. However, this will not be easy with our current choice of candidates.

Answer 11

i'm glad they are finally opening their mouths and offering their opinion! they are learned men of faith just as any other denominations pastor's deacons, etc will speak out! they are right besides.... we are not to live of the world but it. we have to be here but we don't have to be morally stunted - we are to live by Christ's Rule.


The bishops ultimately agreed to softer language: "It is important to be clear that the political choices faced by citizens have an impact on general peace and prosperity and also may affect individual salvation." Still, the statement acknowledges, "in today's environment, Catholics may feel politically disenfranchised, sensing that no party and few candidates fully share our comprehensive commitment to human life and dignity."

EDIT -- wow apparently no one even read the article and those claiming to be Catholic or EX catholic have no clue. amazing! and the seperation of church and state comments -- thanks i needed a laugh!