Catholic church telling followers who to vote for presidential candidate?

Question

I want to hear from both sides, and why. How do you feel about the Catholic church telling its followers what type of presidential candidate to vote for? Or in some cases, which one candidate to vote for? Isn't that a violation of mixing church and state affairs? Wouldn't then (theoretically) the Catholic church be able to "sponsor" a strongly Catholic candidate, and tell its followers to vote for him? I want to make something clear, I am a Protestant, or at least that's what I have been labeled by the Catholic church, and I have no hate against Catholics, everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. My "religion" isn't perfect, but we cannot judge a religion by its members, we judge it by its beliefs. If we didn't, Catholicism would be just as taboo as Nazism. Hitler professed to be Catholic, remember? But all in all, do you think it's right for the church to do so or not?

A lot of you say there's nothing wrong with it, but to me it seems a bit extreme if ANY religion told it's members that the decision they took (voting for a presidential candidate) would have serious consequences on their eternal salvation.

Paul S: I've also haven't been told who to vote for. We are told to pray and seek guidance from God, so this idea seems wrong to me.

Where's the fence?: There's not much wrong with illegals working here in the US, it's people like Elvira Arellano that make everyone else seem bad. If the US really wanted to get rid of them, they would simply send a swat team to the fields, arrest everyone who doesn't check out, and kick them back to Mexico, but the work is needed.

mrs. smith: you made me smile! (about the first part) my beliefs teach that any wine is bad. kool-aid would be nice. we also don't eat meat and many more things like that, but of course, not everyone adheres to all the rules, lol.

Danny H: I see what you're saying, but no religion should or attempt to hold their followers in such tight grip, or telling them they'll be damned if they leave the church or something (I'm not pointing to any religion, it's an example of what something really extreme might be like) Followers should be able to make their own choices, not listen to what their leader tells them to believe, instead, they should encourage their members to question the "preacher" and ask them to prove what they are teaching.

And to those who have linked articles about Hitler's religion, thanks for the enlightenment, but I'm still not clear as to what he truly was, I'll do some more research and see what I can find.

Answer 1

I grew up with a father who was a minister. We were always told that it was inappropriate for a clergyman to discuss politics, in any way, from the pulpit. I think it is wrong. Clergy should discuss specific issues that the church may have opinions on as it is directly related to the church's doctrines but NOT candidates.
***ADD: In America organizations that claim tax exempt status CANNOT, by law, endorse a political candidate. The Pope doesn't live in America but the American priests do.

Answer 2

By the laws of the United States, a not-for-profit religious institution cannot espouse political viewpoints, other than those that are necessarily a part of moral teachings. It is far more questionable to tell congregants to vote for Obama or face the consequences than it is to suggest that congregants remember to vote pro-life at the polls.

This is a fine but hard to see line, and it is necessarily so. If the moral framework provides a decision rule for many citizens in their voting choice, and if their religious faith provides a background for this moral framework, it must be accepted that religion plays an element in forming the moral framework of a voter. At the same time, there should be no overt control, or even sublime control. A church cannot vote, but each member can. By the same token, it is impossible to require citizens to leave their religious convictions at the door when they come to vote. Indeed, if a citizen cannot make his or her religious views known when they are pertinent in a vote, then that citizen's beliefs have been compromised.

This isn't just for the Catholics, it is for all faiths who strive to be relevant in the day-to-day affairs that confront, confound and challenge their adherents.

So to answer; there cannot be a suggestion of who to vote for, but there should absolutely be an indication of how to make abstract moraes concrete in the voting process.

Answer 3

The Catholic Church does NOT tell Catholics who to vote for in presidential elections. Rather, the Church asks us to vote our moral convictions as Catholics rather than exercise a blind attachment to a political party or interest group.

The American bishops just issued a statement called "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship." They stated that opposing intrinsic evils like abortion and racism has to be given priority over lesser obligations like helping the poor, seeking justice, and pursuing peace.

That seems entirely reasonable to me. If a nominally Catholic candidate like John Kerry (D0 or Rudy Giuliani (R) is going to support abortion on demand and redefine marriage to mean "any relationship anyone wants to call marriage for any reason," that should raise questions for any voter who takes Christ seriously.

Cheers,
Bruce

PS: Hitler did NOT profess to be a Catholic.
http://library.flawlesslogic.com/religion.htm

Answer 4

There's nothing wrong with any church encouraging its members to vote according to their faith and moral conscious. This type of question gets really irritating and makes no sense because it demands a person's religious beliefs be silent for a political election, yet their beliefs influence every other aspect of their life. Why would politics be any different?

Answer 5

Do they serve Kool-aid or Wine at your church? At the Catholic church they serve wine with Holy Communion.

They also are Pro-Life.

Over the past three years, Sen. John Kerry has had a lot of time to think about his God, and at a meeting with journalists in Washington earlier this month he shared those thoughts. He grew up in a Roman Catholic home before Vatican II; though devout, he prayed in private behind his closed bedroom door, as was the custom at the time. In Vietnam, he prayed to God to save his life, and when he came home some of his foxhole promises no longer felt so pressing. Kerry, a divorced, pro-choice Democrat with a foreign-seeming wife, ran for president in 2004 against an incumbent whose personal Christian-conversion story was intricately woven into his public persona. Yet, out of principle or stubbornness, Kerry chose not to expound upon his own faith until late in the race—too late, he says in retrospect. In the spring and summer of '04, a handful of U.S. Catholic bishops announced they'd refuse Kerry holy communion on the grounds that his stance on abortion went against church teachings, and Kerry suddenly found himself having to answer fundamental questions about who he was and what he stood for. "I should have started earlier to introduce who I really was—in '02 or '03," he told NEWSWEEK last week. He gave a big Catholic-values speech in Florida in October, but by then it was too late. "October is October. You've got to do this earlier," he says. "People have to have a sense of this as a continuum. Explaining how Catholicism has shaped my view of public life—it would have made a difference."

Answer 6

well since catholics are used to following what ever the church say's and the pope, that should tell you right their, that they are pretty much brain washed, all my relatives are catholic, not me, I choose to make up my own mind, thats why I'm the black sheep of the family, have been for years
's,even my own mom was upset, that I left, but Oh well I found a better way!!!!!!!! I do not want some man here on earth telling me what I have to do!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

The Catholic Church is just reminding us of our religious obligations: protecting life. It is important to remember that. No candidate was endorsed, so the Church didn't do anything wrong. They are encouraging us to vote according to belief. That's it.

Answer 8

I go to church every week and they have not told my congregation who to vote for. In past electians, they do take stances on issues that support church teachings. So, in a round a bout way, one could argue they are leading you to a candidate. But, they do not come right out and tell you which person. Hope this helps.

Answer 9

as a longtime member of the catholic church i can tell you that ultimately its for the good of all the people. So i do think its okay.

Answer 10

No, it is not a violation of church and state because the Vatican is it's own country who can endorse whoever they want to.

As far limiting your question to the Catholic church, what about the Christian right, the Unions, or any other organization that could influence someones opinions? The only reason you're having an issue with the Catholic church is because you disagree with it (if you didn't you wouldn't have brought up Nazism and Hitler, who, BTW, rejected Catholicism so do some research).