Voting with a Catholic Conscience

Voting with a Catholic Conscience – Part I

[taken from the Minnesota Catholic Conference,

the public policy voice of the Bishops of

Minnesota, and presented to shape voter’s

consideration of the elections from a Catholic

perspective]

The imminent 2024 election will determine not

only our next president but also numerous

legislators at the local, state, and federal levels. As Minnesotans

prepare to vote, we as Catholics are called to vote in accord

with our faith, with a focus on human dignity, recognizing that

every person is made in the image and likeness of God. This

fundamental belief is central to how we engage in public life,

including how we vote. Catholics should approach the upcoming

election with this in mind, using the Church’s teachings as a guide

to form their conscience and inform their vote at the ballot box –

and how we respond peacefully and responsibly to whatever

results from the election.

To help Catholics prepare to vote, Minnesota Catholic

Conference has created a collection of resources, including

specific information on Catholic Social Teaching. These resources,

designed to guide and inform voters, can be found

at mncatholic.org/election2024.

Catholic Social Teaching

Catholic Social Teaching (CST) offers a framework for how to

build a just society that promotes human flourishing. CST reflects

the Gospel’s call to love our neighbor and uphold the dignity of

every human person. The principles give Catholics the tools to

live out our personal call to holiness despite the challenges of

modern society and to share the truths of the faith in the public

square.

It is often said that Catholics are politically homeless, as no

candidate or party perfectly embodies all of the Church’s

teachings. Sometimes it is frustrating that there are no obvious

answers when we take the whole of our teaching into account.

But by prioritizing issues that most directly affect human dignity

and the common good, and avoiding intentionally voting for

positions that conflict directly with Catholic principles, we can

allow our faith to inform our vote.

The Seven Principles of Catholic Social Teaching are:

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

Balancing Rights and Responsibilities

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers

Solidarity

Care for God’s Creation

Faithful Citizenship

The USCCB’s Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, though

lengthy, helps guide voting decisions – not prescribing specific

votes but instead providing essential elements to properly form

one’s conscience. This formation is crucial, prioritizing the

principles of life, dignity, and the common good in often difficult

choices before us.

Part III is useful for its direct statement of the Catholic Church’s

position on key issues before voters. While the views of some

Catholics do not follow this teaching, Catholic teaching itself

does not rest on popular approval but on the Gospel of Jesus

Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Part III also presents questions to consider the positions and

proposals of candidates: where does each stand, and what do

they propose to do, about the following?

Address the preeminent requirement to protect the

weakest in our midst— innocent unborn children—by

restricting and bringing to an end the destruction of

unborn children through abortion and providing

mothers and families the supports needed to make a

decision for life.

Keep our nation from turning to violence to address

fundamental problems—a million abortions each year

to deal with unwanted pregnancies, euthanasia and

assisted suicide to deal with the burdens of illness and

disability, the destruction of human embryos in the

name of research, and the scourges of war to

address disputes.

Protect the fundamental understanding of marriage as the

life-long and faithful union of one man and one

woman and as the central institution of society;

promote the complementarity of the sexes; and

provide better support for family life morally,

socially, and economically to ready the coming

generation to build a better future for all.

Achieve comprehensive immigration reform that offers a

path to citizenship, treats immigrant workers fairly,

prevents the separation of families, maintains the

integrity of our borders, respects the rule of law, and

addresses the factors that compel people to leave

their own countries.

Help families and children overcome poverty: ensuring

access to and choice in education, as well as decent

work at fair, living wages, helping to overcome

widespread hunger and poverty here and abroad.

Provide health care while respecting human life, human

dignity, and religious freedom in our health care

system, education, and other social goods.

Continue to oppose prejudice, hostility, and all forms of

unjust discrimination.