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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Confused by priests comment	Michelle	Saturday, October 9, 2010
Question: A priest and I were having conversation when he said everyone says get rid of the Democrats and bring in the Republicans. The Republicans say they are against abortion, but what about the people out of work and those coming to the church for food. If he was implying that he would vote for someone in favor of abortion should I end my relationship with this priest?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r) Dear Michelle: If this priest says he would vote for a pro-abortion candidate as long as that candidate supports employment and feeding the poor, something which more than 80 bishops in the United States says is a grave sin, then I would confront him on his views, remind him of Church teaching, and if he refuses to change his views, then I would leave the friendship. The Bible has some things to say about people who are Christian but believe or practice things not of the Faith: (2 Thessalonians 3:6) Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother (that is, a person who claims to be Christian) who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition (2 John 1:9-11) Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. If any one (that is, anyone, Christian or not) comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting; for he who greets him shares his wicked work. A summary of this issue is discussed by Fr. Stephen F. Torraco in his A Brief Catechism for Catholic Voters. Pope Benedict did say: “When a Catholic does not share a candidate’s stand in favour of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons.” This is what your priest is claiming -- a proportionate reason (the unemployed and the hungry) that would allow him to vote for a pro-abortion candidate. The Pope's words, however, here are theologically technical and theoretical. The question is what constitutes "proportionate reasons," which the Pope did not define. The unemployed and the hungry are not proportionate reasons to vote for a pro-abortion candidate. Bishop Rene Henry Gracida explains: When a Catholic does not share a candidate's stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons strictly defined (my emphasis). Since abortion and euthanasia have been defined by the Church as the most serious sins prevalent in our society, what kind of reasons could possibly be considered proportionate enough to justify a Catholic voting for a candidate who is known to be pro-abortion? None of the reasons commonly suggested could even begin to be proportionate enough to justify a Catholic voting for such a candidate (my emphasis). Reasons such as the candidate’s position on war, or taxes, or the death penalty, or immigration, or a national health plan, or social security, or aids, or homosexuality, or marriage, or any similar burning societal issues of our time are simply lacking in proportionality. What your priest friend is suggesting, whether he knows it or not, is that it is okay to vote for a candidate who supports baby killing as long he supports programs to put people to work and and to fed them. Employment and food then become greater and more important goods that life? I don't think so. Besides, a person cannot be employed or eat food if they are dead. There is no issue that outranks abortion, as well as euthanasia, and assisted suicide. These issues are deal-breakers. However, there can be a proportionate reason in terms of choosing the "lessor of two evils" when that is all that is available. Bishop Rene Henry Gracida explains this in his article, On Voting for Pro-Abortion Candidates. I hope this helps. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Confused by priests comment

Michelle

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Question:

A priest and I were having conversation when he said everyone says get rid of the Democrats and bring in the Republicans. The Republicans say they are against abortion, but what about the people out of work and those coming to the church for food. If he was implying that he would vote for someone in favor of abortion should I end my relationship with this priest?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r)

Dear Michelle:

If this priest says he would vote for a pro-abortion candidate as long as that candidate supports employment and feeding the poor, something which more than 80 bishops in the United States says is a grave sin, then I would confront him on his views, remind him of Church teaching, and if he refuses to change his views, then I would leave the friendship.

The Bible has some things to say about people who are Christian but believe or practice things not of the Faith:

(2 Thessalonians 3:6) Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother (that is, a person who claims to be Christian) who is living in idleness and not in accord with the tradition
(2 John 1:9-11) Any one who goes ahead and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God; he who abides in the doctrine has both the Father and the Son. If any one (that is, anyone, Christian or not) comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into the house or give him any greeting; for he who greets him shares his wicked work.

A summary of this issue is discussed by Fr. Stephen F. Torraco in his A Brief Catechism for Catholic Voters.

Pope Benedict did say:

“When a Catholic does not share a candidate’s stand in favour of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons.”

This is what your priest is claiming -- a proportionate reason (the unemployed and the hungry) that would allow him to vote for a pro-abortion candidate.

The Pope's words, however, here are theologically technical and theoretical. The question is what constitutes "proportionate reasons," which the Pope did not define. The unemployed and the hungry are not proportionate reasons to vote for a pro-abortion candidate.

Bishop Rene Henry Gracida explains:

When a Catholic does not share a candidate's stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons strictly defined (my emphasis).

Since abortion and euthanasia have been defined by the Church as the most serious sins prevalent in our society, what kind of reasons could possibly be considered proportionate enough to justify a Catholic voting for a candidate who is known to be pro-abortion? None of the reasons commonly suggested could even begin to be proportionate enough to justify a Catholic voting for such a candidate (my emphasis). Reasons such as the candidate’s position on war, or taxes, or the death penalty, or immigration, or a national health plan, or social security, or aids, or homosexuality, or marriage, or any similar burning societal issues of our time are simply lacking in proportionality.

What your priest friend is suggesting, whether he knows it or not, is that it is okay to vote for a candidate who supports baby killing as long he supports programs to put people to work and and to fed them. Employment and food then become greater and more important goods that life? I don't think so. Besides, a person cannot be employed or eat food if they are dead.

There is no issue that outranks abortion, as well as euthanasia, and assisted suicide. These issues are deal-breakers.

However, there can be a proportionate reason in terms of choosing the "lessor of two evils" when that is all that is available.

Bishop Rene Henry Gracida explains this in his article, On Voting for Pro-Abortion Candidates.

I hope this helps.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.