Catholic bishops instruct voters
flywallyfly
Posts: 1,453
I wish I had an organization to tell me how I should vote.
=================================================
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071114/ap_on_re_us/catholic_bishops
By RACHEL ZOLL, AP Religion Writer
Roman Catholics voting in the 2008 elections must heed church teaching when deciding which candidates and policies to support, U.S. bishops said Wednesday.
And while the church recognizes the importance of a wide range of issues — from war to immigration to poverty — fighting abortion should be a priority, the bishops said.
"The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life is always wrong and is not just one issue among many," the bishops said.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops overwhelmingly adopted the statement, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship," as they ended the public sessions of their fall meeting.
The document does not recommend specific laws or candidates, and it emphasizes that "principled debate" is needed to decide which policies best promote the common good.
But "that does not make (moral issues) optional concerns or permit Catholics to dismiss or ignore church teaching," the bishops said.
American bishops have been releasing similar recommendations for Catholics before every presidential election since 1976. However, in recent years, some independent Catholics groups have been distributing their own voter booklets.
Among them are Priests for Life and California-based Catholic Answers, which distributed material on five "nonnegotiable" issues: abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning and same-sex marriage. Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, which formed last year, issued a guide emphasizing church teachings on war, poverty and social justice.
But the bishops urged Catholics to only use voter resources approved by the church.
The document makes clear the broad concerns in Catholic teaching that make it difficult for parishioners to feel fully comfortable with either the Democrats or Republicans.
The bishops say helping the poor should be a top priority in government, providing health care, taking in refugees and protecting the rights of workers, and the bishops highlight the need for environmental protection.
However, they also oppose same-sex marriage, euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research, in addition to their staunch anti-abortion position.
The prelates say torture is "always wrong" and they express "serious moral concerns" about "preventive use of military force." But at the last minute Wednesday, they added a sentence acknowledging "the continuing threat of fanatical extremism and global terror."
=================================================
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071114/ap_on_re_us/catholic_bishops
By RACHEL ZOLL, AP Religion Writer
Roman Catholics voting in the 2008 elections must heed church teaching when deciding which candidates and policies to support, U.S. bishops said Wednesday.
And while the church recognizes the importance of a wide range of issues — from war to immigration to poverty — fighting abortion should be a priority, the bishops said.
"The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life is always wrong and is not just one issue among many," the bishops said.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops overwhelmingly adopted the statement, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship," as they ended the public sessions of their fall meeting.
The document does not recommend specific laws or candidates, and it emphasizes that "principled debate" is needed to decide which policies best promote the common good.
But "that does not make (moral issues) optional concerns or permit Catholics to dismiss or ignore church teaching," the bishops said.
American bishops have been releasing similar recommendations for Catholics before every presidential election since 1976. However, in recent years, some independent Catholics groups have been distributing their own voter booklets.
Among them are Priests for Life and California-based Catholic Answers, which distributed material on five "nonnegotiable" issues: abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning and same-sex marriage. Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good, which formed last year, issued a guide emphasizing church teachings on war, poverty and social justice.
But the bishops urged Catholics to only use voter resources approved by the church.
The document makes clear the broad concerns in Catholic teaching that make it difficult for parishioners to feel fully comfortable with either the Democrats or Republicans.
The bishops say helping the poor should be a top priority in government, providing health care, taking in refugees and protecting the rights of workers, and the bishops highlight the need for environmental protection.
However, they also oppose same-sex marriage, euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research, in addition to their staunch anti-abortion position.
The prelates say torture is "always wrong" and they express "serious moral concerns" about "preventive use of military force." But at the last minute Wednesday, they added a sentence acknowledging "the continuing threat of fanatical extremism and global terror."
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
-
what's wrong with this?i'm the meat, yer not...signed Capt Asshat0
-
Do you expect tax exempt enviro groups to stay quiet as well? Do we exect Greenpeace and others to not tell their members what issues they feel are important?Cosmo wrote:...
Nothing. If we yank the Tax-Exempt status from this large business organization.
"The document does not recommend specific laws or candidates", I wonder if all tax exempt groups can say as much regarding their literature?“One good thing about music,
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley0 -
well, at least they are willing to come right out and say it instead of trying to keep pretending they're politically neutral.0
-
surferdude wrote:Do you expect tax exempt enviro groups to stay quiet as well? Do we exect Greenpeace and others to not tell their members what issues they feel are important?
"The document does not recommend specific laws or candidates", I wonder if all tax exempt groups can say as much regarding their literature?
later:
"But the bishops urged Catholics to only use voter resources approved by the church."0 -
You may or may not have a point but first I have to ask what does that mean?soulsinging wrote:later:
"But the bishops urged Catholics to only use voter resources approved by the church."“One good thing about music,
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley0 -
surferdude wrote:You may or may not have a point but first I have to ask what does that mean?
they don't tell you who to vote for. they just hand out official voter guides telling you who you cannot vote for and you're not allowed to look at any other guides becos they haven't been officially approved by the church.0 -
If that's the case I think it's wrong but not really any different from what thousands of other tax-exempt groups do. That's why I always wonder why people want only churches tax-exempt status taken away but not other groups.soulsinging wrote:they don't tell you who to vote for. they just hand out official voter guides telling you who you cannot vote for and you're not allowed to look at any other guides becos they haven't been officially approved by the church.“One good thing about music,
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley0 -
soulsinging wrote:they don't tell you who to vote for. they just hand out official voter guides telling you who you cannot vote for and you're not allowed to look at any other guides becos they haven't been officially approved by the church.
If they made me a voting booth checklist it would be so much easier. For local races such as city council seats they could just have a list of Catholic/non-Catholic candidates. What a dreamworld that would be !!0 -
...surferdude wrote:Do you expect tax exempt enviro groups to stay quiet as well? Do we exect Greenpeace and others to not tell their members what issues they feel are important?
"The document does not recommend specific laws or candidates", I wonder if all tax exempt groups can say as much regarding their literature?
I kinda think that the people who join environmental groups are pretty much like minded, don't you think? Unless you believe that Baby Harp Seal hunters are PETA members. In other words... they probably already have their minds set regarding issues on the environment.
I don't think the same holds true for Churches... is everyone in your church in agreement with everything you believe in? Maybe when it comes to church doctrine... but, does your church tell you how to vote? And... would you, or do you obey them?Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!0 -
Cosmo wrote:...
I kinda think that the people who join environmental groups are pretty much like minded, don't you think? Unless you believe that Baby Harp Seal hunters are PETA members. In other words... they probably already have their minds set regarding issues on the environment.
I don't think the same holds true for Churches... is everyone in your church in agreement with everything you believe in? Maybe when it comes to church doctrine... but, does your church tell you how to vote? And... would you, or do you obey them?
true..and most churches think you should practice what you preach in all of yr life, including voting.
they screwed up a long time ago be not opposing some stuff that became law.
trying not to repeat the same mistakei'm the meat, yer not...signed Capt Asshat0 -
I'd say they are like minded as it concerns the environment or a single issue. I wouldn't go any farther than that. But you've evaded the question, why should churches as tax-exempt organizations be treated any differently than other tax-exempt organizations?Cosmo wrote:...I kinda think that the people who join environmental groups are pretty much like minded, don't you think?
I hope not, I'm a pretty fucked up person.Cosmo wrote:...I don't think the same holds true for Churches... is everyone in your church in agreement with everything you believe in?
My church does not tell us how to vote. They I have heard them mentioned that we should vote and when we do vote to let our conscious be our guide. If they told me to vote for a specific party or candidate I would not obey them and would very seriously think about changing churches at that point.Cosmo wrote:... Maybe when it comes to church doctrine... but, does your church tell you how to vote? And... would you, or do you obey them?“One good thing about music,
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley0 -
...surferdude wrote:I'd say they are like minded as it concerns the environment or a single issue. I wouldn't go any farther than that. But you've evaded the question, why should churches as tax-exempt organizations be treated any differently than other tax-exempt organizations?
I hope not, I'm a pretty fucked up person.
My church does not tell us how to vote. They I have heard them mentioned that we should vote and when we do vote to let our conscious be our guide. If they told me to vote for a specific party or candidate I would not obey them and would very seriously think about changing churches at that point.
Because Churches are authoritarian.
And your church doesn't tell you how to vote... but this article is about the Catholic Bishops instructing its congregation how to vote. Yes, Catholics have the right to vote as they choose... but, the direction coming from the Bishops of the Catholic Church would be line the Director of Operations at Greenpeace directing it's members how to vote. Being Catholic and being a member of Greenpeace do not equate.
The Catholic Church is a large, organized business operation with its corporate office in Vatican City and the Pope as it's CEO.Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!0 -
How is this different from rock stars holding concerts like Vote for Change and telling people who they should vote for?0
-
...Kel Varnsen wrote:How is this different from rock stars holding concerts like Vote for Change and telling people who they should vote for?
I guess it would equate if the concerts were held every Sunday.Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!0 -
surferdude wrote:If that's the case I think it's wrong but not really any different from what thousands of other tax-exempt groups do. That's why I always wonder why people want only churches tax-exempt status taken away but not other groups.
from the standpoint of a philosophical vacuum, there's no difference. but from a standpoint of human conduct, there is.
people choose as adults to join groups like peta and often select based on shared beliefs. these groups also have less leverage. if you don't vote that way, they don't know nor do they have any sanctions. and if the stances are sufficiently unconscionable, it's easy to let membership lapse and find another group.
now you can say the same applies to churches, but you'd be lying to say it's that simple. you are brought into a church as a child and indoctrinated from day one. they also have leverage becos while the bishop may not know what you vote, they will tell you god does. and if you disobey, you risk damnation. when the core of your spirituality is invested in a group, that's a lot of leverage and it puts believers in something of a bind when they feel maybe the authority is being a bit harsh and maybe even outright wrong in interpreting god's word. it's not as simple as leaving either, when the church is the only one you've ever known and all your friends and family are part of it and pressuring you to stay.
making people choose between their religion and their vote is a lot different from making them choose between a charitable action group they support and their conscionable vote. they weild a lot more power and influence over the individual than the average issue-based non-profit and thus if they want to get involved in politics, they should be penalized for coercive voting practices. in the same way it is illegal to pay people to vote and vote a certain way, it should be illegal to bludgeon someone into voting a certain way, or at least it should not be tacitly condoned by giving tax breaks to those who do it.0 -
Kel Varnsen wrote:How is this different from rock stars holding concerts like Vote for Change and telling people who they should vote for?
the concert promoters don't tell you your soul is at risk if you pick the wrong way.0 -
I'd say belonging to Greenpeace is very much like belonging to any church, it's about finding a home for your morals and beliefs. People are regularly jailed over their environmental beliefs. I just don't see the difference that you do.Cosmo wrote:... but, the direction coming from the Bishops of the Catholic Church would be like the Director of Operations at Greenpeace directing it's members how to vote. Being Catholic and being a member of Greenpeace do not equate.“One good thing about music,
when it hits you, you feel to pain.
So brutalize me with music.”
~ Bob Marley0 -
soulsinging wrote:the concert promoters don't tell you your soul is at risk if you pick the wrong way.
The article didn't say anything about going to Hell if you vote the wrong way. It just said which issues the church feels is important. Either way it is still using your position to promote the cause you believe in.0 -
...surferdude wrote:I'd say belonging to Greenpeace is very much like belonging to any church, it's about finding a home for your morals and beliefs. People are regularly jailed over their environmental beliefs. I just don't see the difference that you do.
I think that the people who are members of Greenpeace agree on one issue... the environment. There are probably Christian/Catholics and aetheists and Buddhists and whatevers in Greenpeace whom differ on many other issues... but, all agree on one thing... the environment.
The Church believes in their one thing, too. That they are right in their beliefs and that their morals are the ones to live by. They may differ on social issues, such as the environment and healthcare.. but, they all agree on one thing... their morals are right. The Church dictates your morals... maybe not eveyone follows them... but, they are the ones that tell you what good moral behaviour is... right?Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
Hail, Hail!!!0
Categories
- All Categories
- 148.9K Pearl Jam's Music and Activism
- 110.1K The Porch
- 275 Vitalogy
- 35.1K Given To Fly (live)
- 3.5K Words and Music...Communication
- 39.2K Flea Market
- 39.2K Lost Dogs
- 58.7K Not Pearl Jam's Music
- 10.6K Musicians and Gearheads
- 29.1K Other Music
- 17.8K Poetry, Prose, Music & Art
- 1.1K The Art Wall
- 56.8K Non-Pearl Jam Discussion
- 22.2K A Moving Train
- 31.7K All Encompassing Trip
- 2.9K Technical Stuff and Help