Three Moral Principles for Election 2016 (Homily #78)

5pm Mass (#78b)

12pm Mass (#78a)

Homily #78 (accidentally put Homily #79 on YouTube)

“Three Moral Principles for Election 2016”

Nov. 6, 2016

There is much national anxiety and fear about this Tuesday’s election.  The decisions of Tuesday, November 8, will affect not just the United States, but the entire world. 

However, in today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us that God is not the God of death, anxiety and fear, but rather God is the God of the living, of hope and joy.  That makes us people of life.  For we are a people of the Resurrection.

And because we are a people of life and the resurrection, let us reflect on 3 moral principles in Catholic social teaching to help us form our consciences for Tuesday. 

[Do not say this, but include this note in written blog post.  Talking points were taken from the 2015 document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” (FCFC) from the U.S. bishops.] 

1.     The first moral principle is to know the difference between what is called an intrinsically evil action v. a prudential judgement action.  (Let me repeat that: There is a difference between what is called an intrinsically evil action v. a prudential judgment action.)

2.     Second, protecting innocent human life from natural beginning to natural end is preeminent as our priority among all the issues.

3.     Third, the God of the living will hold us accountable as a Nation and individually for our votes.

I.

Intrinsically Evil Acts v. Prudential Judgment Acts

Regarding the first point, an intrinsically evil act is an action in and of itself that is always and everywhere wrong.  (Repeat: An intrinsically evil act is an action in and of itself that is always and everywhere wrong.)  The keys word is always.

No circumstance and no intention can ever make the action good and virtuous.  It is always wrong, no matter what.  It does not depend on circumstances. 

Let me give you some examples.  Rape and spousal abuse are intrinsic evil acts.  They are in and of themselves wrong and no circumstance or intention justifies them.  Also, in the First Reading, the king and his government wanted to violate the religious freedom of the seven brothers.  The brothers said, “We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors.”  The government did an intrinsically evil act. 

The U.S. Catholic bishops wrote (FCFC #22): QUOTE “There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor. Such actions are so deeply flawed that they are always opposed to the authentic good of persons. These are called ‘intrinsically evil’ actions. They must always be rejected and opposed and must never be supported or condoned.”  END QUOTE 

Another example of an intrinsically evil act is the intentional taking of innocent human life, as in abortion and euthanasia (cf. FCFC #22).  (Now, as a pastoral side note, I want to briefly say that for those women who have had abortions and to those that assisted them with abortions or to those that have euthanized their parents through physician-assisted suicide, let us remember the mercy and love of the Father.  The Church is a Church of Mercy especially during this Year of Mercy and the Sacrament of Confession.)

Other intrinsically evil acts against human dignity are human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, acts of racism, redefining marriage between a man and a woman, and genocide (cf. FCFC #23).

By contrast, some examples of prudential judgment which are not intrinsic evil are things like how much tax money to use to help the poor, or local ordinance policy about housing zoning, or what to do about immigration.  While they are important, they are not always in and of themselves evil.  They are not always clear and require discernment.  They involve the use of applying prudence to public policy (cf. FCFC #33).

II.

That leads to the second main point: Some issues are more important and a priority than other issues.  Because we are a people of the Resurrection, because our God is the God of the living and of life, not of death, because we are a people of life, the protection of innocent human life is the preeminent issue for us as an Easter people.  Dr. Alveda King, niece of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., called protecting the vulnerable child in the womb a civil rights issue of our time.  The right to life is foundational for all other rights.  Without it, there cannot be any other rights (cf. FCFC #28 and FCFC #40).

Think of buying and building house.  First, you need the foundation.  Then, you need walls, then you need the roof, in that order.  We don’t start with the roof, but the foundation.  Protecting innocent human life in the womb is laying the foundations of building human life and a civilization of love (cf. FCFC #40 & Living the Gospel of Life #22).  

All the other many issues come later [as walls and the roof].  Even the American Declaration of Independence explicitly and clearly lists the right to life as the first of human rights, upon which all other rights are built: “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”, in that order.

III.

The last point is that the God of the living will hold us, the People of the Resurrection, you and me, accountable for our choices, even in the voting booth.  The U.S. bishops wrote (cf. FCFC #34) that this is why it is so important to vote according to a well-formed conscience and that a Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who favors a policy promoting intrinsically evil acts, such as abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, and redefining marriage in ways that violate its essential meaning, if the voter’s intent is to support that position.  The bishops teach, QUOTE “In such cases, a Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in grave evil (FCFC #34).” END QUOTE

In other words, if we choose candidates, propositions and laws that support intrinsically evil acts, we are guilty of formal cooperation with grave evil.  And this will jeopardize our salvation on Judgment Day.  Moral principle first; political party second.  Remember, Jesus said, “As you did it to one of these, the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me. (Mt. 25: 40).  The measure you give will be the measure you get.

Let us together pray for wisdom and courage.  Let us ask the Holy Spirit through the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, for guidance.  I am confident in us as a People of the Resurrection in making the right choice and close using the words of St. Paul from the Second Reading:

“We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you,
you are doing and will continue to do.
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God
and to the endurance of Christ.”