By Susan Ciancio
Election season will soon be upon us, and now in the time leading up to that pivotal point in our year—and in our country’s timeline—we must all look inward and not only continually form our own moral consciences but help our children form theirs.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the moral conscience “present at the heart of the person, enjoins him at the appropriate moment to do good and to avoid evil. It also judges particular choices, approving those that are good and denouncing those that are evil.” The Catechism continues by teaching that it is “a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed.”
The interior voice of our moral conscience helps us determine right from wrong. This has always been integral in our behaviors as human beings, but it’s especially important today.
Violence in the streets, hatred on both sides of the political spectrum, a failed assassination attempt, and more have divided our country, put people on edge, and displaced the fundamental belief that all human beings have value and should be respected and cherished.
Today, anger has taken over, vitriol is predominant, and I venture to say that many people spend too much time listening to what the media says rather than to what their conscience and the Church teach. Now is the time to take a step back from what those on TV or social media say and look to Christ, to the Church, and to the ways in which we can all help make the world a better place.
One of the ways we can do this is to vote our conscience. That means that we research the candidates and look at what they believe and vote in favor of.
The Catechism explains that we “must always seriously seek what is right and good and discern the will of God expressed in divine law.” It goes on to advise that, when faced with a moral decision, there are certain rules that apply in every case. These are:
- One may never do evil so that good may result from it
- The Golden Rule: “Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.”
- Charity always proceeds by way of respect for one’s neighbor and his conscience: “Thus sinning against your brethren and wounding their conscience . . . you sin against Christ.” Therefore, “it is right not to . . . do anything that makes your brother stumble.”
These are things we must all keep in mind, especially during election season. It’s important to understand that, when we walk into the voting booth, we cannot leave our faith at the door. Our values must inform the actions we take and the votes we cast.
St. John Paul II wrote in his encyclical Centesimus Annus, “If there is no ultimate truth to guide and direct political activity, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power. As history demonstrates, a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism.”
As Catholics (and as human beings), we believe that God created every person in His image and likeness and with inherent dignity. And as pro-life people, we must work to protect the life of every person—born and preborn, young and old, and the sick and healthy.
When deciding whom to vote for, we must look at their voting record and decide what they stand for and whether or not they protect the vulnerable. Do they respect life at all stages? Do they say one thing and vote the opposite way? Do they stand up for and respect all human beings?
These are things that we cannot set aside.
Our goal, as Catholics and as citizens, is to create a culture and a society that respects every human being’s life. We must do this without apology and without compromise, especially when we cast a ballot.
As we think about this and about the candidates in the upcoming elections, let us purposely have conversations with our teens, especially if they will soon be casting their first vote. To assist in these conversations, the Culture of Life Studies Program has created a lesson entitled Pro-Life Citizenship that will help you help your teen form their moral conscience. Because this is such an important concept, we have put this lesson on sale (it’s now just $3!).
We must take care of our fellow citizens, and one of the most effective ways to do this is to vote for candidates who will also take care of them. Our faith demands nothing less.
