2016 ELECTION USA: A DEAD END FOR CATHOLIC AND CHRISTIAN VOTERS?
This year, the United States of North America chooses a new
President, that is, not only the head of his Government and nation, but one of
the world leaders with more influence over the fate of humanity. Within an
electoral bipartisan democratic system as the American, the political parties and
its principles had been, until recently, clearly defined and differential in
conservative party and liberal party. But in recent decades the differences on
the principles of these parties have been disappearing, especially in the area
of human and social well being, leaving voters with more of the same.
This problem is
becoming critical for Catholic and Christian citizens in general.
Aalthough they constitute the majority of the population in that country, they are facing the dilemma of whom to vote for without letting down their Christian
principles, because almost none of them are reflected in much of what the
candidates propose. (1)
Faced with this reality, the American bishops have made a
document that offers to their faithful a reflection on the complexity of the decision
of this year´s vote . They offer general ideas of which topics are essential to
the comunity progress within the faith they profess: (2)
•
Unrestricted
defense to the dignity of the person in regards to abortion, euthanasia,
assisted suicide, cloning, in vitro fertilization and destruction of embryos
with scientific purposes, torture, unjust war, genocide, racism, human trafficking,
torture and inflicted suffering.
•
Subsidiarity
of natural groups and institutions with
full respect and support of the family and its subsistance as
society basic cell that must be cared for by larger institutions to respond to
human needs
•
The persuit
of the common good and development of a
person oriented economy and not all the way around, respecting the dignity
and human nature of work in addition to the preservation and care of all the creation.
•
Solidarity
that gives priority to the weak and small in the decisions and actions,
defending the most vulnerable.
•
These four principles on important topics of the Catholic Social Teaching offers a moral framework that does not fit easily in
the ideologies of the "right" or "left",
"liberal" or "conservative", or in any political party
programmes. They don't belong to any political party in particular and
aren´t sectarian. They reflect fundamental ethical principles that are common
to all people.
The electoral horizon in the light of this guide is not very
encouraging:
None of the leading candidates has spoken out pro-life, nor
have developed in their political careers a humanist trend (3). Only some independent
candidates have had the courage to declare themselves in favor of life.
Nontheless these candidates have other sensible issues that have to be
considered, like supporting the recreational use of marijuana or guns. (4)
Many Catholics are thinking in opting for a lesser evil and
others feel forced to vote to guarantee their survival as it is the case of
Catholic Latino immigrants,whose life and work would be at risk by voting for a
candidate who sympathize with the deportation of migrants at any cost, and thus,they
have to betray their faith. (5)
This year the electoral preferences are showing a strong
inclination of the “non_support” vote. To vote for one candidate in order not
to vote for another one worse. This trend is erosive, because you are not
really choosing a candiadte,you are avoiding another. This creates a false
image of support to a partisan platform contrary to what people want. In
addition it is a clear symptom clear that real options have not been offered to the citizen. (6)
What can Catholic voters do in this election of 2016?
• Do exercise the duty and right to vote, as civic duties
are essential for the construction of the community and as believers we know
that personal involvement is a must.
• Not only get to know
what do platforms of the contending parties propose on important issues, but
also know the opinion of the candidates in this regard.
• "When all the candidates have a position that favors
a wrong intrinsic, the voter faces a dilemma.The voter can decide to take the
extraordinary step not to vote for any
candidate, or, after carefull
deliberation, he can decide to vote for the candidate who will probably promote
less of the morally defective position and who will probably support most of
other authentic human principles." (7)
One voter's selection may seem like irrelevant in the world
of politics and Government of a nation, but not voting or doing it without
investigation can bring great consequences. That is why we support the final
words of the American Bishops in the document:
"Ultimately these are decisions that every Catholic must take
guided by a conscience formed by the moral doctrine of the Church." (8)
(3)
https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/puede-un-catolico-votar-en-conciencia-por-donald-trump-97221/
(7)
http://ccc.usccb.org/flipbooks/faithful-citizenship-spanish/
(8)
idem
Ana Elena
Barroso @mujer_catolica
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