The church makes it clear that those two issues are not more important than any others. Earlier this year, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops published a guide for voting Catholics, titled "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,"in which they urge Catholics to vote strictly on the issues, but they make a special effort to emphasize that there are many issues, not just abortion or gay marriage. The bishops advise that Catholics review ALL the issues and vote for the candidate that, in the Catholic voter's estimation, best supports the mission of the church.
The more I read this document, the more convinced I am that Catholics should not vote Republican in this election. And apparently, I'm not alone. (See video: www.votethecommongood.org)
Somehow, those two issues - abortion and gay marriage - have clouded the social justice mission of the church. This has caused a split in the church. On the one hand, we have the conservative Catholics for whom abortion and gay marriage are the issues of priority. On the other hand, we have the progressive Catholics, the ones who still believe the Catholic church is about social justice not just about protecting the rights of the unborn and the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman. But whose view of the world is the correct one?
At the risk of boring you (even more?), I am summarizing the seven key themes from the Faithful Citizenship document so you can see for yourself that progressive Catholics have it right:
1. The Right to Life and Dignity of the Human Person - This is the belief that ALL human life is sacred (i.e., not just unborn babies). Catholics oppose:
- abortion
- euthanasia
- human cloning
- destruction of human embryos
- genocide
- torture
- unjust war
- use of the death penalty
Catholics support:
- pursuing peace
- overcoming poverty
- overcoming racism and other conditions that demean human life.
2. Call to Family, Community, and Participation - "The family based on marriage between a man and a woman, is the fundamental unit of society." Catholics support families, as defined above, being a priority for economic and social policy.
3. Rights and Responsibilities - Every human being has a right to life and we are responsible for one another, our families, and our larger society. Catholics support:
- the right to have religious freedom
- the right to access things required for human decency - food and shelter, education and employment, health care and housing
4. Options for the Poor and Vulnerable - "Those who are in greatest need deserve preferential concern." Catholics support policies that favor the unborn, those dealing with disabilities and terminal illness, the poor, and the marginalized.
5. Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers - "The economy must serve people, not the other way around." Catholics support:
- Decent work at fair, living wages
- Opportunities for legal status for immigrant workers
- Opportunities for all people to work together for the common good through their work, ownership, enterprise, investment, participation in unions, and other forms of economic activity.
6. Solidarity - "We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences." Catholics support:
- Pursuing justice
- Eliminating racism
- Ending human trafficking
- Protecting human rights
- Seeking peace
- Avoiding the use of force, except as a necessary last resort
7. Caring for God's Creation - "Care of the earth is the duty of our Catholic faith." Catholics support policies that ensure a safe and hospitable environment for human beings (doesn't say anything about animals) now and in the future.
When I look at McCain's platform, clearly he is pandering to conservative Catholics. One of his platform issues is titled "Sanctity of Life" and in this section he states that he will start the end of abortion by overturning Roe vs. Wade; he will pursue policies that make a traditional marriage the standard family unit; he does not support human cloning or stem cell research or the destruction of human embryos; but where is the discussion about ending the death penalty, or not torturing alleged terrorists, or invading a country under false pretense, like Bush did with Iraq? His platform says nothing about overcoming poverty or racism.
Regarding the rights of workers and solidarity, McCain has a primitive plan to address undocumented workers. He wants them to either leave the country or follow his prescribed path to legal status. His path calls for undergoing criminal background checks, learning English, paying back taxes and fines, and passing a citizenship course. McCain's platform makes no mention of decent, fair, living wages, of ending human trafficking, of protecting human rights.
Finally, with regard to taking care of "God's creation", McCain purports to be a maverick because his platform is "greener" than most Republicans would want, but his voting record, with regard to the environment, casts some serious doubts on his commitment to really be green.
Obama's platform is all about social justice. He repeatedly mentions ending poverty, eliminating racism, helping the people access basic needs like healthcare, education, and housing. He is definitely pro-environment. His job as a community organizer is a testament to his commitment to the poor and the marginalized. It's actually kind of scary how closely aligned his views about social justice are with the Catholic church.
So, you see, my friends, Catholics are really more Democrat than they are Republican. :)
If you're still reading this, I commend you for staying focused and thank you for listening to my rant. TTYL.
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