August 17, 2012 10:03 AM
Paul Ryan's Bishop: abortion trumps economic policy
Catholics who argue that they can vote for a pro-abortion candidate because of their opinions of what constitutes social justice are wrong. We have been told repeatedly from the pulpit that a Catholic in good standing cannot vote for pro-abortion candidates. They are stepping outside Catholic teaching when they do so.Following is a summary of the Bishop's statement, including a link to the whole statement:
HT: Leona
Dear Friend of CV,
Paul Ryan's Bishop just released a very important letter.
I highly encourage you to read it right now - http://cvote.me/morlino.
His Excellency Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison has published a letter to clarify once again that ALL Catholics are bound to defend and uphold the dignity of every human life, marriage between one man and one woman, and the right to religious liberty -- because these issues involve intrinsic evils that can never be justified.
But he also explains (this is important!) that on issues such as how to best care for the poor, create jobs, or how to best reduce the deficit, people of good will can disagree! Specific policy solutions in these areas involve prudence, where good people that share a common goal may disagree on how to best achieve those goals.
This means that those attacking Paul Ryan for his proposed budget solutions are free to disagree with him, but they ARE WRONG when they accuse him of dissenting from the Church.
Partisan Catholic groups, misguided nuns, and even some prominent professors, have for months been accusing Paul Ryan of being a heretic. Their attacks have often been uncharitable and purposely deceptive. This is unjust, unfair, and a shameful misunderstanding of Catholic social teaching.
Bishop Morlino clarifies once again that the Church does not endorse candidates. However, he explains that the Church does propose to Catholics, and to the world, a set of principles grounded in human nature, accessible to all by our common human reason, that must inform and shape our consciences. Finally, he makes clear that the responsibility of faithfully applying Church teaching to candidates and to the world of politics is OUR job - the work of the laity --the work of groups like CatholicVote.org!
Bishop Morlino reaffirms the constant teaching of our Church that Catholics must be united on the issues of life, marriage and religious liberty. And when it comes to prudential matters, we must work together in charity, even when we disagree, to achieve solutions that serve the common good.
May God Bless Bishop Morlino for his courage and clarity!
Sincerely,
Brian Burch
CatholicVote.org
Posted in 2012 Campaign, Catholicism, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink
Comments
I would argue that Socialism is also an intrinsic evil, since it is founded on an atheistic ideology which seeks to put the State in the place of God in people's lives.
Its' core tenets also violate two of the most basic commandments: those against envy and theft.
Catholics and Protestants that have bought the lies of the Marxist "social justice" ideology twist scripture to take charity out of the hands of individuals, families and the church (where it scripturally belongs), and cede those responsibilities to the government (who can only fulfill them by using other people's money stolen by force, restricting liberty and creating dependency).
It's time for both Catholic and Protestant churches to address the serious issue of Biblical Economics, and make sure that believers are properly taught and discipled in these areas, lest more people be taken captive by these sinister lies.
Posted by: Rachel Bjorklund | August 17, 2012 4:56 PM
