“Everything, then, depends on our ability to see the need for a change of heart, attitudes and lifestyles. Otherwise, political propaganda, the media and the shapers of public opinion will continue to promote an individualistic and uncritical culture subservient to unregulated economic interests and societal institutions at the service of those who already enjoy too much power.” (Fratelli Tutti, 166)
Introduction
As Catholics, navigating the complex landscape of political decisions requires a commitment to the core principles of our faith, especially those articulated in Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Our decisions must be rooted in a profound understanding of the need for conversion—a change of heart, attitudes, and lifestyles. Catholics often face the challenge of aligning political choices with their faith. This becomes particularly evident during election cycles characterized by misinformation and polarized attacks. Despite these challenges, Catholics are called to engage in the political process with integrity. To do so, we must evaluate political actions through a comprehensive lens that includes the object, intention, and circumstances, as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC, 1750).
Forming a Healthy Conscience
Developing a well-formed conscience is crucial for making moral political decisions. The Second Vatican Council emphasizes the role of conscience in guiding us toward good and away from evil: “Always summon [one] to love good and avoid evil, the voice of conscience can when necessary speak to [one’s] heart more specifically: do this, shun that” (Gaudium et Spes, 16). Forming our conscience is a lifelong endeavor. The Catechism further elaborates: “The education of the conscience is a lifelong task. From the earliest years, it awakens the child to the knowledge and practice of the interior law recognized by conscience. Prudent education teaches virtue; it prevents or cures fear, selfishness and pride, resentment arising from guilt, and feelings of complacency, born of human weakness and faults. The education of the conscience guarantees freedom and engenders peace of heart” (CCC, 1784).
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) provides practical steps to begin this process:
- Be Open to the Truth and What is Right: Approach political decisions with a genuine openness to truth and justice.
- Study Sacred Scripture and Church Teaching: Ground your understanding in the Bible and the rich tradition of the Church’s teachings.
- Examine the Facts and Background Information: Critically evaluate the information surrounding political issues and candidates.
- Prayerfully Reflect: Seek God’s guidance through prayer, discerning His will in your political choices (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, no. 18).
“Recognizing that all people are our brothers and sisters, and seeking forms of social friendship that include everyone, is not merely utopian. It demands a decisive commitment to devising effective means to this end.” (Fratelli Tutti, 180)
Object
The object, or the specific act itself, is a fundamental criterion for assessing the morality of a political decision. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “The object chosen morally specifies the act of the will, insofar as reason recognizes and judges it to be or not to be in conformity with the true good” (CCC, 1751). This means that the moral quality of an action is first and foremost determined by its object, or what the action is in itself.
In the context of political decisions, especially voting, it is crucial to examine the specific end or goal a particular action aims to achieve. This requires a comprehensive evaluation of a candidate’s policies and goals. When voting, we must ask ourselves who embodies the principles of human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity. The Catechism emphasizes that “The object of the choice can by itself vitiate an act in its entirety. There are some concrete acts—such as fornication—that it is always wrong to choose, because choosing them entails a disorder of the will, i.e., a moral evil” (CCC, 1755). This underscores the necessity of discerning whether the policies and goals of a candidate inherently respect the moral order and promote true human flourishing.
Intention
Intention refers to the purpose or motive behind the action. The Catechism states, “A good intention (for example, that of helping one’s neighbor) does not make behavior that is intrinsically disordered, such as lying and calumny, good or just” (CCC, 1753). This highlights that while a good intention is important, it cannot justify actions that are inherently wrong.
In the realm of political engagement, our intentions must be aligned with promoting the greater good, justice, peace, and the dignity of all human beings. Catholic Social Teaching flows from the virtues of charity and justice. Charity, or love, is defined as willing the good of another. Justice is described as the virtue that “consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor” (CCC, 1807). Furthermore, justice involves respecting the rights of each person and working toward the common good (CCC, 1928). Therefore, when making political decisions, our intentions should reflect these virtues, aiming to create a just society that prioritizes the well-being of all individuals, especially the marginalized and vulnerable.
Circumstances
Circumstances, including the context and potential consequences, play a crucial role in moral decision-making. The Catechism explains, “…Circumstances, including the consequences, are secondary elements of a moral act. They contribute to increasing or diminishing the moral goodness or evil of human acts” (CCC, 1754). This means that while circumstances do not determine the inherent morality of an act, they can affect the degree of responsibility and the overall moral assessment.
When considering political actions, assessing the broader context, potential impacts, and likelihood of achieving desired outcomes is essential. This includes considering socio-economic conditions, the political climate, and the community’s specific needs. The Catechism teaches, “Circumstances of themselves cannot change the moral quality of acts themselves; they can make neither good nor right an action that is in itself evil” (CCC, 1754). Thus, while evaluating the circumstances, we must ensure that the chosen actions are inherently good and aligned with moral principles.
Intrinsically Evil Acts
Some actions that radically contradict the dignity of the human person are “intrinsically evil” because in and of themselves they are wrong by reason of their object. “Whatever is hostile to life itself, such as any kind of homicide, genocide, abortion, euthanasia and voluntary suicide; whatever violates the integrity of the human person, such as mutilation, physical and mental torture and attempts to coerce the spirit; whatever is offensive to human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution and trafficking in women and children; degrading conditions of work which treat labourers as mere instruments of profit, and not as free responsible persons: all these and the like are a disgrace, and so long as they infect human civilization they contaminate those who inflict them more than those who suffer injustice, and they are a negation of the honour due to the Creator.” Gaudium et Spes, 27
Catholic Social Teaching and Politics
How we, as Catholics, examine political action is not simply based on the object, intention, and circumstances, it is also derived directly from Catholic Social Teaching. CST is “a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Modern Catholic social teaching has been articulated through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and episcopal documents. (USCCB)”. CST can and should directly guide our actions- when examining a political action consideration of the following is always important:
Human Dignity: Every person is created in the image of God and deserves respect and protection. “The dignity of the human person is rooted in his creation in the image and likeness of God” (CCC, 1700).
Subsidiarity: Decisions should be made at the most local level possible, empowering individuals and communities. “A community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving the latter of its functions” (CCC, 1883).
Solidarity: We are called to stand with and support our brothers and sisters, recognizing our shared humanity. “Solidarity is manifested in the first place by the distribution of goods and remuneration for work” (CCC, 1940).
The Common Good: Political decisions should aim to benefit all members of society, particularly the most vulnerable. The principles of human dignity, subsidiarity and solidarity work together to build up the common good. The Catechism states, “The common good consists of three essential elements: respect for the person, the social well-being and development of the group itself, and peace” (CCC, 1907-1909).
How Do I Judge if a Candidate is Good?
- Look at how the candidate has voted in the past, what issues they list on their website, and what they have said publicly. Do their values align with Catholic Social Teaching?
- Look at who has endorsed or donated to the candidates. Do they uphold Catholic Social Teaching?
- Remember that no party or candidate fully represents Catholic Social Teaching. Consider who best upholds human dignity, subsidiarity, and solidarity, on behalf of the common good. Consider who best upholds the seven human rights the state is required to fulfill.