Homily: 32nd Sunday in OT 2016 - Principles for voting

How often at work or with friends or in family gathers, when the topics of politics or religion come up, nostrils flare, or an awkward nervousness surrounds the conversation? This happens so much that people say that the two things you aren’t supposed to talk about are politics and religion. Priests even hear this. Father, don’t talk about politics, the church as no business in politics.

How sad it is, that to remain civil with each other, we have to ignore the two things that are supposed to help keep civil. For religion helps us to be civil and respectful, gentle, patient, and kind. And, politics, at its best, is help us bring about civil order, fostering an environment of civility for discussion and working for peace and justice.

Since this Tuesday is election day, here are a few principles to keep in mind as you prepare for the moral choice of voting, and hopefully we don’t have too many flared nostrils or awkward feelings.

Number 1: The Church, herself, as an institution, is not a political organism. Meaning, it is not the job of the Church as an institution to run governments. It’s not the job of the Church to sponsor or endorse a particular candidate, but it is very much the job of the Church to guide her members to think and act in accord with the faith we profess.

So the Church, rightfully speaks about “the duty of politicians” and  “the duty of voters”  to help political leaders and voters act in accordance with the moral law.

Number 2: ‘Catholic’ is a word that has real meaning. We cannot simply pick and choose the teachings of the Church that we like and just follow those and ignore the others, especially for the purpose of political expediency. As Catholics, we are baptized into the Body of Christ, the Church; we inherit our Catholicity by receiving the entire moral and divine law of God. We cannot truthfully call ourselves Catholic, and act opposite of that, saying, “well, I’m just Catholic in some areas of life.” To be Catholic is to accept it all. Our Catholic faith is meant to shape our actions in the voting booth, in the bedroom, at the workplace, in public, and in private. If we choose to call ourselves Catholics, that word has consequences, for what we believe and how we act.

It is especially atrocious when a public leader, a politician, identifies as a Catholic but acts otherwise. Any Catholic politician who says, “I’m Catholic and personally opposed to abortion or euthanasia, but I’m going to keep voting to legalize these immoralities because some people, especially my donors, think otherwise”—that politician is either a liar or coward, but certainly morally corrupt and definitely not a faithful Catholic.

If a person knows what abortion is: the brutally violent destruction of an innocent human life, then one cannot say, “I’m personally opposed…but…” If a politician said, “we’ll, I’m personally opposed to slavery, but I’m going to vote to keep it legal and encourage slavery”, would you vote for that person? Abortion is not only slavery of the unborn, it is brutal murder. And so, a candidate’s view on this issue speaks volumes about their moral beliefs and how they will govern and their vision for the society.

Number 3: There are some moral and political issues which are negotiable, because there can be different valid approaches and even disagreements between Catholics and people of good will.  Some of these include: how to care for the poor, how to stimulate an economy, how to allow immigrants to become citizens, how to provide healthcare, how to care for the environment, national defense. These are negotiable, different approaches, with their own pro’s and con’s.

However, there are non-negotiable issues. Issues which have to do with intrinsic evils. Some of these include: abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem-cell research, so-called “gay marriage”, and the coercion of people of religious conscience. These are moral issues, Church teaching is clear, and there is no room for exceptions. The Church teaches against them, no matter what, no matter who is running for office, any office. It is not the Church’s fault if a party platform or individual politician isn’t in line with what the Church teaches. The Church doesn’t change her teaching based on who is running to appear non-partisan.

You must consider a politician’s stance on these issues: if you don’t know their stance, you shouldn’t vote.

Number 4:  Perhaps you’ve heard this line: don’t bring morality into politics, or don’t force your morality on me.

But, to say that politics and morality are mutually exclusive is a lie. Every law is a legislation of morality. Every law is based on some sort of moral premise. Laws about trespassing are legislation about the moral good of private property. Even speed limits are legislating about the moral good of not endangering people’s lives through reckless driving.

Archbishop Chaput of Philadelphia said this: “Politics is where the competing moral visions of a society meet and struggle.” And since a large majority of American citizens are religious believers, it makes sense for people and communities of faith to bring their moral truth into the public sphere, and to work to build our society according to an authentic moral vision.

The so-called separation of Church and state can never mean that religious believers should be silent about legislative issues, or public policies, or the appointment of judges, all of which are important this election cycle.

Number 5: Our Catholicism has public consequences. We cannot simply stand-by and watch when immigrants are mistreated, the poor are robbed, unborn children are killed, marriage is redefined, and religious liberty is trampled. If our faith is real, then it will bear fruit in our public decisions and behaviors.

Again, Archbishop Chaput said: as a result, if we believe that a particular issue is evil then we have a duty, not just a religious duty, but a democratic duty, to hold accountable those candidates who want to allow that evil. Failing to do so is an abuse of responsibility on our part.

Finally, Number 6: America has been referred to as “the great experiment in democracy”, but we must remember that it all experiments, all nations, all candidates, all voters are subject to God’s judgment. Are actions have purpose, meaning, and consequences. How we vote makes a difference to our country, our world, and our souls. How we vote, how we exercise our political responsibilities has a bearing on our salvation. And we’ll be held accountable by God for our misuse of that responsibility.

No matter who wins the election this Tuesday, many people will have their hopes smashed.  And so we recall that our ultimate Hope is not in ideologies or parties or politicians, but in our Blessed Lord.

And so, come and pray on election day. Perhaps visit the Eucharistic chapel on your way to vote. If you’ve already voted, wonderful, then you have more time to pray.

Pray for our country, that all may open their hearts to God’s law, that true peace and prosperity may come to this country.

The heart of a truly faithful citizenship is this: we are better citizens when we are faithful Catholics. Trust the Church, trust the Lord. Vote, not as a republican or democrat, but first as a Catholic, with a fully Catholic moral vision for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Thanks to Fr. Matthew Pfeiffer, pastor of St. Paul, Akron for the inspiration for this homily.