Pope Francis and the 2024 US Election

In a recent interview Pope Francis is quoted as saying, “In political morality, it is generally said that not voting is bad, not good: one must vote. And one has to choose the lesser evil.” In this interview he acknowledges that abortion is killing but he also says that the one who throws out migrants is anti-life. Some people might think that he is equating throwing out migrants to the grave offense of abortion. To understand this dilemma better, we need to go to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).

Abortion is gravely contrary to the moral law (CCC  2322) for which the Church imposes the canonical penalty of excommunication. “Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense.” (CCC 2272) Articles 2270-2275 provide more explanation including the responsibilities of civil society and political authority.

Additionally, the right to life is intrinsic to our status as human beings and children of God, made in His image and likeness. The founding fathers of our nation recognized this and referred to it in the Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” (Caps in original) In addition, Pope St. Paul II said this about life: “Life, especially human life, belongs only to God: for this reason whoever attacks human life, in some way attacks God himself.” Pope St. John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, 25 March 1995, 9

What does the Catechism say about the migrant? Article 2241 states that while we are obliged to welcome the foreigner to the extent we are able it adds, “Political authorities, for the sake of the common good, may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions, especially with regard to the immigrants’ duties toward their country of adoption. Immigrants are obliged to respect with gratitude the material and spiritual heritage of the country that receives them, to obey its laws and to assist in carrying civic burdens.” Ask yourself, does unrestricted immigration without regard to our laws benefit the common good?

Pope Francis’s call to choose the lesser evil is correct, but the way he said it, calling both positions anti-life, smacks of the concept known as the Continuing Life Ethic (CLE), also referred to as the Seamless Garment. One of its major proponents was Cardinal Bernadin of Chicago but even he noted that it doesn’t make other life issues equal to the evil of abortion. Unfortunately, many pro-abortion politicians used this to justify voting for abortion while claiming to actually support life.

Pope Francis correctly stated that we have a duty to vote. The Catechism states that for the common good it is “morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country.” (CCC 2240) Between this statement and article 2241 cited above, the immigration issue is clearly subordinate to the abortion issue.

The Virginia Catholic Conference (VCC) has put out its election guidance and updated its document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. It points out that there are actions so deeply flawed as to be intrinsically evil and that these include abortion and euthanasia. It also restates from one of its other documents, “In our nation, ‘abortion and euthanasia have become preeminent threats to human dignity because they directly attack life itself, the most fundamental human good and the condition for all others’ (Living the Gospel of Life, no. 5).”

How does this affect the voter, especially one who has their own personal views about relative goodness? First, we need to be aware of the inherent evil in moral relativism and examine our consciences to be certain we aren’t succumbing to the worldly secular perspective that we can do whatever we want without consequence. “Those who knowingly, willingly, and directly support public policies or legislation that undermine fundamental moral principles cooperate with evil.” (Forming Consciences, 31) Again, we go back to the Catechism and its discussion of sin (Part Three, Article 8).

“It is important to be clear that the political choices faced by citizens not only have an impact on general peace and prosperity but also may affect the individual’s salvation.” (Forming Consciences, 38) CCC 1868 points out: “Sin is a personal act. Moreover, we have a responsibility for the sins committed by others when we cooperate in them:

·      By participating directly and voluntarily in them;
·      By ordering, advising, praising, or approving them;
·      By not disclosing or not hindering them when we have an obligation to do so;
·      By protecting evil-doers.”

Forming Consciences recognizes the dilemma mentioned by Pope Francis about choosing the lesser evil: “... all issues do not carry the same moral weight and that the moral obligation to oppose policies promoting intrinsically evil acts has a special claim on our consciences and our actions.” (37)

The VCC letter to Catholics in Virginia reiterates Catholic teaching and states: “... these teachings tell us that three principles must guide how we vote:
·      Many issues are important.
·      Not all issues have equal moral weight.
·      Protecting life is paramount.”

So form your conscience. Do your duty and exercise your right to vote. Carefully consider the positions of the candidates and their parties (too frequently politicians will vote the party line even when it conflicts with their personal position). When you are ready, go to your polling place and cast your ballot.

Pope St. John Paul II noted, “It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all inalienable rights are founded and from which they develop.”

“One may never do evil so that good may result from it.” (CCC 1756, 1789)