Hope…in the Coming Election

 As women and men of the Word we have been reflecting on what Pope Francis has said about hope in our lives. What faces us in the coming weeks is no exception. The stakes are high, and at such times, Satan often struts around as an angel of light. Dominicans above all cannot allow themselves to be duped at a time like this.

 It seems the media is presenting us with the news that some priests are telling their people that Catholics will sin mortally if they vote for pro-choice candidates. Sadly, these misinformed clergy are using their influence to misguide, and have not read or heeded the directives of their own bishops. These directives are found on the USCCB website. If you don’t have time to read the entire Voter’s Guide, check out #7 and #35. The latter was drawn from a principle given by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (formerly Pope Benedict XVI) which is important enough to quote in full:

A Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for Holy Communion, if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate’s permissive stand on abortion and/or euthanasia. When a Catholic does not share a candidate’s stand in favour of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons (emphasis added), it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons.

(Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion: General Principles. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, 2004.)

 ‘Proportionate reasons’ means evaluating the overall possibilities for good or evil ensuing from such a vote. We need to pray for these priests, and if possible direct them to the Guidelines of their bishops so they cease using their influence to cause scandal and misguide the consciences of others.