A Letter From Most Reverend John F. Donoghue Archbishop of
Atlanta
On Conscientious Voting
September 16, 2004
+
Dear friends in Christ,
A few years ago, the Bishops of the United States wrote these words to our
people, and they remain true:
"We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their
citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity
meaningfully to participate in building the culture of life."
This encouragement leans heavily on the forceful teaching of our Holy Father,
Pope John Paul II, who has said, with special regard for our own nation:
"A free and virtuous society, which America aspires to be, must reject
practices that devalue and violate human life at any stage from conception until
natural death…man cannot be separated from God, nor politics from morality."
What must Catholics do - in this upcoming General Election, and in all
elections of law-makers and law-upholders?
The Church holds her members to acceptance, complete acceptance of her
teaching on matters of faith and morals. We can argue incessantly about degrees
of authority, and types of authoritative statement. But the Church's teaching is
to be held and practiced. In moral theology, there are two kinds of cooperation
involved in this question, and they break down as follows: "Formal cooperation
is that degree of cooperation in which my will embraces the evil object of
another's will. Thus, to vote for a candidate because he favors abortion is
formal cooperation in his evil political acts. However, to vote for someone in
order to limit a greater evil, that is, to restrict in so far as possible the
evil that another candidate might do if elected, is to have a good purpose in
voting. The voter's will has as its object this limitation of evil and not the
evil which the imperfect politician might do in his less than perfect adherence
to Catholic moral principles. Such cooperation is called material, and is
permitted for a serious reason, such as preventing the election of a worse
candidate." (cf., Colin. B. Donovan, Moral Duties Concerning Voting, EWTN)
This distinction may seem somewhat technical, especially to our modern ears,
which are too often satisfied by easier answers. But the distinction is one of
profound consequence, and must be accounted when we decide, in conscience, how
we are to vote in a given election. The fundamental teaching on this importance
is found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
"Conscience must be informed and moral judgment enlightened. In the formation
of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path, we must assimilate it
in faith and prayer and put it into practice. We must also examine our
conscience before the Lord's Cross. We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy
Spirit, aided by the witness or advice of others and guided by the authoritative
teaching of the Church." (#1783-1785)
Dear friends, as a Bishop of the Church, I cannot tell you for whom to vote.
It would be to misuse authority given me to exercise with humility and prudence.
But I can teach you, on behalf of the Church, the manner in which you must
decide for whom to vote, and I hope that in this letter I have given you clear
and helpful instruction. If I have failed in this effort, then as usual, I will
count heavily on the mercy and understanding of God. But if I have succeeded in
giving you a foothold in which to begin your preparations for the upcoming
election, then I am content. For us all, our responsibility to our Faith and to
our country requires that we consider these issues, and that we do what is
right. For only action that is right and true will in the end rescue our
country. This is a critical moment - and to do nothing would be a great tragedy.
Therefore, let us implore the Holy Spirit to enlighten us, to enlighten our
country, and if not even the middle or the finish, may He reveal to us, as we
live, at least the beginning of our country's journey back to living the rights
endowed by our Creator, rights once happily acknowledged and protected, by all
citizens, for all citizens: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - but
most of all, Life.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend John F. Donoghue
Archbishop of Atlanta
