{"id":16052,"date":"2016-09-20T12:50:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-20T12:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/a-phoenix-bishops-plea-to-voters-and-politicians-no-votes-for-abortion-90918\/"},"modified":"2016-09-20T12:50:00","modified_gmt":"2016-09-20T12:50:00","slug":"a-phoenix-bishops-plea-to-voters-and-politicians-no-votes-for-abortion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2016\/09\/a-phoenix-bishops-plea-to-voters-and-politicians-no-votes-for-abortion\/","title":{"rendered":"A Phoenix bishop’s plea to voters and politicians: no votes for abortion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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Phoenix, Ariz., Sep 20, 2016 \/ 06:50 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Catholics should be consistent in public life and need to make protecting innocent life a serious political priority, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted of Phoenix has said in the latest edition of his booklet on the duties of Catholic voters and politicians.<\/p>\n

The booklet \u201cCatholics in the Public Square,\u201d now in its fourth edition, makes a distinction between support for intrinsically evil issues and support for different methods of achieving policy.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor example, Catholics may never legitimately promote or vote for any law that attacks innocent human life,\u201d Bishop Olmsted said, latter adding \u201cbeing right on all the other issues can never justify a wrong choice on this most serious matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

The guide reiterated the need to examine one\u2019s conscience and the need for Catholic politicians to oppose laws that allow or promote abortions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a politician is actively supporting and furthering the culture of death, he is not only causing scandal; he is sinning. Similarly, when a politician performs actions (like voting) that allow for abortions and even promote abortions, or that mandate the distribution of contraceptives by pharmacists and others, that politician is materially cooperating in grave sin,\u201d the bishop\u2019s booklet continued.<\/p>\n

These politicians must make a sincere confession before receiving Holy Communion, he said. Because the harm they have done was public, they should also publicly make amends.<\/p>\n

\u201cCatholics should always be respectful of the human dignity of others, including people of different faiths, or no faith at all,\u201d Bishop Olmsted said. \u201cHaving said that, however, Catholics should not be afraid to embrace their identity or to put their faith into practice in public life. In fact, each of the faithful has a call to evangelization and to share the good news of Christ with the rest of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

The booklet, released Sept. 17, features a new foreword by Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles and updated material from Pope Francis. The new material includes excerpts from the Pope\u2019s recent encyclical \u201cLaudato Si\u201d and his speeches during his trip to the United States.<\/p>\n

\u201cBishop Olmsted wrote this booklet to better form Catholic lay people about their faith and responsibilities to their communities,\u201d Robert DeFrancesco, communications director for the Diocese of Phoenix, told CNA Sept. 19. \u201cAccording to Bishop Olmsted, it is important for Catholics to reflect on their role in public life, because we are called to live our faith all of the time wherever we are and whatever we are doing, not just at Mass on Sundays.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bishop Olmsted said that Catholics are specially called \u201cto contribute to the common good, to defend the dignity of every human person, and to live as faithful citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt only makes sense that if Catholics are supposed to live their faith in all of their daily activities that they should also take their faith into account while voting,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

A Catholic\u2019s preparations to vote must include proper formation of conscience, followed by research of important issues and candidates that will appear on the ballot.<\/p>\n

Archbishop Gomez\u2019s foreword to the booklet also reflected on Catholics in the public arena.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis book is a kind of \u2018question and answer catechism\u2019 on some of the deepest issues of faith and public life,\u201d he said. The archbishop described the booklet as \u201ca must-read for all of us who are trying to engage the culture and to proclaim the Church\u2019s beautiful vision for human life and human society.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Church needs clear and courageous teaching and witness to confront the idols of a secularized, post-Christian America,\u201d Archbishop Gomez said.<\/p>\n

Bishop Olmsted suggested that some Catholics have been \u201cfrightened into silence and even confused by charges that they are imposing their morality on others.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cOf course, if one\u2019s faith does not impact on one\u2019s whole life, including one\u2019s political and social responsibilities, then it is not authentic faith; it is a sham, a counterfeit,\u201d he countered.<\/p>\n

\u201cA democratic society needs the active participation of all its citizens, people of faith included,\u201d he added. \u201cThis is not an imposition on other\u2019s morality. It is acting with integrity\u2026 The active engagement of Catholics in democratic processes is good for society and it is responsible citizenship.\u201d<\/p>\n

Archbishop Gomez said that Catholic social teaching provides \u201ca vision of the world as it could be and as it should be. The world as God created it to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Catholic vision is spiritual not political. Catholics belong first of all the \u2018city of God.\u2019 But we have a duty to build up the \u2018city of man,\u2019 to correct injustices and seek a world that reflects God\u2019s desires for His children \u2014 what Jesus called the kingdom of God and the Apostles called the new heaven and new earth,\u201d the archbishop said.<\/p>\n

The fourth edition booklet, published by St. Benedict Press, is available in an eBook version at Amazon and at the webpage http:\/\/dphx.org\/catholics-in-the-public-square\/<\/a>. Its production was supported by a contribution from the national Knights of Columbus. The booklet is being distributed to the parishes of the Phoenix diocese.<\/p>\n

The booklet\u2019s first edition was released in 2006.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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