Editorial

Drawing the line:
Why the church does not endorse candidates

Why doesn't the Catholic Church - including The Catholic Herald newspaper - endorse political candidates? That question was asked by several of our readers, including one writer whose letter is published in this week's Mailbag (see page 9 [of print edition or click here]).

The writer challenges the Catholic Church to support "pro life candidates" and he laments, "Catholics get no firm guidance from the church."

I'm sure there are other people who wish the Catholic Church would endorse candidates. It might make our visit to the polls a lot easier if the church told us exactly how to vote.

Bishops explain. So why doesn't the church endorse candidates? In their statement on "Faithful Citizenship: Civic Responsibility for a New Millennium" (November 1999), the U.S. Catholic bishops explain:

"As bishops, we do not seek the formation of a religious voting bloc, nor do we wish to instruct persons on how they should vote by endorsing or opposing candidates. We hope that voters will examine the position of candidates on the full range of issues, as well as on their personal integrity, philosophy, and performance."

The bishops do encourage parishes, dioceses, schools, and other Catholic institutions to actively participate through non-partisan voter registration and education efforts. "As Catholics we need to share our values, raise our voices, and use our votes to shape a society that protects human life, promotes family life, pursues social justice, and practices solidarity. These efforts will strengthen our nation and renew our Church," they say.

Drawing the line. The Catholic Church is drawing the line between educating Catholics on forming their consciences and telling them specifically how to vote. Some may see it as a fine line, but a line it is.

Voting is a very personal, private decision. The Catholic Church realizes that informed adults have the right and the responsibility to make that decision themselves.

In any case, it would be very difficult in many political races to make an endorsement. Catholic Church teachings cover a wide range of issues. Very few candidates adhere 100 percent to Catholic viewpoints. It is up to each voter to prioritize the issues and make a conscientious choice.

Tax-exempt status. Also at stake is the church's tax-exempt status. The Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) Guidelines for Church Involvement in Electoral Politics point out that tax-exempt organizations like the Catholic Church "may engage in issue related advocacy but may not be involved in partisan political activities or elections of non-partisan officials."

Catholics as individuals have the same First Amendment rights as any other citizens to endorse or oppose political candidates. But they must make it "eminently clear" that they are not "speaking for the Church," say the WCC guidelines.

It is a fine line. But I believe it is an important distinction the church makes as Catholics exercise their rights and responsibilities as citizens of our democracy.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

To the editor:

	Mailbag policy We reserve the right to edit or reject letters. Limit letters to 200 words or less. All letters must be signed. Send letters to: Mailbag The Catholic Herald P.O. Box 44985 Madison, WI 53744-4985 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org

I wanted to say thank you for your recent article about organ donation, for which I am a very strong advocate. My own family was touched by this important cause almost four years ago. My father was placed on a list for a heart transplant. He had heart disease for over 20 years - his heart just couldn't take it anymore and he was dying.

Our family was blessed on Dec. 30, 1999 at 11 p.m., when they found a perfect match - a 25-year-old young man. Dad is now 68 years old and is in the prime of his life. My mother and father are young again and living life happily for 45 years together. He has had no sign of rejection.

The family members of the donor have become become a part of our family - I think of the young man like a brother to me - even though I have never met him. He is someone whom I love and give thanks for every day. It is nice to know that someone like him is watching over my dad and my family.

This gift is not just a gift from his family, it is also a gift from God. I echo your words to please sign your driver's license and use the orange sticker, and tell your family about it.

When my dad was in the hospital, he made friends with people who were waiting for transplants, but many of them didn't get a new heart in time and passed away. It was very hard - that would not have to happen if everyone knew what a marvelous gift they are giving by signing a driver's license.

Bill Frederick, Madison

Actively support pro-life candidates

To the editor:

I have read your editorials and articles dealing with the upcoming elections. Obviously your writers are more concerned with preserving a tyrant in power than in supporting pro-life candidates. Why? Why doesn't the church actively support pro-life candidates?

We hear meek "vote your conscience" pleas that might mean the church is against the pro-abortion groups and candidates. If The Catholic Herald and the church are really for life, we should proclaim it from the pulpit and in the press.

I recently lived in the Detroit area for five years. The Detroit non-Catholic churches actually staged rallies in church for Democrat pro-death candidates, while the Catholic churches issued a mild "vote your concience." Guess who won all the congressional races - the pro-death crowd. Catholics historically vote at least 50 percent Democrat, which is 100 percent pro-death since they tolerate no dissent from that tenant of their faith.

Catholics get no firm guidance from the church. Is it any wonder the slaughter continues?

Mike Badger, Mount Horeb

U.S. should strike only if Iraq attacks

To the editor:

As an alternative to a U.S. preemptive strike on Iraq, the U.S. government should issue a congressionally approved ultimatum that if Iraq uses conventional, biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons in an attack on any group, the U.S. will counter with an appropriate and adequate attack on Iraq to eradicate the source of aggression.

These tactics would agree with the Catholic Church's guidelines for a just war. Then we would be recalling the words of St. Augustine, "We do not seek peace in order to be at war, but we go to war that we may have peace."

Charles J. Sippel, Waterloo

Unborn babies are not public enemy

To the editor:

The Catholic Herald issue of Oct. 24 ran a political cartoon that lambasted Congress and President Bush. It showed President Bush taking the keys to an army tank and gleefully going off to a war against Saddam Hussein.

As long as The Catholic Herald is seeing fit to run political cartoons, here is another idea. It could show our Wisconsin senators, Feingold and Kohl, gleefully taking the hand of a scared, pregnant young woman and escorting her into an abortion clinic.

People will hold differing views as to whether we should go to war with Iraq. All will agree, however, that Saddam Hussein is guilty of being a murderous dictator who is accumulating chemical and biological weapons.

What crime have the millions of aborted babies been guilty of? Yet, when we look at the voting records of Kohl and Feingold, one would think that public enemy number one are the unborn babies, not Saddam Hussein.

Greg Wagner, Middleton

Bush photo doesn't belong on front page

To the editor:

I find it quite disgusting that you use almost the entire page of The Catholic Herald showing President G. W. Bush as he signs a congressional resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq.

In my opinion it would have been more appropriate to have shown a picture of a bishop or priest offering up prayers in hope of a peaceful solution to this grave matter.

Geraldine Moser, Middleton

To the editor:

In view of the fact that the bishops of the United States have clearly stated that a preemptive war against Iraq would not be morally justified, I find it strange that The Herald would run a flattering front page picture showing the president signing the bill authorizing him to begin a war, "glorifying" an act the bishops said would be immoral if carried out.

Fr. Tony Schumacher, Madison