You Cannot Vote for a Pro-Abortion Candidate and be Catholic

On May 9, 2007, Reuters News Agency reported that while speaking to reporters aboard the plane taking him on a trip to Brazil, Pope Benedict XVI warned Catholic politicians they risked excommunication if they support abortion. This excommunication was not an arbitrary one but is allowed by church law which says that the killing of an innocent child is incompatible with receiving holy communion, which is receiving the body of Christ.[i]

In this context, it must be noted also that a well-formed Catholic Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals” [ii]

Catholic laity can disagree with church prelates position on health care, environmental issues, education, economic security, immigration, taxes, and other policies yet remain a Catholic in good standing. However, when a Catholic is made aware of the Church's position that abortion and euthanasia are intrinsically evil and then deliberately votes for a pro-abortion candidate when there is a pro-life alternative, he separates himself from the Church and from Jesus Christ. He is now in mortal sin, has forfeited salvation and needs repentance and sacramental Confession to regain membership in the Body of Christ.

“Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, which is the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.” (CCC 1861)

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…since you have forgotten the law of your God…” (Hos 4:6)

Voters’ Guide

There are at least six issues that Catholics cannot compromise when it comes to voting. The non-negotiable issues are doctrines that a Catholic cannot compromise or violate when it comes to voting. If you have been overwhelmed by what needs to be considered when it comes time to vote than here is a beginner’s guide for Catholics. Thanks to Catholic Answers for bringing in the five non-negotiables into mainstream apologetics, I will introduce a sixth non-negotiable, that is, violating our religious liberty. These six topics are imperative for every conscientious Catholic voter to consider for any election season.

The six non-negotiables are:
1.  Abortion – (CCC 2271-2)
2.  Human Cloning [iii]
3.  Euthanasia (CCC 2276-9)
4.  Embryonic Stem Cell Research[iv]
5.  Homosexual “Marriage” – (CCC 2357-9)
6.  Religious Liberty (CCC 2108)

[i] “The Pope Focuses on Abortion at Start of Brazil Trip.” The Denver Post, The Denver Post, 9 May 2007, https://www.denverpost.com/2007/05/09/pope-focuses-on-abortion-at-start-....

[ii] “Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life.” Internet Office of the Holy See, https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con.... Nov. 21, 2002.

[iii] Congregation for the Doctrine of the Fai, and Catholic Church. Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin & on the Dignity of Procreation: Replies to Certain Questions of the Day. Hunter Publishing, 1987.

[iv] (“Charter of the Rights of the Family (22 October 1983).” Servizio Internet Vaticano, https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/.... Accessed 8 Jan. 2024.