ELECTION GUIDES Guides: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Faithful Citizenship, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Busted Halo Catholic Action Network Catholic Answers Catholic Voting Project League of Women Voters Maryknoll NETWORK On the Issues
How do I vote if there is no candidate that fully supports Catholic Social Teaching? “To help sort out this complex question, Cardinal Ratzinger, the prefect of the Vatican Congregation for the Faith, turned to the traditional principles of Catholic moral theology known as “cooperation with evil.” Those principles distinguish between formal and material cooperation. When we intend the evil done by another person, our cooperation is considered formal cooperation and is morally wrong. If we do not intend the evil, then the cooperation is called material cooperation, such cooperation may be morally licit. When applied to this situation Cardinal Ratzinger maintains that “A Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil only if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate’s permissive stand on abortion. However, when a Catholic does not share a candidate’s stand on in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted if there are proportionate reasons.” (Origins, July 1, 2004, p.108) The debate will continue as the church looks for ways to shape public policy without violating personal conscience or the wisdom of the Catholic tradition.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – Faithful Citizenship NOTE: This is the ONLY voting or election guide that reflects official Church teaching. Background of organization: The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is an assembly of the hierarchy of the United States and the U.S. Virgin Islands who jointly exercise certain pastoral functions on behalf of the Christian faithful of the United States. The purpose of the Conference is to promote the greater good which the Church offers humankind, especially through forms and programs of the apostolate fittingly adapted to the circumstances of time and place. This purpose is drawn from the universal law of the Church and applies to the episcopal conferences which are established all over the world for the same purpose. The bishops themselves constitute the membership of the Conference and are served by a staff of over 350 lay people, priests and religious located at the Conference headquarters in Washington, DC. There is also a small Office of Film and Broadcasting in New York City and a branch office of Migration and Refugee Services in Miami. The Conference is organized as a corporation in the District of Columbia. Its purposes under civil law are: "To unify, coordinate, encourage, promote and carry on Catholic activities in the United States; to organize and conduct religious, charitable and social welfare work at home and abroad; to aid in education; to care for immigrants; and generally to enter into and promote by education, publication and direction the objects of its being." (Taken from www.usccb.org) How to access the guide: www.usccb.org (Either search for “Faithful Citizenship” or scroll down the list of “Latest News” and you will see it near the bottom of the list)
How were candidates’ positions determined? There is no discussion of candidates or their positions. Format and content of the guide: After discussing the general role and teaching of the Catholic Church (including themes of Catholic Social Teaching) with regard to social issues, the Bishops provide guidance on specific issues. The issues are divided into 4 general categories (see below) Issues covered: Protecting Human Life, Promoting Family Life, Pursuing Social Justice, Practicing Global Solidarity Special notes: This is the ONLY voting or election guide that reflects official Church teaching. The website includes resources for using the document in parish settings, such as suggestions for Catholic schools, religious education and social ministry programs, and homilies and bulletin inserts. Downloadable clip art is also available. The site also includes: 1) the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith “Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding The Participation of Catholics in Political Life” 2) U.S. Bishops statement “Catholics in Political Life” and 3) U.S. Bishops’ statement “Interim Reflections of the Task Force on Catholic Bishops and Catholic Politicians.”
Busted Halo Background of organization: BustedHalo.com is a web e-zine published by Paulist Young Adult Ministries, a national office aimed at serving the needs of people in their 20's and 30's. It was founded by the Paulists, a community of priests in the Roman Catholic tradition. BustedHalo.com speaks candidly and occasionally irreverently on issues facing people in their 20's and 30's that intersect with spirituality. Open to dialogue and hearing the stories of young people, BustedHalo never preaches condescendingly, rather seeks to understand and to express the wisdom of Catholic and other religious traditions in a way that makes sense to the experience of those "spiritually seeking." (Taken from www.bustedhalo.com) How to access the guide: www.bustedhalo.com (Look for “2004 Election Guide” to appear in the “Features” box and click on it) How were candidates’ positions determined?: The summaries of the candidates’ positions are not referenced, so it is not clear how they were developed. It appears that they are based on candidates’ voting records and public statements. Format and content: For each issue covered, there is a summary of the U.S. Bishops’ perspective taken from Faithful Citizenship. This is followed by a brief statement of the candidates’ position. The site includes links to Faithful Citizenship and articles written about the election and politics in general. There are “Election Factoids” about the war in Iraq, abortion, the death penalty, poverty & work, the minimum wage, and AIDS, children & poverty. There is also a collection of campaign articles and resources written by a variety of contributors. Issues covered: LIFE: Abortion, Biotechnology and Cloning, Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia, War, Preemptive or Preventive Use of Force, Nuclear Weapons, Landmines, Global Trade in Arms, Death Penalty SOCIAL JUSTICE: Economic Justice, Jobs and a Living Wage, Discrimination, Right of Workers to Choose to Organize, Poverty , Faith-Based Groups, Social Security, Affordable and Accessible Health Care, Housing, Care For the Earth, Agriculture, Hunger, Farmers , Farm Workers, Immigrants, Discrimination, Affirmative Action
FOREIGN POLICY: Globalization, Global Poverty, Religious Liberty , Weapons, United Nations and International Bodies , Persons Fleeing Persecution FAMILY: Marriage, Just Wages, Education, Right to Choose an Education, Communications, Child Tax Credits and Making Them Refundable, Private and Religious Schools
Special notes: The site includes discussion groups. The summaries of the candidates’ positions appear to be excerpts from a larger guide published by www.votingcatholic.org.
Catholic Action Network Background of organization: Catholic Action Network (CAN) is an independent, authentic, and inclusive organization working for social justice within the Catholic Church, and in our world. Comprised of both lay and religious, the members of CAN seek to provide an active vehicle to put faith into action. CAN’s guiding statement calls members to mobilize St. Louis (MO) Catholics, as well as other people of faith, to enact their religious convictions by working for a more just world, and to promote a Catholic voice for justice in the St. Louis community. (Taken from www. catholicactionnetwork.org) How to access the guide: www.catholicactionnetwork.org How were candidates’ positions determined? Public statements and voting records Format and content of the guide: Each page contains one theme from Catholic Social teaching. Below it is a comment and an application of the theme, followed by a comparison of statements and political records of Bush and Kerry. Issues covered: Work and the Rights of Workers (e.g., minimum wage) Dignity of the Human Person (e.g., abortion, same sex marriage) Promotion of Peace and Disarmament (e.g., response to terrorism, military spending) Global Solidarity and Development (e.g., free trade agreements, the IMF & World Bank, foreign debt) Preferential Option for the Poor (e.g., welfare, safety net, federal budget) Stewardship of God’s Creation (e.g., global warming, air pollution) Special notes: Visitors to the site are encouraged to print and share the guide. The last page of the guide lists “Sources and Further Reading” and “Additional Sources”.
Catholic Answers - Voters Guide for Serious Catholics Background of organization: Catholic Answers is one of the nation’s largest lay-run apostolates of Catholic apologetics and evangelization. Its mission statement explains its purpose: Catholic Answers is an apostolate dedicated to serving Christ by bringing the fullness of Catholic truth to the world. We help good Catholics become better Catholics, bring former Catholics “home,” and lead non-Catholics into the fullness of the faith. We explain Catholic truth, equip the faithful to live fully the sacramental life, and assist them in spreading the Good News. Catholic Answers began in 1979 by attorney Karl Keating. (Taken from www.catholic.com) How to access the guide: www.catholic.com (click on FREE CATHOLIC VOTERS GUIDE)
How were candidates’ positions determined? Candidates’ positions are not included in this guide. Format and content of the guide: The guide lists 5 issues it states as “non-negotiable” – “. . .so key, so elemental, that only one position accords with the teachings of the Christian Gospel.” The guide explicitly encourages voters to vote for or against candidates based on the 5 issues: “Candidates who endorse or promote any of the five non-negotiables should be considered to have disqualified themselves from holding public office, and you should not vote for them.” Issues covered: Abortion, Euthanasia, Fetal Stem Cell Research, Human Cloning, and Homosexual Marriage. Special notes: The guide is available either by ordering it or by downloading it from the site. Although the website address may lead visitors to believe it is published by the Catholic Church, it is owned by a private organization.
Catholic Voting Background of organization: A small group of young Catholics came together in the Spring of 2004 to promote the U.S. Bishops statement on Faithful Citizenship. These dedicated people of faith were concerned that public debate surrounding the Catholic vote in the 2004 Presidential Election was beginning to focus on only a narrow range of issues, and wanted to develop an online resource to highlight the richness of Church teaching on matters of political importance. Born of this vision, the Catholic Voting Project is a growing association of concerned professionals from across the country. We are entirely a volunteer effort, and every aspect of our work—from research to writing to media relations to web design—is performed in-house on a very limited budget. The Catholic Voting Project is based in Washington and New York. Every four years the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops releases a statement called Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility. The document looks at important election issues facing Catholics in the United States: the importance of voting, the role of the Church, and the moral priorities needed for public life. It also looks at seven tenets of Catholic Social Teaching, which fall into the four categories of Life, Family, Justice and Solidarity. The Catholic Voting Project created its Catholic Voter Guide as a means of applying the principles outlined in Faithful Citizenship to the current public debate surrounding the U.S. Presidential Election. While there exist many Internet resources that explore such connections, we strive to be unique in providing a non-partisan approach to the issues at hand. (Taken from www.votingcatholic.og) How to access the guide: www.votingcatholic.org How were candidates’ positions determined? For some issues there are references such as media reports, website quotes or information from groups such as Amnesty International and the Center and Budget and Policy Priorities. Otherwise the positions seem to be developed from the candidates’ voting records, public statements, websites, and media reports. Format and content: Issues are divided into 4 broad categories (see below) with more specific issues listed under each category. When you click on an issue, you will find a brief synopsis of the U.S. Bishops’ perspective taken from Faithful Citizenship, followed by a brief summary of the candidates’ positions. Issues covered:
LIFE: Abortion, assisted Suicide, avoid war, death penalty, global trade in arms, landmines, nuclear weapons, stem cell research, targeting of civilians and use of force FAMILY: Communication, education, just wages, marriage, right to choose education, JUSTICE: Affirmative action, care for the earth, child tax credits, criminal justice system, culture of violence, death penalty, discrimination, economic freedom, economic justice, education, faith based groups, farmworkers, farmers, food security for all, health care, housing, hunger, immigration, jobs, living wage, religious schools, rights of workers, social security, sustainable agriculture, welfare reform SOLIDARITY: Alleviate global poverty, fleeing persecution, humanize globalization, immigrants and refugees, Iraq and Afghanistan, Israel Palestine, Nuclear Weapons, Poverty and development, regional conflicts, religious liberty, United Nations Special notes: Visitors to the site can download the guide and are given explicit permission to copy and share it. The site includes a Q & A section that addresses questions such as “Are some issues non-negotiable and therefore more important? Should candidates for elected office be automatically eliminated from consideration if they support certain issues?”, “Your voter guide seems to imply that it is acceptable to vote for a candidate who supports keeping abortion legal. Is it acceptable for a Catholic to vote for a pro-choice candidate?”, “Your voting guide seems biased. Are you really non-partisan?” Visitors to the site can take a quiz to determine how closely their political views match those of the U.S. Bishops.
League of Women Voters/DNet Background of organization: The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization which encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. DemocracyNet (DNet) is a project of the League of Women Voters Education Fund. It is an interactive platform designed to improve the quality of voter information and create a more educated and engaged electorate. DNet encourages candidates to address a wider range of issues, and to address them in greater depth, than they might in other media. (Taken from www.lwv.org) Congress.org is a service of Capitol Advantage, a private, non-partisan company that specializes in facilitating civic participation. It is powered by the award-winning CapWiz™ system. (Taken from www.congress.org) How to access the guide: www.congress.org (Click on “Election 2004: Candidates and Issues”; for the Presidential race, scroll down below the blue map and choose the candidate you would like to learn about by clicking on his photo. For other federal and state races either enter your zip code or click on New York State on the map.) How were candidates’ positions determined? Candidate issue statements are provided by the candidates themselves, without any outside editing. Format and content of the guide: There is a DNet grid which lays out the candidates positions in a chart format. You can also learn about candidates’ positions by clicking on their photo. The resulting page will provide information about the candidate and a list of issues. You can read about the candidate’s position on any issue by clicking on it. Issues covered: Access to Higher Education, Affordable Health Care, Affordable Medication, Agricultural Policy, America's Role in Iraq, Capital Punishment, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Community Initiatives, Confidence in Politics, Corporate Responsibility, Crime, Economic Priorities, Economy, Education, Environment, Equality and Justice
for All, Financial Security, Gay and Lesbian Rights, Gun Laws, Health Care, Homeland Security, Immigration, Industrial Hemp, Job Creation, Jobs for Young Workers, Liberties and Security, Media Bias and Conglomeration, Medical Marijuana, National Security, Opening Statement, Parents’ Rights, Paying for College, Poverty, Preparing Students, Protecting America, Representing 18-30 Year Olds, Small Business, Social Security, Tax Policy, Trade, Voting Rights, War in Iraq, Why I'm Running Special notes: You can access information about candidates for federal and state elections (not county or town). The site includes biographical and contact information for each candidate. The selection of candidates includes those from all parties, not just the Democratic and Republican parties.
Maryknoll – 2004 U.S. Elections: Impact on peace, social justice, and the integrity of creation Background of organization: Maryknoll, the U.S.-based missionary movement, includes: the Maryknoll Society (Fathers and Brothers), the Maryknoll Congregation (Sisters), the Maryknoll Mission Association of the Faithful (lay people, priests and religious) and the Maryknoll Affiliates. Maryknollers have been representing U.S. Catholics in overseas mission since 1911 and currently serve in 39 countries worldwide. The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns is a collaborative ministry of the Maryknoll Sisters, the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and Maryknoll Mission Association of the Faithful. How to access the guide: Download at www.maryknollogc.org/election or call 914-941-7590 How were candidates’ positions determined? Candidates’ positions are not included in this guide. Format and content of the guide: This guide is a brief review of important policy decisions that will face the newly elected president and U.S. Congress in 2005. It includes suggested questions for prompting candidates to speak to these issues. Issues covered: Peace and security – U.S. unlateralism, the war on terror, weapons proliferation, military spending, military training, the ”war” on drugs, specific conflicts Economic justice – Transparency and participation, corporate accountability, debt, trade, HI/AIDS, hunger and food sovereignty Ecology: Sustainable communities of life – Energy policy, water, biotechnology
NETWORK Background of organization: NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, educates, lobbies and organizes to influence the formation of federal legislation to promote economic and social justice. NETWORK envisions a social, economic and political order that ensures human dignity and ecological justice, celebrates racial, ethnic and cultural diversity, and promotes the common good. NETWORK supports and builds political will to develop a just, participatory and sustainable world community. Founded as a contemporary response to the ministry of Jesus, NETWORK uses Catholic Social Teaching and the life experience of people who are poor as lenses for viewing social reality. As a women-led membership organization, NETWORK values participation, mutuality, cooperation and stewardship. (Taken from www.networklobby.org) How to access the guide:
www.networklobby.org (Click on the “Election 2004” box, then on “Presidential Election Chart.” How were candidates’ positions determined? 1) NETWORK sent questions to the candidates directly 2) Campaign websites 3) Public records of votes, proposals, budgets Format and content of the guide: For each of the 7 issues examined in this guide, a statement from both President Bush and Senator Kerry is provided. This is followed by a summary of the candidate’s “record” on the issue, which includes legislative votes, program and budget proposals, excerpts from speeches and other public statements, and media reports. Issues covered: Affordable Housing, Budget and Taxes, Global Peace and Security, Health Care, Immigration, International Trade and Debt, and Social Safety Net. Special notes: This guide is continually updated on the NETWORK website.
On The Issues Background of organization: Our mission is to provide non-partisan information for voters in the Presidential election, so that votes can be based on issues rather than on personalities and popularity. We get our information daily from newspapers, speeches, press releases, and the Internet -- it is a laborintensive process that requires countless volunteer hours. We are not-for-profit and all our net income after November 2004 will be donated to the League of Women Voters to support future issues-based candidate debates. Our advertisers partially offset our cash expenses, but we need donations to keep our volunteers clothed and fed. (Taken from www.issues2000.org) How to access the guide: www.issues2000.org (Click on the photo of the candidate; the resulting page will provide a list of issues with the candidate’s position for each one) How were candidates’ positions determined? Quotes from candidate speeches and statements, media reports, books Format and content of the guide: For each issue, there are a number of “headlines” and an opportunity to read direct quotes from the candidates on the issues. Issues covered: International – Foreign policy, Homeland Security, War & Peace, Free Trade, Immigration, Energy & Oil Domestic – Gun Control, Crime, Drugs, Civil Rights, Jobs, Environment Economic – Budget & Economy, Government Reform, Tax Reform, Social Security, Welfare & Poverty, Infrastructure Social – Education, Health Care, Abortion, Families & Children, Corporations, Principles & Values Special notes: There is a lot of advertising on this site! The information is quite recent, including quotes from the third Presidential debate just 2 days ago.