Chaput weighs in on voters' choice
By Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Chaput says Catholic voters must weigh moral issues.
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Archbishop Charles Chaput left the door open Monday for Catholics to support pro-choice politicians, saying a variety of factors may be weighed when making such a decision.
"If you're a Democrat can you legitimately vote for someone who is pro-choice? I imagine so," Chaput told a crowd of about 150. "But you have to tell them forcefully you want them to change . . . voting is (just)the minimum."
Chaput spoke at the Augustine Institute, a new graduate school of theology and evangelization at the former Teikyo Loretto Heights campus on Federal Boulevard.
The archbishop's talk was to introduce his new book, Render Unto Caesar, which explores "the role of American Catholics in our nation's public life."
The book, to be released this summer, capitalizes on the fact that Denver will be on the national stage as host to the Democratic National Convention, and that Chaput has become a national figure with his message that Catholics - politicians and citizens - should bring their faith into their public lives.
A question-and-answer session quickly turned to the 2008 election and how a Catholic voter should weigh a candidate's record on abortion, which the church teaches is the killing of a human being.
"I'm almost afraid to ask this question," said the first questioner. "If there are no pro-life candidates, are we Catholics not to vote? Or vote for one who does the least harm?"
Chaput began his answer by saying "there's no one Catholic answer to the question," and that some Catholics might not vote at all and others might vote for the lesser evil. He said Catholics who might want to vote with a political party that's pro- choice should "be an active part of (that) community" and work to change the party's message.
After his talk, Chaput elaborated by saying Catholics must weigh a variety of moral issues that their vote is based on. On that basis, even a vote for a pro-choice candidate "might be OK as long as you operate out of Catholic moral principles."
He added, "I'm not giving people permission to vote for anybody. That's not my role."
Comments
Posted by Scott on February 12, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"He added, 'I'm not giving people permission to vote for anybody.'"
Oh how nice. God's self anointed representative feels he has the power to "give" Catholics permission to vote! It is jerks like Chaput that give the religion haters more ammo to use to keep hating those of us who are religious (Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, etc.) Maybe Chaput should come down off of his throne and teach instead of dictate. Pastors/priests/imams/etc. are suppose to teach not dictate.
Oh, that's right. When you are a Grand Puba in a hierarchical religion the power ends up going to your head when you realize that you can make the mere believers jump to your voice.
Scott
Posted by theQ on February 12, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You vote your own mind and not some archbishop with delusions of godhood. Makes it sound like its a order or you'll fall out of favor with whatever.
Posted by Scott on February 12, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
theQ,
You're getting it. In the hierarchical religions, Catholics, Mormons, etc., if you dare to voice an opinion different from that of the Grand Puba, then the Grand Puba will send you to Hell. Or at least they want you to think they can. In other religions, middle to liberal Protestants, Jew, real Islam, (others I'm not aware of) NO ONE, I repeat, NO ONE stands between you and God.
Scott
Posted by LibraryLady on February 13, 2008 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Please, let's not insult the intelligence of the readers. Abshp. Chaput is the leader of the Catholic Church in Denver. He is obligated to help his people form their consciences. One reading the article fairly will see he did just that. He explains-teaches- the guidelines for choosing one's candidate. No party or candidate is given a "green light." No one is ordered to vote for anyone! No one is condemned!
Library lady
Posted by NoPCme on February 13, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Scott is so full of bull he can't see, read, or comprehend. The archbishop is saying he can't tell someone who to vote for. His use of the word "permission" did not accurately convey what he meant. Also, I am so damn sick of the anti-Catholic bigots and their bilge. It's always the same and usually contains a rant about how a priest or authority figure is attempting to usurp their "right" to "free-thinking." Give me a break.
Posted by david_b on February 14, 2008 at 9:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Archbishop Chaput did not err in using the word "permission". He has been very outspoken about politicians who make a public profession of holding the Catholic faith while advocating positions that are in direct contradiction of clearly-stated Church teaching--especially with regards to abortion and other life issues. Having just acknowledged that it could be "possible" to vote for a pro-abortion politician under extraordinary circumstances, it was appropriate and necessary for the Archbishop to emphasize that he wasn't giving his "permission" to do so. Sadly, too many priests and bishops do indeed give "permission", either explicitly or implicitly, to stray from Church teaching on any number of issues--with sexual morality chief among them. At least Scott hates the Church for the fidelity of shepherds like the good Archbishop and not for some false caricature!
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