Quote from: Plenus Venter 06/11/2024, 13:02:53
Getting back to the OP.
St Alphonsus is telling us what we all know: the end does not justify the means. One may never use an evil means to bring about a good end.
Fr Scott knows that. Archbishop Vigano knows that.
That is precisely the point. Voting is not endorsing what a particular candidate stands for, but rather, in our modern 'democratic' system, a process we use to put in power the ruler most agreeable to God. It is not sinful to place numbers on a piece of paper if that is the outcome?
That is not equivalent to fornication in the example given above by Ladislaus?
But it may be sinful not to put numbers on a ballot paper if it leads to a ruler assuming power whom you know will be reponsible for greater evils?
I think if it is not certain, we should leave people free to act according to their conscience in this matter and as guided by their spiritual director. That is ultimately my point. Archbishop Vigano and Fr Scott should not be so readily dismissed, especially since we can not find any higher authority to the contrary.
But if anyone can cite other Church authorities, please do so.
Hi Plenus. To the bolded, sure. These Church authorities were cited in the other thread. Pope Pius XII and a pre-Vatican II traditional Cardinal addressing precisely the subject. The usual suspects raised a hue and cry about it, but the Pope and the Cardinal speak for themselves. Voting represents a power Catholics have, and with that power comes certain responsibilities to vote wisely and prudently for the most pro life and most Catholic candidate available.
The link for context and references:
http://www.catholicapologetics.info/morality/general/voting.htm"It is your right and duty to draw the attention of the faithful to the extraordinary importance of the coming elections and to the moral responsibility which follows from it for those who have the right to vote. In the present circuмstances it is strictly obligatory for whoever has the right, man or woman, to take part in the elections. He who abstains, particularly through indolence or cowardice, commits thereby a grave sin, a mortal offense. [12]" Pope Pius XII
Next: we have various traditional Cardinals and bishops address the point:
"In 1921 Cardinal Amette, Archbishop of Paris, addressed a pastoral to his flock on this duty. Later, in a joint letter to all French Catholics, the hierarchy gave this message:
It is a duty of conscience for all citizens honored with the right of suffrage to vote honestly and wisely with the sole aim of benefiting the country. The citizens are subject to divine law as is the Church. Of our votes, as of all our actions, God will demand an account. The duty of voting is so much the more binding upon conscience because of its good or evil exercise depends the gravest interests of the country and of religion.
It is your duty to vote. To neglect to do so would be a culpable abdication of duty on your part. It is your duty to vote honestly; that is to say, for men worthy of your esteem and trust. It is your duty to vote wisely; that is to say, in such a way as not to waste your votes. It would be better to cast them for candidates who, although not giving complete satisfaction to all our legitimate demands, would lead us to expect from them a line of conduct useful to the country, rather than to keep your votes for others whose program indeed may be more perfect, but whose almost certain defeat might open the door to the enemies of religion and of the social order. [76]"
Topic: Saint Alphonsus Liguori: “No Sin Justifies Any End, Not Even to Save the World” (Read 2703 times)