Author Topic: Catholic Voting Guide (Read 22789 times)

Ladislaus · « **Reply #15 on:** February 05, 2016, 02:25:13 PM »

LOL, it takes an ignorant "Feeneyite" (Brother Andre Marie) to get this right.

HiddenServant · « **Reply #16 on:** February 05, 2016, 02:49:43 PM »

What about Brother Andre Marie. I used to be friend with him on Facebook.
He was good but not sure totally how traditional he is and may still be. :detective:

MaterDominici · « **Reply #17 on:** February 05, 2016, 05:35:20 PM »

I appreciate the accurate explanation, but it didn't seem to me to have much effect on the overall conclusion.

McCork · « **Reply #18 on:** February 05, 2016, 05:55:35 PM »

Quote from: Ladislaus

It is neither "prudent" nor "permissible" to vote for a lesser evil. Sorry. That's false ends-justifies-the-means moral reasoning. It is NOT Catholic.

The principle is that if one ONLY has two choices of evil, he must choose the lesser evil. But "voting" really isn't that....because you can choose NOT TO VOTE, or to vote for a WRITE IN CANDIDATE....at least in the U.S.

Ladislaus · « **Reply #19 on:** February 05, 2016, 08:18:22 PM »

Quote from: MaterDominici

I appreciate the accurate explanation, but it didn't seem to me to have much effect on the overall conclusion.

No, no, no. Principles matter, Mater. Two people can do the exact same action, materially speaking, but it could be a sin for one but a virtue for the other depending upon their formal intent, and it's the reasoning and principles applied that will determine the formal morality of the action. This is absolutely crucial and cannot be blown off as mere pedantic or academic splitting of hairs.

"Lesser evil" thinking is morally repugnant and must be repudiated by all Catholics. Period.

And there can in fact be radically different material outcomes of applying double effect vs. lesser evil.

So, no, it's absolutely NOT just hair-splitting.

Let us imagine a presidential election in which one candidate favors abortion but only in the first trimester while the other candidate wants no limits up to and including partial birth abortion. So can you vote for the first-trimester abortion proponent as a "lesser evil"?