Speakers urge voters to be faithful citizens in election

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard headlined a public forum last week on “Faithful Citizenship,” a topic looming large as the November elections approach.

“As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to walk in his footsteps, to build up the body of Christ,” Bishop Hubbard explained to 60 people, including several clergy, who attended the event at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church in Rotterdam. The bishop stressed that the purpose of the forum was not to endorse a candidate or serve as a voter’s guide but to address key themes of Catholic social teaching.

He appeared with Kathleen M. Gallagher, Director of Pro-Life Activities for the New York State Catholic Conference, and Deacon Frank Thomas of Our Lady of Grace in Ballston Lake, a doctor who is a member of the Diocesan Ethics Committee. 

They conducted a second forum at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Clifton Park. 

Catholic teachings 

The presentations covered topics such as conscience formation, legislative advocacy and critical issues, and the seven principles of social justice as set down by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

Bishop Hubbard described Catholic social teaching as a “best kept secret” that must be shared with legislators.  “We bishops are like generals without an army,” he said. “If Catholic social teaching is to become a reality, Catholics must understand how it is applicable.”  

To that end, he discussed the intrinsic evils of abortion and euthanasia; the dignity of human persons and their right to food, shelter, health care and education; preserving marriage; establishing economic justice; faithful stewardship of God’s creation; and preferential concern to the most vulnerable such as the unborn and the disabled.
Bishop Hubbard explained that solidarity as a human family is essential in protecting human rights in every arena and that God is the key. 

“The separation of church and state does not mean the separation of church from society,” he said.  “Issues of the sacredness of the person cannot be explained in philosophy and ideology but only when rooted in our relationship with a loving God.”
Mrs. Gallagher called for Catholics to act and vote with their beliefs.

“Never concede separation of faith from politics,” she said. “We are Catholics first. We cannot keep our faith from our politics.”  She encouraged Catholics to “stop being embarrassed when talking about our faith and insist that it be respected.”

Deacon Thomas explained the matter further. “The role of the Church is not to endorse a party or to tell people how to vote,” he said. “It is to help people form consciences on the issues based on the Church’s vision.” Society is then “shaped based on the Church’s vision and values.”

Personal politics

A conscience formed on Catholic social teaching is crucial.

Deacon Thomas encourages listeners “to seek and embrace truth” by studying Scripture and Church teachings. Then, he said, examine the facts and prayerfully reflect on the candidates. “Form consciences with God’s truth,” he said, “not a political agenda.”

Questions from the audience focused on abortion as a non-negotiable, intrinsic evil and how to integrate that with social justice concerns. Each presenter stressed that the moral gravity of abortion, euthanasia, cloning and using human embryos for research is greater than other issues.

“It is an error to treat all evils the same,” Mrs. Gallagher said. “It is also an error to ignore other evils.”

A well-formed conscience will allow Catholic voters, said Bishop Hubbard, “to do the most good or the least harm.”

Mrs. Gallagher challenged the familiar question in determining how to cast a vote. “‘Am I better off that I was four years ago?’ That is not the question we as faithful Catholic citizens should be asking,” she said. Rather ask, “Are my neighbors better off than they were four years ago?”

(10/9/08)