The presidential election is just over a week away, and many readers have already made their choice — and some have already voted.
On a return flight from his recent Southeast Asia trip, Pope Francis was asked if there were situations when a Catholic could vote for a candidate who was in favor of abortion.
“In political morality, generally, they say not voting is wrong; one must vote, and one must choose the lesser evil” in accordance with one’s conscience, the pope responded, referring to Democratic presidential candidate and sitting vice president Kamala Harris and Republican presidential candidate and former president Donald Trump.
“I do not know. Each person must think and decide in his or her conscience,” the pope added.
For all his warnings, Pope Francis has said more than once that it is important for Catholics to exercise their right to vote.
Many mainstream media outlets have stressed the importance of the “Catholic vote” in this election.
In some swing states, such as Pennsylvania and Michigan, the Catholic vote could swing the lead to one candidate in a tightly contentious campaign.
On Oct. 17, the importance of the Catholic vote was on full display during the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner.
Trump took center stage while Harris chose not to appear in person. Still, the vice president sent in a video with her and Molly Shannon, a former Saturday Night Live comedian, recreating Mary Katherine Gallagher, a fictional Catholic schoolgirl character dating back to the 1990s.
Both candidates extolled the virtues and good works Catholics do for those in need.
“The Catholic Church helps the poor, educating children and supporting the vulnerable,” Trump told the audience.
“The Al Smith dinner provides a rare opportunity to set aside partisanship and come together to do some good by supporting the tremendous charitable work of the Catholic Church,” Harris said during her video.
The most poignant issue facing many Catholic voters this election season is the candidates’ stance on abortion.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) addresses the topic in its voting guidelines, called “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.”
“The threat of abortion remains our pre-eminent priority because it directly attacks our most vulnerable and voiceless brothers and sisters and destroys more than a million lives per year in our country alone,” the introductory note states, adding that other grave threats to the life and dignity of the human person include euthanasia, gun violence, terrorism, the death penalty, and human trafficking.
The New York State Catholic Bishops have asked the faithful to vote down ballot proposal number one, which they say, if enacted, would cement abortion on demand without restriction at any point during pregnancy and strip away the authority of parents to make decisions for their children and teens in matters such as “gender-affirming” treatments and surgeries.
We’ll see you at a polling place on Election Day.