“Ask a Priest: Should I Vote for Whomever Is Pro-life?”

Q: As a Catholic, shouldn’t I be voting for whomever is pro-life for president? I’m very concerned about the choices out there and not sure if I should just “throw away my vote” this time around. Thank you for your time. – Tammy.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: Certainly, we should consider candidates’ stances on abortion.

This is arguably the most important moral and cultural and social issue of our day. The killing of unborn children dehumanizes a society and sets it on the path to decline.

That said, a Catholic has to make his best decision about voting.

Few candidates are perfect, and voting for a less-than-ideal candidate might sometimes help to keep a worse candidate out of political office.

This is no one-size-fits-all formula for deciding this. At the very least, we can never vote for someone because he is pro-abortion. That would amount to formal cooperation in evil.

It might be helpful to list the pros and cons of candidates on a piece of paper, and then take the matter to Eucharistic adoration. Ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

For related reading see the U.S. bishops’ document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.”

And pray that the best candidate wins.

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