The Titulus Project
#8
(10-25-2024, 09:26 AM)PaxetBonum2024 Wrote: I would like to post an article written by Father Peter Scott back in 2004 when the SSPX was still faithful. It is published in the book The Best of Questions and Answers from the Angelus, 2009. I have bolded some especially relevant points. 

I would just like to add that Trump has accepted a Scapular and a statue of St. Michael. There is reason to hope that he might someday convert to Catholicism. 

"Q Is it a mortal sin to vote for a pro-abortion candidate?

    The casting of a vote can be a virtuous act, even in our modern liberal democracies, in which so much of the system is not only opposed to our holy religion but even to the natural law itself. However, for a vote to be a virtuous act, it must be directed towards its end, namely, the common good. Consequently, it is in itself a grave sin to vote for an unworthy candidate, for the choice of a candidate whose life or policies are immoral is an illicit cooperation in bringing about a grave evil to society. There can be no doubt that abortion, the murder of the innocent, is one of the greatest evils afflicting modern society, and that it is crying out to heaven for venegeance. Consequently, there cannot in itself be any justification for voting for any candidate who is pro-abortion or in any way tolerant of abortion. 

    The question arises, however, as to whether there could be sufficient reason to vote for a candidate who might consent to some abortions, for example, to avoid a more serious evil, such as to defeat a candidate who might be in favor of homosexual marriages or who might actively promote abortions or some other great evil, such as unjust wars.

    The theologians answer that the act of casting a vote is a material cooperation in the evil that that candidate might cause, and not necessarily a formal cooperation (cf. Prummer, III, S604). This means that the person who casts the vote is not necessarily directly responsible for what a bad candidate might do once elected, even if he foresaw that he would perform some evil deeds. In such cases of material cooperation, the Church allows the application of the principles of the indirect voluntary. It is permissible, since the act of casting a vote is not in itself bad, and the end is good, namely, to avoid a greater evil. However, there must be a very grave reason to justify such material cooperation, and all scandal would have to be avoided. This could be the case, for example, if a person were to vote for a Protestant whose platform was in general in accordance with the natural law, but who might have some false principles concerning divorce or the funding of Catholic schools, or on some environmental issue. In such a case, it would be permissible to choose the lesser evil and to vote for a candidate who is not entirely good, on the condition that there is a very grave reaon, namely, to avoid a much greater evil.

    The question here is whether there could ever possibly be such a grave reason that could justify a person's voting for a pro-abortion candidate. Is it possible for there to be a greater evil that could justify such a participation in this evil of abortion, even only a material participation? I cannot conceive that this could be possible, for abortion is such a perverse and horrible crime.

    It is possible to conceive of a greater evil that would alllow one to vote for a candidate who would accept (unwillingly) abortions under certain exceptional circumstances such as rape, for this is frequently done in order to prevent the election of a candidate who is positively pro-abortion. This is a frequent occurrence and is certainly permissible. However, it is inconceivable that a Catholic would vote for a politician who is positively pro-abortion simply because he likes his tax scheme or his social policies. In such an instance there would be no proportion at all, and it would certainly be a grave sin, even if the intention were only for a material cooperation.

    If in general it is narrow-minded to be a single-issue voter, this certainly does not apply to the abortion question. The common good absolutely and necessarily requires the abolition of abortions from public life, and it is of such overwhelming importance for the good of society that no person could be considered imprudent for voting on the basis of this question alone. "


Taken from The Best of Questions and Answers from the Angelus, 2009, pp 283-285

Welcome to the Catacombs, Paxet Bonum! 

Thank you for including Fr. Scott's answer to this question. It appears to support what Fr. Hewko and others have said regarding this particular presidential election. Specifically where Fr. Scott states the following: 
Quote:However, it is inconceivable that a Catholic would vote for a politician who is positively pro-abortion simply because he likes his tax scheme or his social policies. In such an instance there would be no proportion at all, and it would certainly be a grave sin, even if the intention were only for a material cooperation.

What we do know about Trump's - and by extension, his running mate J.D. Vance - stances on the abortion and IVF issues is that there has been much back and forth over the last years. For this election, this is where things seem to have settled: 
From this article, Trump’s continued soft-on-abortion strategy can only hurt him on Election Day:
Quote:... recent polling data indicates that a growing number of American Christians—41 million according to a survey by George Barna—are thinking of sitting out the election.

As Newsweek put it:
Quote:The decline in Trump’s support among Christian and evangelical groups comes as the former president faces widespread criticism from these movements for his wavering stance on abortion during this campaign. Trump has repeatedly downplayed the importance of abortion, stating that it is no longer a ‘big factor’ in elections and predicting it will become ‘a very small issue’ in this year’s vote.

As one commentor summarized,
Quote:Trump not only supports but has enthusiastically expressed his support for ...

1) the typical abortion "exceptions"
2) permitting abortions < 16 weeks (the vast majority of them)
3) keeping the abortion pill legal
4) vowing to protect womens' "reprodutive rights" (implying they have some abortion rights ... rendering any restrictions mostly pragmatic in nature rather than principled)
5) promising to veto any federal bans on abortion
6) promising to fund iVF (which leads to many abortions)

Pope Pius XII, in his 1948 Address to Parish Priests, wrote the following:
Quote:In the present circumstances, it is a strict obligation for all those who have the right to vote, men and women, to take part in the elections. Whoever abstains from doing so, in particular by indolence or weakness, commits a sin grave in itself, a mortal fault. Each one must follow the dictate of his own conscience. However, it is obvious that the voice of conscience imposes on every Catholic to give his vote to the candidates who offer truly sufficient guarantees for the protection of the rights of God and of souls, for the true good of individuals, families and of society, according to the love of God and Catholic moral teaching.

All that being said, we know that God will allow us the President He wishes us to have (and hopefully not the one we deserve!). But even if we could vote unabashedly for Trump, there are many signs that nefarious operations are underway that may disturb an honest  voting process. For example:
Or this from today's news:

[Image: 70f40ac71b10eeaf.png]

My point is that, truly, God is in control. He could give us another four years of Trump. Or he could give us another four years of what will not doubt be a truly deplorable presidency under the coup-produced Harris.

Again, despite the illusion of control with our voting, we don't really have it. Theology aside, we saw that we didn't have 'control' after the mysterious halting of voting in the middle of the night during the 2020 election. If anything should have cemented us in that understanding, it was the 2020 election.

But as you say, Paxet, there is hope for Trump's conversion!
This last action, posting the prayer of St. Michael, is the most significant to me as these were not gifts he graciously accepted, such as an image of Our Lady, the Scapular, etc. This was the reposting of a Catholic prayer. May many blessings, particularly that of conversion, be the result.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre
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Messages In This Thread
The Titulus Project - by Scripsi Scripsi - 10-22-2024, 08:57 AM
RE: The Titulus Project - by Ruthy - 10-23-2024, 08:43 PM
RE: The Titulus Project - by Beth Cline - 10-24-2024, 12:25 PM
RE: The Titulus Project - by Stone - 10-24-2024, 02:43 PM
RE: The Titulus Project - by Scripsi Scripsi - 10-25-2024, 06:41 PM
RE: The Titulus Project - by Ruthy - 10-24-2024, 06:31 PM
RE: The Titulus Project - by Stone - 10-25-2024, 06:37 AM
RE: The Titulus Project - by PaxetBonum2024 - 10-25-2024, 09:26 AM
RE: The Titulus Project - by Stone - 10-25-2024, 12:11 PM
RE: The Titulus Project - by kelley - 10-25-2024, 03:11 PM
RE: The Titulus Project - by Stone - 10-29-2024, 01:44 PM

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