Life: It's a Single Issue, and an Important One

Generally, I'm all for balance. But, sometimes I can't vote for an otherwise attractive candidate: just because of that candidate's stand on one issue.

Single-Issue Voting is Bad, Right?

Not necessarily. Take this hypothetical case:

As far as I know, not even the most wacked-out, moonbat-crazy, rubber-room-ready American candidate is running on a 'bring back slavery' platform. But, let's say that you saw a commercial for a candidate who held your positions on health care and the environment: and who also supported the right to own slaves. Would you say, "that candidate has my vote?"

Probably not.

Would you stick to your anti-slavery position, even if that that meant you could be called a single-issue voter?

Probably.

You're not likely to be criticized for being anti-slavery. There seems to be a consensus in American that slavery is a bad idea. I think slavery is bad, too. More to the point, the Catholic Church says that slavery is wrong (2414).

These days, it's not hard to convince voters that someone who supports slavery is not fit for public office in America.

But, what about someone who is all for killing innocent people?

Is it okay to vote for someone who supports killing the innocent?

---

This post covers a lot of ground, so here are the major headings:

• Single-Issue Voting is Bad, Right?
• Abortion: Yes, it's That Important
• Killing Sick People is Out, Too
• Capital Punishment: Tolerated, but Barely
• Life Issues, Being a Catholic, and the 2008 Election
  (list of related posts)

---

Abortion: Yes, it's That Important

In America, a woman has the right to kill her baby: as long as the kid hasn't been born yet. And quite a few people passionately defend this right.

Which is a little odd, since I get the impression that often it's a boyfriend, husband, or boss who wants to get the woman 'fixed.' But that's another topic.

A huge problem with abortion is that it kills people. Granted, babies don't look much like adults. But then, octogenarians generally don't look much like people in the 18-to-25 demographic.

As far as I'm concerned, human beings are people, even if they don't look the way I did when I was in college.

The Catechism puts it more eloquently:

"Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person—among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life...."
(2270)

(Back to the list of headings)

Killing Sick People is Out, Too

Euthanasia is not allowed in the Catholic Church:

"Those whose lives are diminished or weakened deserve special respect. Sick or handicapped persons should be helped to lead lives as normal as possible."
(2276)

That doesn't mean that Catholics have to use extreme measures to keep someone alive. It's okay to stop "medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome...." (2278)

(Back to the list of headings)

Capital Punishment: Tolerated, but Barely

The Catholic Church isn't for capital punishment. On the other hand, it doesn't prohibit executions. The guidelines include the condition that killing a person is "...the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor...." (2267)

I've posted about capital punishment before ("Capital Punishment: Killing Those Who Deserve to Die" (October 2, 2008)).

(Back to the list of headings)

Life Issues, Being a Catholic, and the 2008 Election

Related posts:

• "Elections, Abortion, Voting, Conscience, and Other Troublesome Topics "
  (November 1, 2008)
• "Elections and Citizenship, Catholic Style "
  (September 24, 2008)

---

Tired of all these references to slavery? Me too. I think this is the third post in which I've brought up slavery. Like abortion, it's an important topic, but I think I'll give it a rest for now.

More, about

• "Obama, McCain, Life, Death, Abortion, Voting, and this American Catholic"