Religion in US elections-2

By Modesto P. Sa-onoy

With more Americans killed since 1973 than all the wars that the United States fought from the time of Christopher Columbus and with more American deaths each year than its wars abroad, no wonder that the real shepherds in the United States are speaking out to draw the line in the November 2020 elections. The stakes are high.

Bishop Strickland continues. “In short, faith and life must come together for Catholics. The full Deposit of Faith must be guarded – and it must inform every area of our life, including our social and civic participation. That includes our voting.”

He quoted from a 2002 doctrinal note on “The Participation of Catholics in Political Life,” published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which at the time was led by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who was to become Pope Benedict XVI.

“The social doctrine of the Church is not an intrusion into the government of individual countries. It is a question of the lay Catholic’s duty to be morally coherent, found within one’s conscience, which is one and indivisible. There cannot be two parallel lives in their existence: on the one hand, the so-called ‘spiritual life,’ with its values and demands; and on the other, the so-called ‘secular’ life, that is, life in a family, at work, in social responsibilities, in the responsibilities of public life and in culture. The branch, engrafted to the vine, which is Christ, bears its fruit in every sphere of existence and activity.”

Most fundamentally, Strickland emphasized that “the right to life is not negotiable. I urge the faithful in this diocese to realize that anyone who directly promotes abortion is not acceptable for leadership in our society. I realize that eliminates a vast number of potential leaders from our consideration as faithful Catholics, but we must hold firm and do all we can to only support political leaders who respect and protect the fundamental Right to Life of the unborn. And, they must listen to our voice.”

He also talked about religious liberty, respect and protection for marriage and the family, as well as choice in education.

The voices of these shepherds in the United States must bear fruit because a Democratic win in the US would mean the strengthening of the proponents of abortion and other immoral practices in the Philippines. President Trump has defunded the works of Planned Parenthood that provides funds and guidance to its minions in the Philippines.

There is now a fight for the appointment of a new justice of the US Supreme Court and Trump is expected to nominate a Catholic who rejects abortion and is expected to cast the crucial vote to reverse the US Supreme Court decision liberalizing abortion. The Democrats will fight to prevent Trump from doing so.

The Philippines accepted funding for the government contraception program during the Democrats’ occupancy of the White House. Hilary Clinton is a major supporter of Planned Parenthood.

If ever the liberal Democrats would take power in the US, we can expect an avalanche of influence and resources for Filipinos who subscribe to the Democrat program of abortion, homosexuality, same sex unions and divorce, among other laws that contravene God’s commands as expressed in Catholic doctrine.

Unfortunately in the Philippines there are bishops and clergy who prefer to remain silent and allow the wolves disguised as Catholics to ravage the faithful.

Remember the time Jesuit Catholic universities supported contraception although knowing this is against Catholic doctrine? How many bishops defended Catholic doctrine and how many bishops and priests cavorted with politicians and lay people who supported contraception? Has any bishop denied communion to actions that directly challenge Catholic doctrine?

Knowing the weakness of the Church the Philippines, no wonder politicians need not listen to Church leaders. A Democrat win in the US will create a deluge of challenges to the Philippine Church.

Even as I write, I was informed about moves in the House of Representatives to allow same sex unions. Can we expect other laws contrary to Catholic doctrine to be far behind, especially if supported by Biden in the White House?

The elections in the US is therefore not just a matter among the Americans but also for us because of the repercussions of its outcome in the Philippines, especially on Catholics.