A Catholic Voter’s Manual – a document of the Social Affairs Council of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

Referring to the social teaching of the Church, the Social Affairs Council of the Polish Bishops’ Conference reminds Catholics in a special vade mecum of the fundamental principles they should abide by. The document reads, among others: “With this document, we want to help you navigate the elections to be held at various levels (local, national, European) in the coming months”.

Council members stress that “Catholics are bound by their conscience to participate in elections, which is indeed a demonstration of a fundamental commitment ‘the pursuit of the common good, as the good of everyone and as the good of each person’”.

The document furthermore reminds Catholics that there is no compromise on matters of non-negotiable values that concern the moral order. Issues that should be considered when making decisions include: the right to life from conception to natural death; the rights of the family based on monogamous opposite-sex marriage; the primacy of parents in the upbringing of children; freedom of conscience and religious freedom; opposition to building the world “as if there were no God”; internal and external peace and “the ethical design of economic processes”.

Furthermore, The Manual points out that “once the society has made a democratic decision, even if it contradicts a voter’s preferences, the outcome should be respected”. On the other hand, should authorities enact unjust laws or take measures contrary to the moral order, such arrangements would not be binding in conscience. “A Catholic’s objection to laws enacted in this way arises only from obedience to God, not from political reasons”, stresses the Council for Social Affairs of the Polish Bishops' Conference.

At the end of the document, the members of the Council ask everyone to pray for the Homeland.

Press Office of the Polish Bishops’ Conference

The full text of the document follows:

A CATHOLIC VOTER’S MANUAL

Free elections are a fundamental democratic institution, empowering citizens to decide the direction of progress of a political community. This momentous act, like all other actions of Catholics, should be inspired by faith. With this document, we want to help you navigate the elections to be held at various levels (local, national, European) in the coming months.

In this regard, we remind you of the core principles that a Catholic should be guided by.

1. Participation in elections

Involvement and participation in elections is an accessible way for every citizen to realise their “right and duty” to participate in socio-political life. Catholics are bound by their conscience to participate in elections, which is indeed a demonstration of a fundamental commitment to “the pursuit of the common good, as the good of everyone and as the good of each person”[1].

2. Significance of the common good

The common good is the sum total of the values which further the prosperity of individuals, families and societies[2]. The furtherance of the common good conceived in this way is contingent on politics based on “a correct conception of the human person”[3]. Therefore, the duty to vote in elections calls for informed decisions based on moral order.

3. Non-negotiable values

In matters concerning the essence of the moral order, right reason does not permit compromise[4]. As a consequence, Catholics:

a) unconditionally choose to be pro-life, supporting the right to life from conception to a natural end; “upon the recognition of this right, every human community and the political community itself are founded”[5];

b) are equally determined to protect the rights of the family, based on monogamous opposite-sex marriage. They therefore consider it unacceptable to equate other forms of cohabitation with the family[6];

c) stand guard of the primacy of parents in the upbringing of children[7];

d) defend the freedom of conscience and religious freedom, which “constitutes the very heart of human rights”[8];

e) oppose the building of the world “as if there were no God”[9];

f) are committed to inner and external peace, the precondition for the furtherance of the common good;

g) are concerned about the ethics of economic processes, opposing an “economy that kills”[10].

These issues constitute a set of principles to be taken into account when making election decisions. “A well-formed Christian conscience does not permit one to vote for a political program or an individual law which contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals”^[11].

4. Recognition of democratic elections

While a Catholic is duty-bound to take part in elections and to cast a vote in accordance with their conscience, once the society has made a democratic decision, even if it contradicts a voter’s preferences, the outcome should be respected. “If rulers were to enact unjust laws or take measures contrary to the moral order, such arrangements would not be binding in conscience"[12]. A Catholic’s objection to laws enacted in this way arises only from obedience to God, not from political reasons.

5. Prayer for Homeland

Bearing in mind the importance of democratic elections in building the common good according to the above principles, we ask everyone to pray in the intention of our Homeland.

Council for Social Affairs of the Polish Bishops’ Conference 

Warsaw, 21.09.2023

________________________

[1] John Paul II, Exhortation Christifideles laici, no. 42; John Paul II, Encyclical Sollicitudo rei socialis, no. 38.

[2] Cf. Second Vatican Council, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes, no. 75.

[3] John Paul II, Encyclical Centesimus annus, no. 46.

[4] Cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding The Participation of Catholics in Political Life, no. 4.

[5] John Paul II, Encyclical Evangelium vitae, nos. 2, 28.

6] Cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding The Participation of Catholics in Political Life, no. 4.

[7] Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding The Participation of Catholics in Political Life, no. 4.

[8] John Paul II, Message for the 32nd Day of Peace, 1999, no. 5.

[9] John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Europa, no. 9.

[10] Francis, Exhortation Evangelii gaudium, no. 58.

[11] Cf. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding The Participation of Catholics in Political Life, no. 4.

[12] Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1903.

Translated by M. Turski / Office for Foreign Communication of the Polish Bishops’ Conference