6 October 2002
By
Fr. Michael Dolan
I will be commenting in this column on a remark made to me by people who are not only Catholic but also good friends. This week’s comment is “I don’t want to vote against abortion because I don’t want to be considered a ‘one issue’ voter!”
First of all, I would ask you, if you lived in a country that gave you everything but at the same time was endorsing genocide, would you accept that and excuse it by saying, “Well that’s only one issue!” Would a yes answer be Catholic or even Christian?
Secondly, it has been one of the most successful media canards that convinced Catholics that to become “one issue” voters would undermine the very fabric of our democratic process and be un-American. In reality, I cannot think of any politically viable constituency that is not “one issue,” nor do I condemn them for it. They know that to play on a level playing field in the voting/ legislative game as an equal, you must clearly and forcefully establish your “turf” upon which transgressors are not only unwelcome, but that politicians know very well that there is a penalty for trespassing, namely being denied political office.
Think about it! Which of the following are not “one issue” constituencies: NRA, NARAL, NOW, Planned Parenthood, JDL, NAACP, Act-up, unions, trial lawyers, tobacco manufactures, etc., etc.? In truth, politics is a diverse mix of “one issue” constituencies. So don’t feel that being “one issue” is wrong. Actually it is the American way if you want to be a significant player in the political arena.
A good friend of mine, a person of actual experience in the matter, once told me that the Catholics are one constituency that are never given much, if any attention when legislation is being considered. The politicos must feel that either Catholics are overly sensitive to the Constitutional restrictions between Church and State, or that their religion is negotiable.
If we are who we say we are, our Catholicism should pervade every aspect of our lives whether it be in Church, in the political arena, in the voting booth, in the business world, in the home or on the street. And if in the political arena two or more parties share in part or separately define important issues, we must prioritize our vote remembering the admonitions of our Catechism and our Canon Law and finally that of our Bishops who said that all other interests pale in comparison with the sanctity of innocent human life!
Father Mike
Next Week: “My Conscience is Against Abortion, but I will not Vote Against it!”