In Matthew's Gospel, weary Jesus was traveling from Galilee to Judea when children were brought to him so that he could give them a blessing. When his disciples tried to send them away, Jesus replied, He rebuked them and said,“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”
For Jesus, children are a top priority, and their welfare begins at conception and continues throughout. Is there enough food to eat? Adequate health care? Housing? Educational opportunities? Safety from gun violence? Clean air to breathe and water to drink?
These questions are matters of public policy, and Catholics must pay attention.
At the Second Vatican Council,The bishop declaredHe argued that problems that affect “human dignity” — “subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, trafficking in women and children” and “deplorable working conditions” — all of these “poison human society and are the greatest dishonor to the Creator.”
Among these issues, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has said that ending abortion and euthanasia are “Outstanding“It's a priority. And for many Catholics, abortion is an obstacle to supporting Kamala Harris.
Abortion is a concern for people of all faiths.Overturning Roe v. WadeGovernment overreach has been shown to be preventing medically necessary abortions.A miscarriage in a hospital parking lot, Developed sepsisAnd lose the ability to have childrenChildren who are victims of sexual assaultWomen are forced to travel to other states to get an abortion.
There is no such thing as a perfect Catholic candidate, but too often Catholics succumb to the temptation to seek comfort in slogans and reduce everything to a false binary: “pro-life” or “pro-choice.”
Jesus called his followers to feel some discomfort, and it's okay to feel discomfort, including not agreeing with the candidate on every issue.
Jesus' mission aimed to reach out to the marginalized, the hurting, the poor and the excluded. Pope Francis said:Repeatedly emphasizedThe Catholic Church is for “everyone, everyone and everyone” and must be a Church that welcomes all.
Harris is Similar feelings“To be a neighbor means to understand and serve others, and that we are all brothers and sisters to one another.”
Harris is not Catholic, but is a devout Baptist. He grew up in Oakland. Learned “Faith is a verb, and we have to live it and demonstrate it,” she said in a speech to the National Baptist Convention in 2022. Citation 1 Corinthians: “Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do all things with love.”
We must be carriers of love, and our collective governments can be a force for love by giving children a good education, feeding the hungry, protecting the environment, promoting peace, and helping parents with tax credits and affordable child care.
One example of putting faith into action was the Senate's passage in 2021. Child Tax CreditIt provided much-needed assistance to millions of families and reduced poverty levels. Record lows.
If elected,Harris promisesIt would increase government support, including lowering food prices, building new housing, lowering prescription drug prices, and expanding the child welfare tax credit.Offered $6,000The first year after your baby is born.
The late political scientist Jean-Betke Elstein She wrote in her bookIn Augustine and the Limits of the Political, he states that “Those who refuse to acknowledge their dependence are the ones most overwhelmed by the urgency of domination.” Understanding our interdependence means participating in the political process.
Chicago Cardinal Cupichadvice“Committed Christians and faithful citizens need to actively participate in politics to secure the common good.”
Harris is an example of strong moral character. Having accepted her party's nomination for president, she Explained I noticed my friend Wanda at school was sad. I asked her if she was OK. Wanda confided. She had been sexually abused by her stepfather. Harris argued She said she had to stay with her family, a decision her mother, Shyamala, quickly approved.
Simply put, Kamala Harris is a person of character;DevotedTo her spouse and family. Donald Trump is not.
He was discoveredLegally responsibleFor rapeconvicted of fraud,Repeatedly encouraged violence,IndictedHe is committing egregious acts in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election. To speak ill of someoneand”First Day DictatorWhat if he returns to the White House?
This year, Catholics must affirm what our faith teaches: religion must be used as a bridge, not a weapon.
Pope Francis said“There is no future for any family, any group of neighbors, any ethnic group, much less any nation, if revenge and hatred are the forces that unite them, bring them together, and resolve their differences.”
Voices empowered by faith must be part of our political dialogue. In the words of the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, our voices “can be heard.”radically pluralisticTo him, this is what Catholics State your case “In non-religious terms that other people with different faith beliefs might find morally compelling.”
Whatever level of discomfort a thinking Catholic may have with any candidate, our faith demands that we act and vote.
Faithful Catholics can follow their conscience and vote for Harris, and that is exactly what I will do.
John Kenneth White is a professor emeritus at the Catholic University of America. His latest book is “Grand Old Unraveling: The Republican Party, Donald Trump, and the Rise of Authoritarianism.”
