1 Get on your knees – t<\/strong>hat\u2019s where you hear Jesus. God can\u2019t work with us when we are already standing up proud, opinionated and shouting. First we must pray. And prayer must start with a new perspective. God is God, and we are not. Since I am not God I do not have all the answers. I am a sinner who needs help. Since I am not God I can\u2019t judge my brother’s hearts. I may vehemently disagree. But they are no different than me. They are struggling against temptations and misunderstandings just like me.<\/p>\nBecause God is God, he will prevail. Both sides want us convinced this election is the most important decision we will ever make. In fact this decision is important. But we must decide to love each other and hope for our future. Those decisions are far more important. When has God abandoned us to our leaders? God will work his will through and in spite of any leader we choose. Don\u2019t lose hope because God is God.<\/p>\n
When you find that hopeful nonjudging place where God is God, this is what I mean when I say on your knees. And I say that now because I\u2019m going to keep saying that it (you\u2019ll see).<\/p>\n
2 Build your conscience<\/strong> on solid ground where you won\u2019t lose it. Straight talk time, there isn\u2019t a website with everything you need to know to be a good Catholic citizen. The Church\u2019s social teaching is the result of more than\u00a0thousands\u00a0of debates, testing and revision. If you want a solid conscience you\u2019ll need to give the church some time prayerfully studying, testing and discerning these teachings.<\/p>\nI continue to recommend Just Faith, it is a great Catholic education program, but it has already begun for 2012. See what is available in your parish. Regardless of your approach your goal is not to choose who to vote for. Your goal is to build a moral foundational which can guide you in any difficult decision. When you think you have it, don\u2019t compromise. No party or candidate is completely in line with Catholic Social Teaching. You will probably be forced to choose the lessor of two evils but always be aware that this is what you are doing. A well formed conscience is a nagging uncomfortable thing that\u2019s Gods way of reminding us there is more work to do.<\/p>\n
If you get confused or frustrated along the way get back on your knees. You can\u2019t form your conscience alone, but you don\u2019t have to.<\/p>\n
3 Be involved<\/strong> or die! Show me a conscience with out works, and I will show you my conscience by my works. But do you not know, oh foolish reader? A conscience without works is dead. Even while you study Catholic Social teaching you can and must put these teachings into action. If you have read any of my blogs it should come as no surprise I make this recommendation. But I mention it here to say this should be considered a preliminary to voting. This establishes a real relationship with our brothers and sisters who will be impacted by our leaders decisions.<\/p>\nI also suggest you serve in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable. Stretching yourself will help you grow. But be warned, any good priest will tell you people who act without prayer often do more harm than good. So as often as possible can get back on your knees.<\/p>\n
4 Get your hands dirty –<\/strong>\u00a0The politicians already are. Now we are ready to study politics. You formed you conscience so you would no how to judge your options. Now you need to know about you options. And here is the bad news, when politicians only have apples they will sell them as oranges. It is very easy for a politician to label his policies with one moral defense when in practice they accomplish something completely different.<\/p>\nDon\u2019t oversimplify. The devils in the details so get as many details as you can. Get your details from multiple sources. I was watching one news channel recently, when they began railing all the other sources for not drawing attention to one particular statistic. The next day they apologized, the other channels had proven in fact that particular statistic was actually just false. I won\u2019t say which news channel, because that\u2019s not the point. The point is that the only way to know your getting reliable information is to consider multiple sources. And if details overwhelm you, get back on your knees. God is god let him guide you.<\/p>\n
Finally you will need compromise. If you really feel all candidates fall short, then you have been doing this right. Choose the best candidate you can, and let God be God. God may someday call you to run. God knows we need better candidates. But do this after<\/strong> fallowing all four steps so I can vote for you.<\/p>\nWell at last, now you know my opinion anyone who still has the Gaul to descent is<\/strong>, another human being<\/em>. No one has all the answers but every catholic has an obligation to do their due diligence finding them. My challenge to you this post is to accept no short cuts around a well formed conscience, and if your ever in doubt just get back on your knees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I am arrogant, opinionated, and rude. It has come to my attention, in this election season, that many Catholics have committed the unforgivable sin of expressing opinions that are not my own. I am infuriated that I have to write this. What is wrong with you heathens? The choice this election is as clear as… [Read More]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[90],"tags":[1057,1058,271,601,962],"class_list":{"0":"post-24006","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-faith-blog","7":"tag-conscience","8":"tag-election-season","9":"tag-moral","10":"tag-politics","11":"tag-reason","12":"entry"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":630196,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2018\/01\/catholic-bioethics-seminar-austin-january-26-27\/","url_meta":{"origin":24006,"position":0},"title":"Catholic Bioethics Seminar in Austin January 26-27","author":"ATX Catholic","date":"January 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The National Catholic Certification Program in Health Care Ethics\u00a0Seminar in Austin, TX will be\u00a0January 26 & 27, 2018 at Seton Healthcare Family Administration Offices \u2014 Registration now open \u2014 see\u00a0Schedule\u00a0for the Seminar. Overview: Each Fall The National Catholic Bioethics Center presents a series of two-day seminars in various cities across\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Events"","block_context":{"text":"Events","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/events-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/atxcatholic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/CF038582-300x190.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10004,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/01\/the-attack-on-conscience\/","url_meta":{"origin":24006,"position":1},"title":"The Attack on Conscience","author":"Chris Williston","date":"January 23, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Last week, the Obama administration's Department of Health and Human Services announced the final version of a rule that would require all employers and insurers to provide sterilization and contraceptives, including some abortion inducing drugs in their health plans. 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For months (or has it been years?) we've been hearing from the two main political candidates running for office as to why they are the \"right\" choice for America. Today, millions\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/11\/ACNM_vote-Catholic-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":29035,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2012\/12\/ut-austinmedicalschool\/","url_meta":{"origin":24006,"position":3},"title":"UT-Austin Medical School to be Catholic","author":"Rita Suva","date":"December 13, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"The UT-Austin Medical School situation has turned controversial once again. First, it was the issue of property tax increases. Now, it\u2019s the fact that the hospital will be part of the Seton hospital system and will become a Catholic-owned teaching hospital. This situation has, of course, re-sparked debated over public\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Advent-2","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Advent-2-68x150.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":36865,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/02\/catholic-homeschoolers-building-bridges-with-upcoming-conference\/","url_meta":{"origin":24006,"position":4},"title":"Catholic Homeschoolers Building Bridges with Upcoming Conference","author":"Martina","date":"February 18, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"They are not hard to pick out at daily Mass.\u00a0 They are the parents with the procession of children following them down the communion line.\u00a0 The number of families choosing to homeschool has been steadily growing over the last 10 years.\u00a0 The most common reason given for choosing to homeschool\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ACNM"","block_context":{"text":"ACNM","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"2012 Blessing Mass","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/2012-Blessing-Mass-300x225.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":40267,"url":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/2013\/08\/taxing-the-churches-going-for-the-jugular\/","url_meta":{"origin":24006,"position":5},"title":"Taxing the Churches: Going for the Jugular","author":"Matt Sullivan","date":"August 9, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Now, Matt, aren't you're getting a little carried away in your political paranoia?\u00a0 After all, no politicians are seriously discussing removing the tax-exempt status of the churches.\" True, but lest you think I've gone off the deep end, first consider that on the long list of \"political enemies\" targeted by\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Faith"","block_context":{"text":"Faith","link":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/category\/acnm\/blog\/faith-blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Picture courtesy of media.sdreader.com.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.austincnm.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/06\/jugular2.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/96"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24006\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/atxcatholic.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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<\/a>1 Get on your knees – t<\/strong>hat\u2019s where you hear Jesus. God can\u2019t work with us when we are already standing up proud, opinionated and shouting. First we must pray. And prayer must start with a new perspective. God is God, and we are not. Since I am not God I do not have all the answers. I am a sinner who needs help. Since I am not God I can\u2019t judge my brother’s hearts. I may vehemently disagree. But they are no different than me. They are struggling against temptations and misunderstandings just like me.<\/p>\n