n my forays to the Utah Legislature this session, I have been reminded how quickly religious beliefs may be subsumed by political rhetoric. People of faith, me included, may find themselves spouting a political party platform as if it were a religious tenet. Drawing back from that precipice may be difficult at times, but we need to regularly evaluate our politics and discern which of our religious principles truly coincide with the positions staked by political parties. The Catholic faith is not summarized in either the Republican or Democratic party platforms. The Republican Party platform from 2008 (new platforms will be adopted at the national conventions later this year), for example, says very clearly, "we assert the inherent dignity and sanctity of all human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed." This is a good but partial statement of Catholic belief. However, the platform goes on to promote the death penalty. That is not so good. Catholics believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death. Within our definition we oppose not only abortion, but also the death penalty, except in extremely rare circumstances. The Democratic Party platform of 2008 fares no better. It states, "We oppose . . . attempts to undermine a woman’s ability to make her own life choices and obtain reproductive health care, including birth control." This does not agree with our pro-life stance. Like the Republicans, however, the Democrats take positions that tie directly to Catholics’ pro-life beliefs, including support for policies that address some of the reasons women seek abortions: "The majority of adults in poverty are women, and to combat poverty we must work for fair pay, support for mothers, and policies that promote responsible fatherhood." A thorough reading of both platforms reveals that, like Catholics, both parties seek the common good, in very different ways. Both parties agree with us that nuclear weapons pose an international threat, but do not agree on how best to prevent proliferation and reduce existing stockpiles. Both agree that workers need to be protected, though they have vastly different plans for doing so. Both agree that education and access to health care are keys to improving quality of life, but do not agree on how to improve either system. Both also agree that climate change must be addressed sensibly, but do not agree what a sensible response looks like. Catholics are in a somewhat better position to address all of these issues than the parties. Unlike the parties, our core principles are not determined by majority rule, but stem from Scripture and centuries of Church teaching. Thus, we needn’t worry about what our core beliefs are from election season to election season, they don’t change. That gives us the luxury of focusing on how best to put our principles into practice without renegotiating the basics from year to year. But, like the parties, determining which policies will best accomplish our core goal of protecting and promoting the common good may vary from Catholic to Catholic. The key is that we engage in the political process, and remember to do so from our Catholic perspective. Jean Hill is director of the diocesan Peace and Justice Commission and also the Diocese of Salt Lake City’s government liaison.
Stay Connected With Us