The exercise of electoral law comes straight from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which derives this work from co-responsibility for the common good.
Saint John Paul II called in the encyclical Evangelium vitae to participate responsibly in political life, guided by Christian consciences and values — especially in the defence of human life and dignity. On 19 June 1983, at Jasna Góra, he taught that it was the attitude to the gift of life that “is the explanation and basic test of the authentic relation between man and God and man, or the explanation and test of authentic religion and morality.” These words have repeatedly been cited by us as a reliable clue erstwhile making political choices and voting on individual politicians.
All citizens have a moral work to participate in public life, especially in parliamentary and presidential elections. In particular, Catholics have a work to usage their voice to support candidates and parties who warrant respect for values consistent with the teaching of the Church — including in areas specified as protecting life from conception to natural death, caring for the family, justice or helping the poorest.
We must make a wise, liable choice of the future president of the Republic of Poland. In connection with the upcoming elections with concern, we follow the pre-election declarations that have come from candidates. The Citizen Coalition candidate, Rafał Trzaskowski, openly declares that he will influence ruling politicians to increase the availability of killing unborn children, including abortion “on demand”. During the talk on TVP Info, the current president of Warsaw announced: “I will not quit the issue of liberalisation of abortion law, due to the fact that I will exert even more force on the ruling coalition to comply with its promises.”
The question so arises as to whether Catholics can vote for politicians who let legal access to abortion. The Church has a clear position here – the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "since conception human life should be respected and protected in an absolute way." Saint John Paul II in the Encyclical already cited Evangelium vitae stressed that Catholics have a moral work to argue laws and practices that violate the sanctity of life, including abortion. In the Doctrine Note on any aspects of Catholic activity and conduct in political life, the Congregation for the Doctrine of religion states that believers must realize that laws must defend the fundamental right to life from conception to its natural end.
Let us remember that there are inactive 4 draft laws in the Sejm that liberalise access to abortion. Their subsequent railroads will now depend primarily on the president chosen by Poles. We know that there are no perfect candidates, but we cannot be offended — you gotta choose the best possible.
WZ
