Something has gone very wrong in the souls of half of America’s Catholics. It is one thing to wrestle with tough moral questions; it is quite another to make political allegiance your primary creed, over the Gospel itself. Yet here we are: a large swath of U.S. Catholics aligning with a political party whose platform often contradicts the clear teaching of Christ and His Church. Enough is enough.
Christ said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32). Yet too many have yoked themselves to a party that champions abortion, redefines marriage, erases objective morality, and pushes radical agendas in the name of rights. The truth is not negotiable. The unborn are not negotiable. No political calculus justifies turning a blind eye.
What the Church Teaches — Not What the Party Says
The Church has made clear, over centuries, what is sin and what is sacred. Abortion is “an intrinsic evil.” No ifs, ands, or buts. (See “Evangelium Vitae,” John Paul II; the Catechism of the Catholic Church.) A politician who supports or promotes abortion cannot claim full communion with the teaching of the Church. When Catholic Democratic lawmakers sign statements in support of legal abortion, invoking freedom of conscience while denying abortion is intrinsically wrong—this is not a theological nuance; it is grievous distortion.
Jesus did not say: “Go forth and vote whichever way your local consensus demands.” He did not say: “Do whatever is politically expedient.” He said, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory.” (Luke 9:26). So ask: are we ashamed of Christ when we vote for leaders or policies that openly contradict His Word?
Politically Convenient, Morally Inconvenient
Let’s list the anti-Catholic stances and hypocrisy:
- Abortion – The most glaring contradiction. For Catholics, life begins at conception. Legalized abortion, taxpayer-funded abortion, late-term abortion—all these are sins licensed by law under Democratic platforms.
- Gender ideology and sexuality – Many Democrats support policies that contradict Church teaching on marriage (between one man and one woman), on the dignity of human sexuality, on gender roles. Promoting “trans rights” in ways that erase biological realities, pushing early sexual education, encouraging radical gender theory—all these clash with catechesis and natural law.
- Euthanasia / Assisted suicide – In states with Democratic majorities, bills or laws pushing end-of-life decisions that open the door to “choice” in killing are gaining ground. Catholic teaching rejects euthanasia as grave moral evil.
- Religious liberty under threat – When Democratic lawmakers support forcing religious institutions to act against their beliefs (e.g. forcing faith-based adoption agencies to place children with same-sex couples, requiring religious schools to teach contrary moral positions), they violate Church freedom.
- Sanctity of life beyond birth – Although Democrats often speak of “helping the poor,” “social justice,” and “refugees,” the policies pushed too often break laws, ignore due process, elevate ideological goals over authentic help. Welfare that fosters dependency, immigration that bypasses legal order, soft-on-crime or lawless interpretations that undermine public safety and order. The ends do not justify the means.
- Selective morality – It is jarring that Democrats will defend the life of someone already born in poverty, but abort the right to life of someone not yet born. They will cry for social justice but deny the most defenseless justice—the unborn, the disabled in utero.
Why Half of Catholics Still March with That Party
This is where truth cuts deep. There are reasons, some understandable, others disordered:
- Cultural inertia: Ancestry, geography, identity politics make many Catholics default Democrat. Always have, so they feel some loyalty, even when policy departs from moral teaching.
- Compartmentalization: “I’m pro-life personally, but as public policy I compromise.” But when you compromise on what the Church holds intrinsically evil, you have abandoned truth, not merely compromise.
- Fear of being uncool: academia, media, professional circles overwhelmingly skew liberal. So Catholics in those spheres may feel pressure to go with the flow.
- Misunderstanding Church teaching: Some think Church is only about “helping the poor” and “welcoming refugees,” and abortion etc. are personal matters, optional. But the Church teaches: “You shall not kill the innocent.” (Exodus 20:13) — that is non-negotiable.
- False balancing or the “seamless garment” idea: pushing the idea that all issues are equally important – poverty, immigration, abortion. But moral theology distinguishes between intrinsically evil acts (which must never be promoted or supported) and prudential judgments (how best to care for the poor or manage immigration). The Church doesn’t hedge: abortion is intrinsic evil.
The Church’s Cry: Conversion over Convenience
The Catechism tells us that “the citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authority when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order.” (CCC 2242). If a law or a platform forces or promotes evil, it must not be supported.
Jesus asks, “Which side are you on?” (Luke 12:51). We cannot straddle the fence when truth is being wounded. When a candidate promotes what the Church defines as a grave sin, Catholics must reject that candidate—even if other policies seem agreeable.
No More Excuses
To those Catholics who insist on voting Democrat while the party platform includes legalized abortion, abortion funds, support for sex education radicalism, redefining marriage, erasing religious liberty—your excuses are wearing thin. You are not “loving both sides” or “juggling conscience”; you are betraying the Gospel by placing the party line ahead of the Church.
Let all who love Christ and his Church repent. Stand firm. Be unmoved. Refuse to let political expedience seduce your immortal soul. Be not ashamed of the Gospel. (Romans 1:16)
If being pro-life means anything, it means ALL life: from conception to natural death. If being a Catholic means anything, it means the Teaching, not the trendy.
May God have mercy on all of us—and may we be courageous enough to follow him, not the polls.
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