Laudetur Iesus Christus! First, let me say that there are strong reasons why I cannot endorse any candidate on this blog. I will, therefore, give you some important principles of Catholic Theology.

First, this idea of choosing the lesser of two evils is not Catholic. Catholics may not choose any evil. There are principles in Moral Theology — e.g., the principle of Double Effect — which allow us to do something that has both a good and an evil effect, but there is no allowance in the Catholic system for directly choosing an evil.

That said, you should vote for the candidate who will do the most to uphold the natural moral law, which is, in part, to advance the social reign of Our Lord. Such a candidate should:

Oppose abortion by some practical means, not merely paying the pro-life cause lip service in order to garner the often naive support of well-meaning pro-lifers. This is self explanatory.

Protect the rights of parents in the matter of begetting and educating children. This is to protect the family, which is the building bloc of the state. The state is a “perfect society” (one having at its disposal all the means to achieve its ends), but the family is a more important and more fundamental society. Attack the family and you attack the state, all social order, and even God Himself, who gave us the family.

Protect the patria (the homeland or fatherland) by securing its defenses. This is a divine obligation upon rulers of nations.

Cease the prosecution of unjust wars. (By this, I do not mean we should vote for a pacifist. Pacifism is not Christian.) The just war doctrine is more than an academic “theory.” It is one part of Catholic doctrine that has penetrated into the very consciences of the nations which constitute former Christendom. When those nations act Christian, they do not prosecute unjust wars.

Also, while it is not a Catholic document (some of its principles are Lockean), the United States Constitution provides the positive-legal protection for the Church’s freedoms in this country. (Note, the Church is free because God made Her free, not because the state gives her rights. But a just society will respect the freedom the Church has by her very nature.) Leo XIII happily acknowledged that the rule of law protected the Church in this country. In these days of creeping statism, globalism, and governmental usurpation of the prerogatives of the Church (go here for a recent illustration of the modern megastate’s hubris), Catholics — who have always upheld the rule of law — should do what we can to uphold the law of the land.

Again, I cannot promote a candidate or engage in partisan politics. When I vote, though, I will let the above Catholic moral-theological principles guide me. I will not vote for a “lesser evil”. If there is anything in the platform or personal life of my candidate of choice that is evil, then I would not vote for him unless the principle of Double Effect allowed for it.

I hope these considerations help you to form your Catholic conscience.

I was curious of your viewpoint of the current Presidential Candidate. I guess there is some controversy if Mormons are Christians? I guess the Born-Again Christians do not accept Romney’s Confession of “Jesus is My Lord and Savior.” So he is falling in the polls.

Who, in your opinion, Br. Andre, would be the best Christian Candidate to vote for in this upcoming Presidential election?

Perhaps you may structure your answer around a criteria that is solid in Moral Theology?

I am always bothered in my conscience which lesser evil to pick?

Thanks very much.

-Sonny