Living Catholicism

1907 First, the common good presupposes respect for the person as such. In the name of the common good, public authorities are bound ot respect the fundamental and inalienable rights of the human person. Society should permit each of its members to fulfill his vocation. In particular, the common good resides in the conditions for the exercise of the natural freedoms indispensable for the development of the human vocation, such as "the right to act according to a sound norm of conscience and to safeguard...privacy, and the rightful freedom also in matters of religion.."

1908 Second, the common good requires the social well-being and development of the group itself. Development is the epitome of all social duties. Certainly, it is the proper function of authority to arbitrate, in the name of the common good, between various particular interests; but it should make accessible to each what is needed to lead a truly human life: food, clothing, health, work, education and culture, suitable information, the right to establish a family, and so on.

1909 Finally, the common good requires peace, that is, the stability and security of a just order. It presupposes that authority should ensure by morally acceptable means the security of society and its members. It is the basis of the right to legitimate personal and collective defence.

1910 Each human community possesses a common good which permits it to be recognized as such; it is in the political community that its most complete realization is found. It is the role of the state to defend and promote the common good of civil society, its citizens, and intermediate bodies.
- CCC, pg. 465

This being the case, it becomes obvious that it is vital that, as Catholics, we participate in the electing of political officials since so many of these aspects of the "common good" are determined, supported, and defended by the political community of our society. The Church encourages us in this regard as well.

1915 As far as possible citizens should take an active part in the public life.... CCC, pg. 466

Therefore, in voting we must consider the "common good" and our need to "actively" participate in electing those officials that will best serve the "common good".

Yet the Church points to "life" as the fundamental element of the "common good":

2273 The inalienable right to life of every innocent human individual is a constitutive element of a civil society and its legislation:
"The inalienable rights of the person must be recognized and respected by civil society and the political authority. These human rights depend neither on single individuals nor on parents; nor do they represent a concession made by society and the state; they belong to human nature and are inherent in the person by virtue of the creative act from which the person took his origin. Among such fundamental rights one should mention in this regard every human being's right to life and physical integrity from the moment of conception until death."
"The moment a positive law deprives a category of human beings of the protection which civil legislation ought to accord them, the state is denying the equality of all before the law. When the state does not place its power at the service of the rights of each citizen, and in particular of the more vulnerable, the very foundations of a state based on law are undermined....As a consequence of the respect and protection which must be ensured for the unborn child from the moment of conception, the law must provide appropriate penal sanctions for every deliberate violation of the child's rights."
- CCC, pg. 548-549

That being the case, as Catholics we are encouraged by the Church to participate in electing officials who have a proper position on the human being's right to life. It is impossible for an official to be a considerable choice, regardless of his/her position on other issues, if he/she does not agree with nor support the right to life of the unborn child. This cannot be simply "personal" agreement or support either, it must be legislative, public agreement and support for the rights of the unborn child.

Please pray for our country and our elected leaders. Also please vote...the common good depends on it.