Fidelis Praises New Authentic Catholic Voter Guide

Earlier today, I received the following press release in an email from Joseph Cella of Fidelis:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2006

Fidelis Praises New Authentic Catholic Voter Guide
AZ Bishop Olmsted Issues Bold Catholic Booklet

CHELSEA, MI — The Roman Catholic Bishop of Phoenix, AZ announced Saturday the release of a new voter guide for American Catholics titled “Catholics in the Public Square.” Fidelis, a national Catholic based advocacy organization described the booklet as “a wonderful authentically Catholic, non partisan handbook that every Catholic should read.” The Diocese of Phoenix plans to distribute 100,000 copies of the booklet over the next several weeks.

Fidelis President Joseph Cella praised the new booklet saying: “Bishop Olmsted has courageously called on all Catholics to act in accord with Church teaching when voting. His booklet is authoritative and unambiguous. Step by step he instructs Catholics on how to properly understand the role of their faith in the public square. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of reading this booklet,” said Cella.

The booklet affirms the constant teaching of the Church which distinguishes between issues open to prudential debate, and issues such as abortion which are not negotiable and covered by Canon Law. In the booklet Olmsted writes, “There are, indeed, many issues upon which Catholics may legitimately differ such as the best methods to achieve welfare reform or to address illegal immigration. Conversely, however, there are other issues that are intrinsically evil and can never legitimately be supported. For example, Catholics may never legitimately promote or vote for any law that attacks innocent human life.”

“Bishop Olmsted has clearly dispelled the myth that all issues are of equal importance when voting. His authoritative booklet lays out in no uncertain terms that there are certain fundamental issues such as abortion, euthanasia, attacks on marriage, and the rights of parents to educate their children, that are ‘not negotiable;” said Cella.

Bishop Olmsted also decries the scandal of Catholic politicians who support and promote abortion. “There are a large number of candidates or politicians in our country that label themselves as Catholic. Regrettably, however, some of these are an embarrassment to the Church and a scandal to others by virtue of their support of issues that are intrinsically evil.” Elsewhere he explains that Catholics have a “serious obligation to protect innocent human life. Whoever fails to do this, when otherwise able to do so, commits serious sins… and should not receive Holy Communion.”

Cella commented further, “Bishop Olmsted’s booklet reaffirms the constant and authentic teaching of the Catholic Church. The responsibility lies with Catholic voters and Catholic politicians to form their consciences in obedience to the Church.”

Volunteers with Fidelis are helping distribute the booklet to groups across the state.

The booklet can be read online at http://www.basilicapress.com/olmsted.htm.

Previous Pro Ecclesia posts on this subject:
Dueling Catholic Voter Guides

More on Catholic Voter Guides

Columnist: "Christian Right Driving Wedge Into US"

More From Amy Welborn on the "Dueling Catholic Voter Guides"

"Catholics in the Public Square" by Bishop Olmsted

Catholics Find Voting Guides a Test of Allegiance