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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Evil is evil	Vincent	Monday, February 15, 2010
Question: Bro. Ignatius Mary, I am neither a scholar nor a credited theologian, however, what I do know, or what I feel in my heart, is that evil, under any circumstances, is still evil. There are, of course, certain scenarios where your life, or the life of someone else, if, under threat of death, could cause one to commit a sinful act. Here is my problem. During the 2008 presidential election both Obama and McCain were pro-choice candidates with McCain drawing the line only at Partial Birth Abortion. Both Obama and McCain were also pro-Same Sex Marriage with McCain, opposed to open gay marriage, was acquiescent to each State being given the right to approve or disapprove it. In retrospect John McCain, by a slim margin, does appear to be the lesser of two evils. However, Barack Obama and John McCain, do support, perhaps one a little less than the other, what God does, in fact, condemn. And since, voting for President in 2008 presented no threat of death by an overpowering force, voting for the lesser of two evils was without justification, and therefore, like it or not, it was a vote in favor of both abortion and gay marriage. Choosing the lesser of two evils, in and of itself, is evil. And, regardless of which way one may choose to spin this, evil is still evil, make no mistake about that. Christ said, “You are either for Me or against Me” and “No one can serve two masters”. I will, once again, thank you for you Ministry, and I will await your valued council concerning this matter. Vincent
Question Answered by Dear Vincent: Actually "evil is evil" is not what the Church teaches. The Church teaches that there are levels to evil -- not all evil is equal. For example, some evil is mortal, some is venial. Then within these two levels of evil are more gradations. Within mortal evil abortion is a greater evil than adultery. Killing someone is an objective moral evil, but there are levels of evil to killing someone. Intentional homicide is a greater evil than an accidental killing. Protecting one's family by killing someone when there is no choice is a objective evil in the sense that someone is killed, but it is not an evil act. In fact, the Church teaches that protecting one's family, even if it means killing the aggressor, can be a moral obligation and duty. The Catechism states: 2263 The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an exception to the prohibition against the murder of the innocent that constitutes intentional killing. "The act of self-defense can have a double effect: the preservation of one's own life; and the killing of the aggressor. . . . The one is intended, the other is not." 2264 Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one's own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow: If a man in self-defense uses more than necessary violence, it will be unlawful: whereas if he repels force with moderation, his defense will be lawful. . . . Nor is it necessary for salvation that a man omit the act of moderate self-defense to avoid killing the other man, since one is bound to take more care of one's own life than of another's. 2265 Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm. For this reason, those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Evil is evil

Vincent

Monday, February 15, 2010

Question:

Bro. Ignatius Mary,

I am neither a scholar nor a credited theologian, however, what I do know, or what I feel in my heart, is that evil, under any circumstances, is still evil. There are, of course, certain scenarios where your life, or the life of someone else, if, under threat of death, could cause one to commit a sinful act.

Here is my problem. During the 2008 presidential election both Obama and McCain were pro-choice candidates with McCain drawing the line only at Partial Birth Abortion. Both Obama and McCain were also pro-Same Sex Marriage with McCain, opposed to open gay marriage, was acquiescent to each State being given the right to approve or disapprove it.

In retrospect John McCain, by a slim margin, does appear to be the lesser of two evils. However, Barack Obama and John McCain, do support, perhaps one a little less than the other, what God does, in fact, condemn. And since, voting for President in 2008 presented no threat of death by an overpowering force, voting for the lesser of two evils was without justification, and therefore, like it or not, it was a vote in favor of both abortion and gay marriage.

Choosing the lesser of two evils, in and of itself, is evil. And, regardless of which way one may choose to spin this, evil is still evil, make no mistake about that.

Christ said, “You are either for Me or against Me” and “No one can serve two masters”.

I will, once again, thank you for you Ministry, and I will await your valued council concerning this matter.

Vincent

Question Answered by

Dear Vincent:

Actually "evil is evil" is not what the Church teaches. The Church teaches that there are levels to evil -- not all evil is equal. For example, some evil is mortal, some is venial. Then within these two levels of evil are more gradations. Within mortal evil abortion is a greater evil than adultery.

Killing someone is an objective moral evil, but there are levels of evil to killing someone. Intentional homicide is a greater evil than an accidental killing. Protecting one's family by killing someone when there is no choice is a objective evil in the sense that someone is killed, but it is not an evil act. In fact, the Church teaches that protecting one's family, even if it means killing the aggressor, can be a moral obligation and duty. The Catechism states:

2263 The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an exception to the prohibition against the murder of the innocent that constitutes intentional killing. "The act of self-defense can have a double effect: the preservation of one's own life; and the killing of the aggressor. . . . The one is intended, the other is not."

2264 Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one's own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow:

If a man in self-defense uses more than necessary violence, it will be unlawful: whereas if he repels force with moderation, his defense will be lawful. . . . Nor is it necessary for salvation that a man omit the act of moderate self-defense to avoid killing the other man, since one is bound to take more care of one's own life than of another's.

2265 Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm. For this reason, those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum