Ask a Question - or - Return to the Faith and Spirituality Forum Index

Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Your Opinion on Michael Peroutka, Presidential Candidate	May	Sunday, October 17, 2004
Question: Hello Brother, I had asked the question a few weeks ago about how to vote, from a Catholic perspective, particularly when the 2 major candidates don't support/respect life at all stages (from conception to natural death), nor are fully in line with authentic Catholic teachings. I ran into the name Michael Peroutka as a presidential candidate and need to do further research. He claims to be 100% pro-life. I'm wondering what your opinion is of him. I realize that he might be a long shot in voting, but I'm at this point debating whether or not to vote at all given Bush versus Kerry. Peroutka's website: http://www.peroutka2004.com I'd appreciate your feedback. Thank you and God bless, May
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+ Dear May: I know nothing about Michael Peroutka, but let me discuss a few things concerning this election. Kerry and Bush cannot be compared as two people who do not "support/respect life at all stages." From a Pro-Life and Catholic point-of-view Kerry does not support or respect life, but President Bush certainly does. Bush does not go the 100% that is taught by the Church, but we cannot lump Bush's 95% Pro-Life stand with Kerry's 0%. In terms of a President that is in 100% concert with Catholic teaching that is something that is not likely to ever happen. Thus what are we to do? Well, to make a Conscience/Protest vote (a vote for someone who has no chance of being elected) because that person does represent a position in concert with the Church, is certainly an option and one that can be argued perhaps as the best choice DEPENDING on the situation. The situation with this election is that either Kerry or Bush WILL be elected. The polls show Kerry and Bush side-by-side. This may be the closest Presidential election in history. That being the case, every protest vote for some third party or independent candidate is, for all practical purposes, a vote for Kerry. With the election this close, it is my opinion that all good Catholics and others who are Pro-Life need to vote in such a way that Kerry does not win. Life will have at least 95% protection under Bush, and ZERO under Kerry. Which is the better situation? If the election was not this close it would not be such a problem to vote according to conscience for the man who fits the bill 100%, but in an election as close as this one, we are in real danger of having Kerry as President. This, I think it is CRITICALLY important to prevent that. The way to accomplish that is to vote for Bush. The fact of the matter is that the choice is either Kerry or Bush. Which one would you prefer to be President? Which one comes the closest to the values of Catholics? One of these guys WILL BE President whether we like it or not. I would suggest that we do all we can to see that the one who is closest to Catholic values, even though not 100%, be elected over one who has no Catholic values. That is my take on it, anyway. 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

Your Opinion on Michael Peroutka, Presidential Candidate

May

Sunday, October 17, 2004

Question:

Hello Brother,

I had asked the question a few weeks ago about how to vote, from a Catholic perspective, particularly when the 2 major candidates don't support/respect life at all stages (from conception to natural death), nor are fully in line with authentic Catholic teachings.

I ran into the name Michael Peroutka as a presidential candidate and need to do further research. He claims to be 100% pro-life. I'm wondering what your opinion is of him. I realize that he might be a long shot in voting, but I'm at this point debating whether or not to vote at all given Bush versus Kerry.

Peroutka's website: http://www.peroutka2004.com

I'd appreciate your feedback.

Thank you and God bless,

May

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM+

Dear May:

I know nothing about Michael Peroutka, but let me discuss a few things concerning this election.

Kerry and Bush cannot be compared as two people who do not "support/respect life at all stages." From a Pro-Life and Catholic point-of-view Kerry does not support or respect life, but President Bush certainly does. Bush does not go the 100% that is taught by the Church, but we cannot lump Bush's 95% Pro-Life stand with Kerry's 0%.

In terms of a President that is in 100% concert with Catholic teaching that is something that is not likely to ever happen.

Thus what are we to do?

Well, to make a Conscience/Protest vote (a vote for someone who has no chance of being elected) because that person does represent a position in concert with the Church, is certainly an option and one that can be argued perhaps as the best choice DEPENDING on the situation.

The situation with this election is that either Kerry or Bush WILL be elected. The polls show Kerry and Bush side-by-side. This may be the closest Presidential election in history.

That being the case, every protest vote for some third party or independent candidate is, for all practical purposes, a vote for Kerry.

With the election this close, it is my opinion that all good Catholics and others who are Pro-Life need to vote in such a way that Kerry does not win. Life will have at least 95% protection under Bush, and ZERO under Kerry. Which is the better situation?

If the election was not this close it would not be such a problem to vote according to conscience for the man who fits the bill 100%, but in an election as close as this one, we are in real danger of having Kerry as President. This, I think it is CRITICALLY important to prevent that. The way to accomplish that is to vote for Bush.

The fact of the matter is that the choice is either Kerry or Bush. Which one would you prefer to be President? Which one comes the closest to the values of Catholics?

One of these guys WILL BE President whether we like it or not. I would suggest that we do all we can to see that the one who is closest to Catholic values, even though not 100%, be elected over one who has no Catholic values.

That is my take on it, anyway.

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