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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Trade Unions	Vincent	Sunday, August 9, 2015
Question: Brother Ignatius Mary, I am considering the Catholic Church. Not long after graduating from university, I sought work pertinent to my degree (History) but did not have much luck in finding it after a year. Eventually I decided to get involved in the trade industry, as I considered (and consider) traditional work an honorable enterprise. I entered an Apprenticeship Program with the local plumbers' union and am doing quite well and have a good future ahead, and would likely be able to provide well for a family if and when I should desire to be married. My concern is the ethics of such a decision, since I know some of the money from my gains is used by the union to be contributed to political candidates or legislation supporting workers' rights and similar issues. This union does not endorse any kind of specific moral (i.e. immoral) position vis-a-vis topics like abortion, and also does not directly support the Democratic Party as such, but as we well know the politicians who tend to support better conditions for workers also tend to support other evils, and overwhelmingly tend to be Democrats (though the union does post a video of a Republican politician who supports those issues as a testimony of its orientation toward "bi-partisan" efforts). My conscience is plagued by this, and especially if I am to practice as a Catholic I am not sure what the Church would say about this. Am I sinning, most concernedly in a grave sense, by being a member of a trade union (despite my vocal opposition to abortion/same-sex marriage etc whenever the chance arises) which does not specifically avoid funding any candidates who support other immoral issues in addition to the moral issues involved in working conditions? I appreciate your help.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC Dear Vincent: I praise God that you are considering the Catholic Church. We will be in prayer for your decision. There is no ethical problem in joining a labor union. Any support the Union gives, or money that it gives, to candidates or organizations or causes that are inconsistent with the Catholic Church is call "Remote participation." This is the same as when we pay taxes and the government uses some of that money for things we do not approve. It is remote to us. With that said, whenever there is a specific vote in the Union for something against your conscience, then vote "no." In this way there is no sin in your membership in Unions. Here is a Primer from the American Bishops. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Trade Unions

Vincent

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Question:

Brother Ignatius Mary,

I am considering the Catholic Church. Not long after graduating from university, I sought work pertinent to my degree (History) but did not have much luck in finding it after a year. Eventually I decided to get involved in the trade industry, as I considered (and consider) traditional work an honorable enterprise. I entered an Apprenticeship Program with the local plumbers' union and am doing quite well and have a good future ahead, and would likely be able to provide well for a family if and when I should desire to be married.

My concern is the ethics of such a decision, since I know some of the money from my gains is used by the union to be contributed to political candidates or legislation supporting workers' rights and similar issues. This union does not endorse any kind of specific moral (i.e. immoral) position vis-a-vis topics like abortion, and also does not directly support the Democratic Party as such, but as we well know the politicians who tend to support better conditions for workers also tend to support other evils, and overwhelmingly tend to be Democrats (though the union does post a video of a Republican politician who supports those issues as a testimony of its orientation toward "bi-partisan" efforts).

My conscience is plagued by this, and especially if I am to practice as a Catholic I am not sure what the Church would say about this. Am I sinning, most concernedly in a grave sense, by being a member of a trade union (despite my vocal opposition to abortion/same-sex marriage etc whenever the chance arises) which does not specifically avoid funding any candidates who support other immoral issues in addition to the moral issues involved in working conditions? I appreciate your help.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC

Dear Vincent:

I praise God that you are considering the Catholic Church. We will be in prayer for your decision.

There is no ethical problem in joining a labor union. Any support the Union gives, or money that it gives, to candidates or organizations or causes that are inconsistent with the Catholic Church is call "Remote participation." This is the same as when we pay taxes and the government uses some of that money for things we do not approve. It is remote to us.

With that said, whenever there is a specific vote in the Union for something against your conscience, then vote "no."

In this way there is no sin in your membership in Unions.

Here is a Primer from the American Bishops.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.