For many, the decision of who to support this presidential election will be a difficult one. Where candidates stand on several critical issues, including the economy and the war in Iraq, plays a key role in how people will vote. But many Catholics face a unique predicament: The Democratic candidate, Sen. John Kerry, is Catholic — some of his political platform, however, is not.
Kerry is pro-choice, while abortion is explicitly condemned by the Catholic Church. Additionally, Kerry supports stem-cell research, which the Catholic Church also opposes if the stem cells are taken from fetuses.
Catholics, constituting nearly 27 percent of the electorate, have traditionally formed a solid and reliable Democratic voting bloc, according to religionwriters.com. But according to an article from the Associated Press, the Democratic Party’s stance on issues such as abortion and stem-cell research is causing that bloc to erode.
Bud Bunce, the communication director for the Archdiocese of Portland, which represents the Catholic churches on the western side of the state, said the Catholic Church does not advise its congregation on how to vote.
“The Catholic Church does not take
any sort of stance on political candidates,” he said.
But last spring, Portland Archbishop John G. Vlazny wrote a letter to the Catholic Sentinel, a Catholic publication, addressing whether or not Catholic politicians whose politics contradicted Church teachings should receive Holy Communion. Receiving communion is a critical part of a Catholic’s weekly devotion.
Vlazny said that these politicians, in his view, should not receive communion.
“As a teacher … I can clearly state that, when individuals choose not to be in communion with the Church by their public dissident in serious matters, they should refrain from the reception of Holy Communion,” he said in the letter.
Vlazny added, quite controversially, that some Catholic voters should also refrain from receiving communion.
“If (Catholics) vote for (pro-choice politicians) because they are pro-choice, I believe they too should refrain from the reception of Holy Communion because they are not in communion with the Catholic on a serious matter,” he added in the letter.
Many University Catholic students agreed with Vlazny’s statements.
“If you believe strongly enough against what the Church teaches, then you should question your membership in the Church,” graduate student Molly Emmons said in response to the letter last spring.
Former University student and practicing Catholic Mike Petersen said he felt Catholic politicians whose political views contradict the Church “represent my beliefs falsely.” Petersen said these politicians offended him and his faith.
“It would be just as bad for someone who was Islamic to practice voodoo,” he said last spring.
On the national level, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a document outlining the Church’s stance on critical issues such as gay marriage, abortion and stem-cell research. The document, titled “Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call for Political Responsibility,” also emphasizes the importance for Catholics to participate in the political process.
“As we approach the elections
of 2004, we renew our call for a
new kind of politics — focused on moral principles not on the latest polls, on the needs of the poor and vulnerable not the contributions of the rich and powerful, and on the pursuit of the common good not the demands of special interests,” the document says.
For University student and Catholic Richard Keymolen, however, religion will not play such a significant role in how he votes. He added that he will likely vote for Kerry. Keymolen said Kerry is contradicting the Church partially
because he has to in order to gain political advantage.
“He’s just trying to get supporters and the vote,” he said. “Of course the Catholics are going to disagree.”
Keymolen added that Kerry should not be scrutinized because of his religion.
“Political life and religious life should be treated differently,” he said. “This is not a Catholic country. It’s a country of many religions. … If some of his politics go against the church, it’s for the best interest of the country.”

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