The term intrinsic evil is appropriate in a
philosophy or theology classroom where students are presumably acquainted with some
Aristotelian distinctions. Used in a presidential campaign, the term asks too
much of electoral politics. Our U.S. Catholic bishops employ the term intrinsic evil a dozen times in their
2016 election guide, Forming Consciences
for Faithful Citizenship. The term’s use there is, in the opinion of “The
Working Catholic,” one more example of moralizing; one more ingredient in the
disenchantment and frustration of our citizenry.
Politics
is a “messy, limited [and] muddled activity,” writes Bernard Crick (1929-2008)
in Defense of Politics (University of
Chicago Press, 1962). Yet it is the most beautiful way of balancing public interests,
lifestyle choices, conflicting rights, interwoven responsibilities and changing
times. Politics (with its laws or policies) is always imperfect because
politics is an exercise in this-worldly approximate justice. Its results at
sunset must be renewed through the exercise of public virtues tomorrow morning.
“The
passionate quest for certainty” is a great enemy of politics, Crick warns. “We
must not hope for too much from politics.” Crick’s point is not that all
politicians are immoral dealmakers. His concern is the mindset of citizens.
Crick wants to strengthen democracy, which is the only alternative to all types
of dictatorship. Principled people who want “total victories,” who “refuse
compromise,” who have “ridiculous expectations,” and who eventually are
disgusted with government actually destroy participatory democracy. Not every
disagreement can bear the weight of high morality. Politics and public policies
cannot fulfill the quest for moral certainty.
It is a
serious sin, says Catholicism, to knowingly and willingly obtain a direct
abortion and formally cooperate in abortion. The 58million abortions in the
United States since 1973 are indictments on a society that values individual
liberty disproportionately over community and that cares too little about
eradicating poverty and supporting family life. The number of abortions has
decreased and can potentially decrease further in part through the daily
practice of messy politics. Too much moralizing, however, makes politics
impossible.
In a
sensible tone Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego, writing in America (2/15/16), defends the bishops’
voting guide. There are several issues that require a well-formed Catholic conscience—immigration
reform, safeguarding workers, the conduct of war, abortion, governmental
policies on marriage and more. Neither electoral party supports the Catholic
approach to all current issues. So once inside his or her voting station, what
is a Catholic to do?
“Voting
for a candidate whose policies may advance a particular intrinsic evil is not
in itself an intrinsically evil act,” says McElroy. Contrary to how the term intrinsic evil is often waved about,
McElroy refreshingly explains that “it is not a measure of the relative gravity
of evil in human or political acts.” Thus, it “cannot provide a comprehensive
moral roadmap for prioritizing the elements of the common good for voting.”
That is, it is an error to give one’s vote to Candidate A because her intrinsic
evil score is only minus two, whereas Candidate B’s
intrinsic evil score is minus four.
Though
McElroy makes important points, “The Working Catholic” is not a fan of the
bishops’ voting guides—this year or in years past. Is there an alternative to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship?
“The Working Catholic” makes this suggestion: The whole church might
year-after-year invest in local citizenship programs that teach public skills,
sensitive to Catholic doctrine. Such programs might include labor schools, quality
community organizations and top flight adult education efforts. Such programs would
not include so-called Catholic lobby
groups. Lobbying is standard procedure. But a lobby group is not designed for
the patient effort of citizen education; it already has an agenda.
Droel’s printed
newsletter on faith and work, INITIATIVES (PO Box 291102, Chicago, IL 60629),
is free to readers of this blog.
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