|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
We are on the brink of the 2024 presidential election—which, perhaps more than ever, has us on the brink of preserving this wonderful nation or losing it.
Is it true that some Catholics still don’t know for whom they are going to vote, or if they are going to vote? What more do they need to know than they know already? Maybe a lot.
A good case can be made for not voting or voting for a third-party candidate in “non-swing” states, but I believe it imperative for Catholics to vote for Trump in swing states. Indeed, somewhat indirectly, Cardinal Burke makes a strong case for this perspective.
Orthodox. Faithful. Free.
Sign up to get Crisis articles delivered to your inbox daily
I suspect the major reason that so many Catholics are considering not voting for Trump is because of the news sources they read. I read The Wall Street Journal, articles on the National Public Radio webpage, and several news feeds that draw from both left- and right-wing media organizations. But what really keeps me informed is the fact that I use 𝕏 (formerly known as Twitter), the best news source by far. Not only is breaking news available with breathtaking rapidity, but so is expert commentary—less so by journalists as by “real” people who have direct experience with the kind of realities making the news—former Secret Service agents, munitions experts, legal experts, medical experts—people who have unassailable expertise but who are ignored by MSM. The news and commentary on the first assassination attempt, for instance, was hours ahead of mainstream media.
I host lots of different kinds of discussions on Facebook, and I am amazed when people who believe they are well-informed but know absolutely nothing of evidence that challenges the take of the mainstream media post. They remained convinced that there was no election fraud, interference, or manipulation in 2020. They believe that Trump tried to stage an insurrection on January 6, 2021. They believe he has been fairly convicted of felonious crimes and fairly impeached—although the Russion collusion charge has been shown to a complete hoax. They seem not to know that the FBI suppressed information on the Biden laptop that showed Biden family connections with Ukraine or that 51 FBI agents perjured themselves about what was on the laptop.
The unfair media treatment of Trump is criminal; they are not only completely biased but they also fail to report extremely important news. The virtual blackout of coverage of the assassination attempts is appalling, as is the neglect of the horrible devastations of hurricane Helene and the failure of the government to respond—for just the most recent examples. The unfair media treatment of Trump is criminal; they are not only completely biased but they also fail to report extremely important news.Tweet This
I would like to challenge people to research the many vexed questions surrounding Trump, but it is hard to find true information by using search engines—they bury any favorable coverage of Trump. Indeed, I think it is only on 𝕏 that one will find information that permits one to make a fair evaluation of charges against Trump. Those who want to try to catch up quickly will find good coverage from The Epoch Times and from The Vigilant Fox (which does not attempt to be “balanced” but, nonetheless, is reliable and a source for news not covered elsewhere). Tucker Carlson’s interviews and talks are always interesting and informative.
𝕏 will lead you to an amazing number of interesting podcasters—and that will lead you to more. There are many articles and videos on the “alternate media” that show how generous and non-racist Trump is—despite his boasting this is not something he boasts about. This is one of the best: “Manhood is Under Attack.”
For two good summaries of why it is imperative to vote for Trump, I recommend Christopher Bell’s “Pray, Vote, Work, Pray More” and the statement of Bill Ackerman, a top financier and political moderate who has mostly supported Democrats, on why he will not vote for Harris.
It seems to me there are three primary reasons that deter good Catholics from voting for Trump, not necessarily in this order: 1) His speech is often “unpresidential” to say the least; he mocks the physical appearance of his opponents, gives them demeaning nicknames, and in general belittles them. He is sometimes crude and vulgar. 2) Some believe that he is like Hitler and will destroy democracy—some who believe this suffer from what is known as Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) to the point that they wish someone would assassinate him. 3) Some think Trump’s position on abortion and IVF in themselves disqualify him.
Quick responses to the first two: 1) Mocking opponents and vulgarity offend me a great deal, and I am happy that more polished men—such as J.D. Vance, Robert Kennedy Jr., Vivek Ramaswamy—don’t follow his example in this regard. They, indeed, are often better at defending Trump’s policies than he is. Certainly, Harris is hardly better than Trump in the civility department; for instance, the “Hitler” rhetoric is completely unacceptable.
The very nature of TDS means that nothing will persuade those who suffer from it to vote for Trump. Unfortunately, too many who might be persuaded by the truth hear nothing but lies from the media about Trump (he is not nearly as bad as they say) and Harris (the false narrative about her as qualified is risible).
It is the third point, in respect to the pro-life vote, that needs to be addressed. Some Catholic pundits say it is wrong to vote for someone who permits/promotes/desires to fund abortion and in vitro fertilization (IVF). That is true, if you are voting for the candidate because he/she permits/promotes/desires to fund abortion and IVF—but not if their objectionable positions are bundled with other good positions and if the candidate is significantly better than the alternative.
How I wish it were possible for a candidate to take a pro-life position and still be electable! Sadly, I do not think it possible in the United States at this moment. Nearly 25 percent of women in the U.S. have had abortions—and this does not count abortions “outside of a formal health care facility.” That is a large demographic almost certain to vote for Harris, as are the men who were involved and many family members and friends.
Trump’s distancing himself (and the Republican Party) from the abortion issue seems virtually necessary if he is to have any chance of winning. We can hope that after the election Vance and the pro-life community can influence the position and policies of the Trump administration on pro-life issues. After all, Trump has done more good for the pro-life movement than any other president. We have reason for hope.
The only hope we have for changing the laws on abortion (and saving this country!) is to elect those who will work to defend free speech and freedom of religion, who will deport illegal immigrants, who will ensure that elections are fair. Bonuses may well be a recovery of the economy, disbanding the deep state, reducing government waste, and peaceful settlement of costly wars. It is doubtful that Trump can achieve all that, but he will try. He has able people by his side, people who, one hopes, will succeed him and make even more progress in that regard. Not to vote for Trump is to help prevent what chances we have for protecting the unborn.
Once more, an excellent article on the morality of voting in a situation where we have two presidential candidates now who in vitro fertilization and condone abortion, albeit one haltingly and obviously only for political expediency (2022 showed us that sadly running strictly pro-life = unelectability), and the other radically pro-choice. As a physician trained in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, and pharmacology, I began following Janet Smith when she began writing about the morality (or problems with it) in using the flawed Covid-19 vaccine. This article looks at several reasons why people may not want to vote for the “lesser of two evils on abortion” candidate, and analyzes and weighs the arguments. I am now retired and have written an unpublished 52 session Catholic apologetics course which I and an associate have given to parishes in Austin, TX and Grand Rapids, MI. Six of the sessions deal with Catholic Moral Theology, Formation of the Conscience, and applications of the above to 19 of the “in-the-news” moral dilemmas. The underlying problem with Americans in general and specifically many Christians and Catholics is that they never consider the Church-mandated formation of their consciences, and specifically in the “in-forming” of their consciences (don’t believe me about the gravity of this obligation, check it out in the Catechism). Negligently forming (un-informing) one’s conscience is a grave matter and can rise to the level of mortal sin. Good intentions are not enough. Voting simply on emotion (empathy) is not enough. Good intentions are not enough. Laziness or seeking only positive news, topics, or presenters doesn’t cut it. One cannot know what evidence there may be without purposefully watching, reading, and listening to opposing news networks and sources to get beyond bias and filter down to fact and truth. Ms. Smith explains this very well using Donald Trump as her example. Unfortunately, in the last few decades of grossly biased news reporting, it has become much more difficult to in-form one’s consciences. It takes work. It takes work to make sure you listen to both sides of every important argument. Every major issue at the national level is a moral issue, almost ever major issue at the state level is a moral issue. Even many issues at the local level are moral issues. Not doing the work to form and in-form our consciences is why this country is “on the brink.” We have un- or grossly inadequately-formed consciences teaching (or not teaching) their children by word (and most importantly, BY EXAMPLE) who then do not teach their children, ad infinitum. These are our young voters. Only through a return to belief in God and his precepts do we have any hope that this nation will be saved. I would ask the author, Janet Smith, if she could recommend any good references for this audience regarding the moral imperative of not just forming our consciences, but of in-forming them as well.
As always, I loved everything Janet Smith had to say. She is so right. … Trump must win.
I read in the Wall Street Journal today that Harris says she will allow no religious exemptions for health-care providers, which means providers would have to participate in the dismembering of a preborn baby, if asked, and in the surgical mutilation of a transgender patient. This would drive Christians out of the healthcare field, just as Christians are already being driven out of the mental-health profession.
We are well on the road to losing our freedoms.
The Harris camp says a Trump victory will be the end of “our democracy.” The truth, of course, is exactly the opposite.
Another good source of all that’s conservative is Newsmax tv. I truly believe with all my heart and soul that the only way Kamala can win is through cheating. So we need to not only vote for Trump but to pray that this election will be fair. I also believe that if she wins, the country and the world is finished. We’ll never get another fair election, the elites and evil people like Soros and Bill Gates will have control of everything, our rights will be taking away one by one. Trump was protected when he was shot at, and he was protected for a reason, Trump is God’s instrument, despite his many faults, to bring back sanity to the world. God protect Donald Trump, God protect this country, God protect the world. This is our last chance. Catholics, you can not vote Democrat !
Janet Smith raises valid points, but one area of concern is missing. Some Catholics, particularly women, hate Trump. This is especially true of those Catholic women who have contracepted or aborted or know someone who has suffered with that. A still too significant number are so wounded that the “Trump personality” repels them for myriad reasons.
they may not have been catechized well or were abused, by perception or reality. Some consider immigration a more “just” concern.
Furthermore, often kind and giving, they may work in charity during the week, recite the Rosary before Mass, and sit next to us in the pews on Sundays. However, mention abortion, and the gloves come off. I have heard their contorted rationale for “choice” most often citing the outlier situations. That may be how they remain in a “safety zone.” Still, that they will vote for Kamala seems inexcusable. Choose the American Solidarity Party candidate or write in someone, but not that egregiously anti-life and anti Catholic option.
I don’t like disagreeing with you, but if you vote for a third party candidate, it’s the equal of voting for Harris. The election will be close in many states, and your vote can make the difference. I’m pro life and so our my adult daughters who have families. Abortion is murder, so you can’t vote for a radical abortionist like Kamala. And young women who have small children are being arrested and being sent to jail for protesting in front of an abortion clinic, breaking up families by this wicked regime. I know many women can’t stand Trump, but think about what it would be like with Kamala as president, it’s frightening. Transgenderism everywhere, abortions we’ll have to pay for, sex education for young children, sky high inflation, you name it. Your intention was good, but you need to vote for Trump and not some third party candidate.
I think you missed that I said voting for a third party would be right only for those in non-swing states.
Thank you for your usual good and common sense article. I appreciate it. I second everything you said. Trump is an imperfect instrument; Moses was imperfect. Indeed, God uses the ignorant to shame the wise. I do wish our candidate were a more publicly polished individual like DeSantis so more never-Trumpers might be persuaded to vote for him. However, the nominating process went as it did…and he is our man. I will vote for him hoping and praying he can do maybe 80% of what you mentioned as his priorities. I pray for his safety, as, truly, TDS is a real thing. Very sad and frightening for our country. The dumbing-down of our educational system rears its ugly but very-much alive head.
Dr. Smith you do a great disservice to all of us Catholics when you can not retrain yourself from being a self righteous Pharisee about Trump. I do not care or need to know wether you like him or not. Why do good intentioned Catholic writers have to share that. Is it for your self esteem?
Maybe you needed to tell who you liked or did not like in Junior High School. This is a different forum. If your distain for a man who has served this country with four years of no wars prevents him from stopping millions of abortions in the future, you bear some responsibility.
Cornelius, The fact is I very much approve of Trump’s policies and in this article urge people to vote for him. I wrote what I did about my dislike of some of his personal characteristics because so many allow their dislike of them to so affect them, that they vote against him. A huge mistake in my view. I have no disdain for him; really nearly only admiration. And I love his team.