Download The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor

The upcoming election is a time to hear the cry of the poor and to
do something to help the poorest of the poor, the unborn.
In the first reading, the Lord hears the cry of the orphan and the
widow. Their petition reaches to the heavens. The prayer of the lowly
pierces the clouds. The Lord in return judges justly and affirms the
right and the Lord will not delay. “The Lord hears the cry of the poor”.
The psalm says, “He is close to the broken-hearted. And those
who are crushed in spirit, He saves. When the just cry, the Lord
hears, and from their distress, He rescues them.”
We usually think the poor are those who are hungry, homeless
and have little material goods. However, there is a different and
deeper kind of poverty. A poverty that does not permit one to live. A
poverty that does not even permit people to come into the world.
Since the election is just a few weeks away, it’s important to form
our conscience, which means getting to know what the Church teaches
on particular issues in an election and the level of importance of a
particular issue. And to know where candidates stand on these issues.
I would like to begin by asking you a question. Which of these is
the greatest issue in the upcoming election? The environment,
immigration, the economy, the poor, same sex-marriage laws,
religious liberty, transgender restrooms, euthanasia or abortion?
Many issues are subject to prudential judgment of Catholic
voters. What does that mean? It means that Catholics can
legitimately disagree, for example, on the best way to address issues
such as racial injustice, education, the economy, immigration and
healthcare and still remain in good standing in the Church.
There are other issues, however, which are intrinsically evil—
actions that can never, at any time, under any circumstances be
committed, promoted or even enabled by a faithful Catholic. And
these include abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research and
same-sex marriage.
But first let’s consider a common issue which Catholics can
legitimately exercise in prudential judgment. An issue that falls
under the category of prudential judgment is immigration. One of the
major political parties seeks to allow immigration with very little
restriction. The other party is concerned that unrestricted
immigration leads to, among other things, non-citizens taking jobs
that could be worked by citizens. One party favors open borders—the
other party favors “law and order”. Christians can disagree on how its
best to accomplish immigration problems.
But Christians cannot disagree on intrinsically evil actions, which
can never, at any time, under any circumstances be committed,
promoted or even enabled by a faithful Catholic.
In fact, Pope Benedict said, “Not all moral issues have the same
moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. There may be legitimate
diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and
applying the death penalty, but not... with regard to abortion and
euthanasia.”
Bishop Kemme in his message about the horrific Planned
Parenthood videos said, “Abortion is the greatest evil of our times.”
When Archbishop Chaput was the archbishop of Denver he said,
“Some have claimed to equate abortion with other issues affecting life
such as poverty and environmental concerns. Many have sidelined the
abortion issue, making it one among others. And, we can’t do that.”
To put things into perspective let us consider the following: What
good is the economy, if we allow the killing of our fellow unborn
Americans, who make the economy? Would we vote for a school
board member, who is in favor of killing of children? What good is the
issue of education, if we allow the killing of the children, to be
educated? What good are farm subsidies, if we allow the killing of
those who would purchase and eat food from our farms? What good is
clean air if people can’t be born to breathe it? What good is religious
liberty, if one cannot live in order to be free to practice one’s beliefs?
Abortion is not equal to other issues, because it involves the evil
action of directly and willfully killing an innocent person. Every year in
the United States, 1.4 million children die by abortion. Is there any
issue, in which involve so many innocent Americans? Nothing
compares to the immensity of this evil?
The pro-life issue is the greatest of all issues and takes precedent
over all other issues. A Catholic may not vote for a candidate who is
pro-abortion while the other candidate is pro-life. Archbishop Chaput
when he was the archbishop of Denver said, “Voting for known ProAbortion candidates, while the other candidate is pro-life is a sin
requiring confession, because one would be cooperating in evil.”
But what are Catholics to do if both senators and/or
representatives or judges are in favor of abortion?
If both candidates are pro-abortion a Catholic can morally vote
for the lesser of evils by voting for one who would do less harm to the
unborn.
Something to consider is the platform of each party. The
platform is a statement of particular issues that each party member
may choose to adhere to their own party.
In the bulletin, there is a comparison of how each party stands on
particular issues. Within the next few years there will be Supreme
Court justices who will retire and they hold the key to the future of our
country. If we elect a president and members of congress who are in
favor of abortion and who will appoint judges who are in favor of
abortion, our country will fall deeper into a culture of death. But if we
elect a president and congressmen who are against abortion, and who
will appoint pro-life judges, our country has the opportunity to become
a culture of life, where children are loved and accepted and where
families will prosper. Listen to the platforms of each party: One party
states: “We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional
family values and the sanctity of innocent human life.” The other
party says this, “We will appoint judges who defend constitutional
principles of liberty and equality for all, protect a woman’s right to safe
and legal abortion….”
Before we vote, we need to know where each candidate stands on
the issues and especially the issue of abortion. Just because a
candidate is particular member of a party, that doesn’t necessarily
mean he or she will vote according to their party platform, but we
have an obligation to know how they will vote.
The poorest of the poor are unborn children, because due to Roe
vs Wade, they have lost the right to life. There are more than 800
children die in Wichita every year because they have lost their right to
life. They want the right grow up, to play sports, the right to ride a
bicycle, and the right to an education. They desire the right to a Mom
and Dad, who loves them. They desire the right to own a car, go to
college and have a career. They have a right to get married and a right
to have children. They want their God-given right to life, liberty,
freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. But these poor Americans
have no rights.
Are we going to allow a president, a senator, a congressman, a
representative, or a judge, to permit the killing of unborn children?
We cannot place our political party, above our Catholic faith,
above our conscience and above the needs of truly poor Americans.
There is absolutely no other issue more important than to vote
for millions of unborn Americans, whose lives are in immediate danger.
Are we going to hear the cry of the poor unborn? As Catholics, we
have the responsibility and an obligation to know where the candidates
stand on the position of abortion (are they in favor of killing unborn
children or do they oppose killing children?) When we vote, it’s a moral
action because there are moral issues at stake. We just can’t hap
hazardously vote for candidates in which you don’t know how they
stand on moral issues. How you punch the button or fill out the ballet
has moral consequences for yourself and for others.
And to those who have had an abortion or know of someone who
has had an abortion, we must realize that often times they are
pressured to do so, either by their parents, or their boyfriend or out of
fear. Many of them were confused and hurting and felt as though no
one would help them. God is infinitely merciful. There is no sin God
cannot forgive. For some, it takes time for us to forgive our self.
But Jesus will forgive and Jesus desires to comfort and console
those who are hurting from their tragic choice. Jesus heals the wounds
of sin in Confession. He opens His compassionate Heart to give us
peace. “He is close to the broken-hearted. And those who are crushed
in spirit, He saves.”
Today, there are many resources available for young pregnant
mothers. At pregnancies centers there are people who truly care and
are non-judgmental, oftentimes they themselves made the same
hurtful decision and want to help others.
During this year of mercy, let us pray those who are hurting from
abortion will discover the mercy of Jesus and let us pray God will have
mercy on our country, and that we will elect leaders who will help our
nation protect the inalienable right to life of the poorest of the poor
(the unborn).
With the prayers of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the
Americas, and by our vote, “the Lord will hear the cry of the poor! for
the unborn.