Kevin Roeten [“Your Vote Should Be Obvious,” Letters, June 25] has every right to voice his own opinion, but when he refers to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops he takes a lot of liberties.
The USCCB has issued a publication, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States.” Nowhere in its 36 pages does it use the word “nonnegotiables.” Nor could I find a statement that Catholics incur automatic excommunication if they were to vote for a candidate who supports abortion. He may be quoting a specific bishop, but it is not the USCCB. Granted, all destruction of life is intrinsically evil.
As stated in the publication, “As Catholics we are not single-issue voters.” Unfortunately, politics in our country often can be a contest of powerful interests, partisan attacks, sound bites and media hype. The Church calls for a different kind of political engagement: one shaped by the moral convictions of well formed consciences and focused on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good, and the protection of the weak and vulnerable.
Granted, I am taking a quote from the 36-page pamphlet. But I urge anyone interested, to obtain the publication No. 7-026, ISBN 978-1-60137-026-6. I feel that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has been misquoted.
— Charles Krug
Arden
Thank you Mr. Krug for setting the record straight.