National Catholic Reporter: Catholics, voting and abortion: Time to correct the record
Berry Craig
It may surprise many Catholic voters to know that church teaching does not prohibit a Catholic from voting for a pro-choice candidate.
In fact, the teaching of Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops all permit a Catholic to do so.
Of course, Catholic moral teaching holds that abortion is the unjust taking of an innocent life. On that basis, the leadership of the church opposes the legalization of abortion and supports laws that protect the class of unborn persons. But Catholic teaching also provides ways for voters to evaluate candidates on the basis of abortion — and of other serious issues like the pandemic or racism. No Catholic is bound to vote on the basis of abortion alone.