by Dr. Edith Breburda DVM, PhD
On Tuesday, September 16th, the Boston College’s Bosi Center for Religion and American Public Life hosted Cardinal Tobin on a panel entitled “The Church and Catholic Voters in the 2020 Election.”
During his speech the Newark Cardinal remarked, “Catholic voters could choose Joe Biden in good conscience (CNA).” He said, “I frankly, in my own way of thinking, have more difficult time with the other option.”
Only some years back Cardinal Tobin commented that speeches given by President Trump and Vice President Pence at the Washington, D.C., March for Life as “very encouraging.” However, in the cardinal's opinion, Trump’s immigration policy “needs to be challenged, and needs a respectful debate.”
Why did this Prince of the Church alter his opinion to override what the Church has always taught and encouraged Catholics to vote for a pro-abortion candidate?
Furthermore, what makes the president’s immigration policy unacceptable and justifies the sacrifice of important moral issues involving human life and dignity, especially that of the unborn?
The demise of important figures, like Supreme Court judges, might lead us to realize that we all have to meet God’s judgement after we die. Those who exercise their power to end life in the womb have to render accounts for legal justification on a bad decision they handed down.
In this regard, the USCCB offers guidance to Catholics in the document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” which explains how a properly formed conscience respects the tenets of our faith and informs all decision- making.
“A Catholic cannot vote for a political candidate because he or she supports an issue considered an intrinsically evil act, such as abortion, euthanasia, deliberately subjecting workers or the poor to subhuman living conditions or assisted suicide… a voter should not use a candidate’s opposition to an intrinsic evil to justify indifference or inattentiveness to other important moral issues.”
Coming back to the question, is President Trump’s immigration policy providing a grave moral reason that justify voting for Biden? The president of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, Joseph Meaney, expresses his concerns that Biden has taken “the most extreme stance he could on the abortion issue.”
On January 20, 2019, Cardinal Tobin wrote in his Article. “ The Ethics of Trump’s Border Wall," at the New York Times, “What harm could a border wall cause to immigrants and refugees, all of whom are equal to us in the eye of God?”
If all are equal, why is the Catholic Church disregarding or never speaking about legal immigration? A legal immigrant is somebody who entered the United States for a professional or private reason with all the necessary documents. Nevertheless, skilled immigrants who have studied or worked in the US and are the backbone of many high technology institutions become more and more victims of bureaucracy, as the processing of applications for residential and work permits takes an extremely long time. Some highly skilled immigrants wait decades to receive their green card.
Despite being generally better qualified, the forgotten legal immigrants find themselves in a kind of “Limbo.” They don't have a pro-bono lawyer and are not able to receive work authorization or even a driver’s license… Whereas, they fall under the “type of persons” who are uniquely qualified for significant contributions--even towards overcoming COVID-19.
The sole ally and help legal immigrants have is President Trump. He is addressing the plight of highly skilled immigrants who are “standing in line”.
The president is working on immigration reform, whereas, Catholic leaders and lawyers turn their backs on these immigrants and tell them not to bother them. They should not waste their time because they have to take care of migrants who should become American citizens as soon as possible.
The question remains, who is the acceptable candidate for whom a Catholic can vote in good conscience?
One way for Cardinal Tobin and Catholics to care about immigration and abortion at the same time would be to support President Trump to fill the empty seat of the Supreme Court. Important legal decisions like immigration reform would help legal immigrants to receive not only their green card but bring their specific expertise to bear.
1) CNA, Sept 16, Cardinal Tobin says Biden remarks not intended as endorsement, Sept 16, 2020
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