For those who couldn’t tell by the title of this blog, I reside in the great state of Ohio. I was born and raised here and went to school at THE Ohio State University. I take great pride in being from Ohio. I am proud of Ohio’s role in our country’s political stage. The old saying ‘as Ohio goes, so goes the country’ is still relevant, even as Ohio has become more partisan in recent years. The presence of three major cities surrounded by agricultural heartland still provides a diverse electorate that proportionally represents the country as a whole.
According to data from a 2014 poll conducted by Pew Research Group, 73% of Ohioans identify as Christians. Further, 18% of Ohioans are Catholic (approximately 1.9 million people). This is a substantial portion of our electorate as Catholics make up the single largest religious denomination in the state. All this to say, how we vote is of utmost importance to the political landscape of Ohio. Therefore, it is prudent that we not only vote with our conscience, formed by scripture, but also analyze the consequences of our vote with the intellect bestowed upon us by God.
This brings me to Ohio Issue 1, which will come to a vote in a special election on August 8th. This issue, in summary, is proposing the raising of the required vote to pass a state constitutional amendment from a simple majority to 60%. It would also introduce more strict criteria for petitions for constitutional amendments. This issue is a not-so-subtle attempt by lawmakers in the state to block the passing of a ‘right-to-abortion’ amendment in the November general election. On the surface, it might appear that the choice for Catholics is quite clear. A ‘yes’ vote would likely suppress a constitutional right to abortion for the immediate future. According to a study by the Pew Research Group, 48% of Ohio adults believe abortion should be legal in most cases, while 47% believe it should be illegal in most cases, while 4% are undecided. Specifically, among Catholics, only 53% believe abortion should be illegal in most cases, with 42% holding opinions contrary to Church teaching. A threshold of 60% would very likely cover the percent error in polling, and ensure abortion remains strictly controlled in our state. So, it would appear ‘case closed’… vote ‘yes’ on Issue 1 and declare victory. I would like to propose that it is not so clear cut.
The Bishops of Ohio have reiterated the US Bishops’ stance of responsible citizenship as a virtue, and participation in political life as a moral obligation. While they urge the faithful to vote in the upcoming election, on Issue 1 alone, the Bishops of Ohio have issued a statement in which they have declared that they have no position on Issue 1, as it does not have moral content on its own. One could reasonably conclude that based on this guidance, we could separate Issue 1 from the right-to-abortion amendment.
As Catholics, it may be difficult to separate Issue 1 and the issue of abortion. Preventing crimes against God such as abortion are of utmost importance, and we as Christians have a moral obligation to do so. But is the path to do so involve rewriting our democracy? Voting ‘no’ on Issue 1 does not mean you are in support of abortion, nor does voting ‘yes’ make you pro-life, as the Bishops have confirmed by their statement. Tying this issue completely to your faith in regards to abortion undermines the fact that it may also present ramifications in the future, such as the ability to combat legislations contrary to Church teaching. As coastal liberalism infiltrates the heartland, the electorate, unfortunately, is seemingly becoming more and more distant from Christ’s teachings. By no means am I proposing to completely ignore your faith in deciding on Issue 1. Our faith so often is what guides us through life. However, I do believe it is pertinent that Catholics also analyze their decision as Ohioans and how they stand to benefit from a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote outside of the abortion debate.
If the abortion bill in November is not defeated by Ohio’s constituents, this should not be considered total defeat, but a call to the faithful to act beyond their vote. God gave us free will, with an intellect and conscience, to make decisions, whether right or wrong. As Christians, we must remember the guidance He gave us through His commandments and his word through Christ. As mentioned previously, many of the faithful have gone astray, with polling showing we barely maintain a majority of Catholics who believe abortion should be illegal. We can start by addressing this issue at home. Going to Mass as a family, praying regularly, and encouraging those around us to continuously embrace their faith are just some of the many ways we can combat the normalization and glorification of abortion. Remember that changing this narrative is not the result of just one battle such as a vote but fighting on multiple fronts. Christ’s disciples did not spread his word overnight, and conversion of today’s wandering souls will unfortunately not be a quick process either. Keep your faith, stay the course, and remember that God’s mercy and love is for everyone. God Bless.
