If a Catholic votes for Kerry?

[flip]

If a Catholic votes for Kerry in the upcoming election, will that person be committing a mortal sin and therfore must go to confession?

Also, is it still a mortal sin to vote for Bush, since he is a pro life candidate, however, he is not against abortion in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the mother's life?

[Pio Nono]

JMJ
10/15 - St. Teresa of Avila

flip,

I'm willing to say it - any Catholic who votes for any candidate who is obstinately pro-abortion participates in an indirect way the furthering of the cause for abortion. To participate in any way in the procurement of an abortion is a mortal sin. It's just straight-up reality; the Church has no desire that any of her members fall into mortal sin, which is why she is letting people know that they fall from grace if they vote for pro-abortion candidates.

President Bush has recently clarified his stance on abortion, saying that his ultimate goal is to reduce, as much as possible, the number of abortions in the United States and abroad. Senator Kerry has also clarified his position and remains obstinately pro-abortion.

By the way, abortion "in cases...[of] threat to the mother's life" is permissible because it is not abortion at all. The classic case is with uteran cancer - if a pregnant woman has uteran cancer, she can freely choose to undergo a hysterectomy with the knowledge that the child within her will die. No sin is incurred in such an instance. Of course, it doesn't make having a hysterectomy any easier (losing a child is always a traumatic psychological experience), but it is allowable. Hope this helps.

Yours,
Pio Nono