Can a vote be sin?

While we’re talking about church discipline . . . most of you have surely heard about all the controversy about a few Catholic bishops saying they would refuse communion to John Kerry and that those who vote for pro-abortion candidates shouldn’t receive communion, either. That’s been all over the place, so I won’t rehash it.

The controversy raises a broader question, however: can a vote or other political act ever be a sin?

There are people that get all indignant at the suggestion of that. But I say, Heck yes, it can be a sin!

I understand that a lot of political choices are not clear cut and are ethically complex. We’ve all felt compelled to choose “the lesser of two evils� when we vote. If I were a bishop, I’d cut people some slack in those cases.

But let’s say you have a Barbara Boxer, who is flat out evil. There I said it. Burn me at the stake. But, I’m sorry, she is an evil person who willfully commits grave political evil almost every chance she gets. She practically hunts the unborn among other outrages. To vote for her when her opponent doesn’t have horns is a serious sin.

Should the church do anything about such sin? Bishops or priests shouldn’t interview parishioners on how they voted before they are allowed to take communion. I don’t think anyone is suggesting that. But should they teach that abortion on demand and support of abortion is a grave sin? Yes. Should they teach that one is asking for judgment if they take communion while willfully committing grave sin and refusing to repent of it? Yes. If they see Barbara Boxer or John Kerry or someone they know is campaigning for such coming to the communion rail, should they refuse communion to them?

Yes.

And if someone gets indignant at that stand, ask them, “Do you think an unrepentant neonazi should be allowed to take communion?� Then watch them get all flustered (and perhaps even more indignant) at having their double standard exposed.

Or maybe they hesitantly answer yes, in which case their weak view of communion is exposed.

There is sin in the realm of politics just like any other realm of human behavior. And the church isn’t going to make you do anything. You can rob, lie, commit adultery, abuse your family, and vote for evil people and evil causes.

But don’t willfully do those things, refuse to repent, and then expect the church to pretend everything is all right on Sunday. Yes, churches all too often play that vile little game. Shame on them if they do.

And good for those bishops and churches who do not.