Catholic Five Non-negotiables

I was listening to Catholic radio this afternoon and heard a presentation on what they are calling the “Five Non-negotiables.” Very interesting I thought. Something always troubles me though when Catholics align themselves or are encouraged to align with Global Corporate Rule. Something tells me that the policies that create the conditions so many of the worlds population finds itself in are aided by those candidates who would be aligned with these Five Non-negotiables.

I can’t help but think that if there were a more socially just regime in power, that the conditions that are encouraging these Five Non-negotiables would lift and then  the Five Non-negotiables would be a moot point.

I did a quick search and found an interesting little blurb on Wikipedia concerning the Controversy of the Five Non-negotiables;

Before the 2004 presidential election, Catholic Answers published the Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics. It was produced both in pamphlet form and as an insert to the newspaper USA Today. This publication promoted five “non-negotiable” issues that were also major political questions in the election cycle. The five non-negotiable issues explained and discussed were abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, same-sex marriage and human cloning. The term “non-negotiable” is used by Catholic Answers to describe issues that are “intrinsically evil and must never be promoted by law.” ^[2] Catholic Answers maintains that there are many more “non-negotiable” issues but these were “selected because they involve principles that never admit of exceptions and because they are currently being debated in U.S. politics.”^[2]
“The Voters Guide for Serious Catholics” was criticized for correlating with a Republican agenda. Critics^[who?] argued that the publication did not take into account the full breadth of Catholic Social Teaching, including economic, social justice, or other life issues. Catholic Answers responded that political candidates can have a range of policy stances on issues that are not “non-negotiable” and still be in line with Church teaching. On the other hand, Catholics must not vote for candidates who take the wrong stance on “non-negotiable” issues.
While “The Voters Guide for Serious Catholics” made no endorsements of any candidate or political party, the organization came under strong attack by liberal organizations and Democratic Party candidates as a partisan publication. In 2004 complaints were filed by Catholics for a Free Choice with the IRS claiming that it was in “blatant violation of its charitable status”^[3] in an attempt to revoke Catholic Answers tax exempt status.
An IRS investigation resulted in no action against Catholic Answers, the IRS ruled that the Voters Guide for Serious Catholics could be safely distributed by religious organizations because it did not comprise political intervention:
“[Catholic Answers, Inc.] created, published and distributed the “Voters Guide for Serious Catholics” (“VGSC”). The VGSC asserts that it is intended to help the reader vote for candidates for public office in a manner consistent with Catholic moral teachings. The VGSC identifies five issues it deems to be “non-negotiable” issues and instructs the reader on how to narrow down the list of candidates to those who are acceptable based on the non-negotiable issues. The VGSC does not directly or indirectly make reference to any specific candidate, political party or election. Therefore, the content of the VGSC, standing alone, is not political campaign intervention because the VGSC does not support or oppose any specific candidate for public office [Addendum to Letter 3609P, May 2, 2008].”^[4]
Nevertheless, a new legal entity called Catholic Answers Action was created which has a separate 501(c)(4) tax status. Donations to Catholic Answers Action, unlike those to Catholic Answers, are not tax deductible.
Debate continues as to the effectiveness of the campaign on educating Catholic voters, but Catholic Answers plans to continue the campaign in future elections.^{[citation needed]} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Answers

Now I am not saying that I am pro-abortion, euthanasia, embryo stem cell research, same-sex marriage and human cloning. I can see the inherent horror in some of these, while others I don’t get at all, and still others are various shades of gray.  What I don’t understand is the encouragement of inhuman regimes to remain in power to exploit Gods people and his creation.

Here is an interesting take that I found on a forum;

Five Non-negotiables and Catholic Dictators
This may seem like a ridiculous question, but I am trying to get a broader social and political context for the doctrine of five non-negotiables. Weren’t the regimes of Catholic strongmen like Francisco Franco, Augusto Pinochet, Papa Doc Duvalier and Ferdinand Marcos just about perfect in terms of the five non-negotiables, for example, no abortions, no euthanasia, no homosexual “marriage” ( no open homosexuality at all) and so on? Does this make such regimes desirable and are such harsh governments worth the cost in social inequalities, lack of free speech, damage to the reputation of the Catholic gospel, etc.?–Rumil                                                http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?p=6962496

This is a more extreme and outdated version of what I though upon hearing this presentation. I am thinking more along the lines of Corporate Globalization and exploitation of God’s creation. Same general idea though, it seems that the Five non-negotiables are sorely shortsided and incomplete.

I would love your input and to discuss these ideas further. How do the Five non-negotiables fit in with the Churche’s social teachings and life in general?