I voted FOR John Kerry because of moral values as I believe many of us did. Here are some of my reasons, please share yours.
My church's social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. It offers moral principles and coherent values that are badly needed in our time. In this time of widespread violence and diminished respect for human life and dignity in our country and around the world, the Gospel and the biblical call to justice need to be proclaimed and shared with new clarity, urgency, and energy.
I believe that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. This belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of social teaching. I believe that every person is precious, that people are more important than things, and that the measure of every institution is whether it threatens or enhances the life and dignity of the human person.
I believe that the person is not only sacred but also social. How we organize our society--in economics and politics, in law and policy--directly affects human dignity and the capacity of individuals to grow in community. The family is the central social institution that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. While our society often exalts individualism, I believe that human beings grow and achieve fulfillment in community. I believe people have a right and a duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all, especially the poor and vulnerable. I believe that the role of government and other institutions is to protect human life and human dignity and promote the common good.
I voted for John Kerry because of his plan to Honor Work and Family
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/economy/workfam.html
In a world where some speak mostly of "rights" and others mostly of "responsibilities," my tradition teaches that human dignity can be protected and a healthy community can be achieved only if human rights are protected and responsibilities are met. Therefore, every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities--to one another, to our families, and to the larger society. While public debate in our nation is often divided between those who focus on personal responsibility and those who focus on social responsibilities, our tradition insists that both are necessary.
In a world characterized by growing prosperity for some and pervasive poverty for others, my belief proclaims that a basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. In a society marred by deepening divisions between rich and poor, my tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
I voted for John Kerry because of his plan to care for the poor and vulnerable
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/health_care/
The Kerry-Edwards plan will give every American access to the range of high-quality, affordable plans available to members of Congress and extend coverage to 95 percent of Americans, including every American child. Their plan will also fight to erase the health disparities that persist along racial and economic lines, ensure that people with HIV and AIDS have the care they need, end discrimination against Americans with disabilities and mental illnesses, and ensure equal treatment for mental illness in our health system.
In a marketplace where too often the quarterly bottom line takes precedence over the rights of workers, I believe that the economy must serve people, not the other way around. Work is more than a way to make a living; it is a form of continuing participation in God's creation. If the dignity of work is to be protected, then the basic rights of workers must be respected--the right to productive work, to decent and fair wages, to organize and join unions, to private property, and to economic initiative. Respecting these rights promotes an economy that protects human life, defends human rights, and advances the well-being of all.
Our commitment to the dignity of every person requires special concern for those who are poor and vulnerable, whose needs are greatest, and whose lives and dignity are often threatened by hunger, poverty, and suffering. In order for people to live a life worthy of their God-given dignity, my value system affirms the right and duty to work, the right to economic initiative, the rights of workers to safe working conditions, decent wages and benefits, and the right to organize and join associations to secure these rights.
I voted for John Kerry because of his plan to build a stronger economy
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/economy/
John Kerry and John Edwards have seen the faces and heard the voices of struggling middle-class families. But they've come away convinced more than ever that we're a country of optimists - a country that can do better and think bigger about the challenges we face. We can grow our economy by strengthening our middle-class. And we can make America richer by giving everyone a chance to build a better life for their families.
Our culture is tempted to turn inward, becoming indifferent and sometimes isolationist in the face of international responsibilities. My moral value system proclaims that we are our brothers' and sisters' keepers, wherever they live. We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences. Learning to practice the virtue of solidarity means learning that "loving our neighbor" has global dimensions in an interdependent world.
I voted for John Kerry because of his view on international relations:
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/national_security
John Kerry and John Edwards believe in a better, stronger America - an America that is respected, not just feared. An America that listens and leads - that cherishes freedom, safeguards our people, uplifts others, forges alliances, and deserves respect. This is the America they believe in. This is the America they are fighting for. And this is the America we can be.
On a planet conflicted over environmental issues, my tradition insists that we show our respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation. Care for the earth is not just an Earth Day slogan, it is a requirement of faith. We are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's creation. This environmental challenge has fundamental moral and ethical dimensions that cannot be ignored.
I voted for John Kerry because of his plan for taking care of the environment
http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/environment/
John Kerry and John Edwards will set a new standard of environmental excellence for America. They will honor our national treasures and pay tribute to our natural wonders, while renewing our nation's promise of clean air, clean water and a bountiful landscape for all. They recognize that we owe it to our families, our communities, and our planet to defend our environmental values and protect our environmental rights.
These are a few of my thoughts on moral values. If the pollsters had asked me after I voted, I would have said I, too, voted on moral values. They didn't ask.