News - September 2016 RSS Feed

TALLAHASSEE, FL – The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the following statement identifying concerns with a problematic framework established by Amendment 2, “Use of Marijuana for Debilitating Medical Conditions.” Full statement follows:

On Election Day, Floridians will vote on an amendment to the Florida Constitution that would allow the “use of marijuana for debilitating medical conditions.” At first glance, the proposed amendment appeals to a sense of empathy and implies safe and limited use by the infirm; however, closer inspection reveals that the framework established by Amendment 2 is problematic in four ways:

Our Sunday Visitor has published our research regarding this year’s presidential candidates in their September 25 edition, which arrives in mailboxes as early as this weekend.

The right to vote carries with it a responsibility to study and know the candidates. As citizens of faith, we are led to question how each candidate if elected will address issues that protect or threaten the dignity of every human life. There are moral and ethical dimensions to every public policy. However, issues carry different moral weight and urgency. Some involve intrinsically evil acts that can never be approved, such as the intentional destruction of innocent human life. Others involve an obligation to seek the common good. The following questions are offered to assist in discerning where the candidates stand on important issues in light of our foundational beliefs.