Dissertation: The Ethical Viewpoints of Various Religions

According to certain estimates, there are approximately 4,200 religions in the world. Of these complex and intricate religious denominations, three which are among the most widely practiced in the United States include Roman Catholicism, Orthodox Judaism, and Mormonism. Without question, an individual’s religious beliefs are directly correlated with their moral and ethical values, “Hundreds of studies have examined how religious beliefs mold an individual’s sociology and psychology. In particular, research has explored how an individual’s religion (religious beliefs, religious denomination, strength of religious devotion, etc.) is linked to their cultural beliefs and background, “Croucher, Rahmani, & Zeng, 2017). Religion currently remains one of if not the most unshakeable presences in regard to an individuals interpretation of the world. The aforementioned religions’ moral stance on ten crucial issues including abortion, the death penalty, war, healthcare, environment, taxes, poverty, gay rights, race relation, and aid to foreign countries undoubtedly shape their followers into the men and women they are today. In many ways, the political stance and opinion of these men and women are indubitably altered by their religious background and upbringing.

Abortion-

Abortion is a pivotal topic in present day society not only in religion but in politics as well. Roman Catholicism follows the inclination of the multitude of other Abrahamic Religions which condemn abortion as a sin. “The official position of the Roman Catholic Church that abortion under any circumstances, including abortion to save the life of the mother, should be prohibited,” (RA, 1997). These circumstances include if a woman is raped, or if giving birth to a child is a severe health risk for a mother. Above all, the rights of the fetus should be protected in the eyes of the Church. The Roman Catholic Church’s view the human fetus as a person, even while still in the womb. Therefore, rank and file members firmly maintain that abortion is tantamount to murder, even in cases where the mother's life is in danger.

The divisive issue of abortion has become a defining cross roads for Catholics, particularly in regard to political activism. "Members of the Catholic bishop order infiltrated themselves into the anti-abortion movement to the point where it became regarded as predominantly Catholic led. Under the influence of the bishops, the anti-abortion movement entered the political arena where abortion was cultivated as a pertinent issue to attract the Catholic vote” (Jabulile, 2017).

As for the Mormon Sect of the Church of Latter-day Saints, abortion is not necessarily a black and white issue for its followers. According to a recent study, “27% of Mormon’s believe that abortion should be legal in all/most cases” (Pew, 2017). However, the official stance of the Mormon Church as decreed by members of the clergy can be found on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints website. The website, which is comprised and fully supported by Church leaders' states that, "Human life is a sacred gift from God. Elective abortion for personal or social convenience is contrary to the will and the commandments of God. Church members who submit to, perform, encourage, pay for, or arrange for such abortions may lose their membership in the Church”. The issue of abortion for the Mormon Church is a primary example of the official stance of the religion and its rank members not particularly reflecting the beliefs of their followers.

In Orthodox Judaism, there appears to be room for interpretation in regard to abortion at first glance. In Jewish law, a fetus attains the status of a human being only at birth. The Talmud also appears to indicate that prior to 40 days of gestation, the fetus has little to no legal status, with one Talmudic authority asserting that “prior to 40 days the fetus is mere water” (Yevamot 69b). Therefore, many more liberal Jewish followers interpret that choosing to have an abortion is not equal to killing a child. However, two leading Orthodox Rabbi’s of the past century, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik have stated that abortion is a crime and should be considered as murder, although their stance is left up to interpretation. Their attitude reflects that of many Jews, particularly Hasid’s, who are devoutly opposed to abortion. Even further, many Orthodox Jews are devoutly against any act which perturbs the conception of a human life, such as forms of birth control. Therefore, an act of abortion is predominantly considered to be taboo and in contrast to their faith and beliefs.

Death Penalty

The average Roman Catholic’s stance on the death penalty appears to fall in line with their stance on abortion- that the human life is sacred. However, the death penalty is far less of a transparent issue for Catholics than abortion. On one hand, it is reasonable to deduce that, “Both sides—those who are for and against capital punishment—make arguments that are grounded in Judeo-Christian tradition,” (Richards 1980). However, the official view of the Catholic Church and one carried by arguably the Holiest living figure for Catholics, the Pope, is that the death penalty is wrong. “In 1995, the recently completed Catechism of the Catholic Church (John Paul II 1994) strongly opposed the use of capital punishment” (Bias, Goldberg, Hannum, 2011). Therefore for many Catholics, the federally sanctioned taking of a lie is not approved or supported. In the Mormon Church, followers appear to turn to biblical text to support their stance. Many Mormons are pro death penalty, despite being widely anti-abortion and pro-life. Again turning to a more literal interpretation of biblical scripture as a guideline for their beliefs, Mormons often accept "He that killeth any man shall surely be put to death" (Leviticus 24:17) as well as “Murderers who deliberately kill shall die, 2 Ne. 9:35.” In cases which the death penalty has been implemented in society, “the Mormon community indicated a general approval of the use of capital punishment in that case as well as a commitment to the institution of capital punishment itself ” (Gardner). However, Mormon officials rarely permit the use of the death penalty apart from extreme cases. In contrast, members of the Orthodox Jewish faith as well as religious leaders and community figures are overall opposed to the death penalty. According to recent studies, the majority of Orthodox are “inherently against the death penalty” (Yosef, 2015). Similar to activism by the Roman Catholic Church, the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs have been longstanding opponents of the death penalty. They frequently use their organizations to campaign for human rights in the public sphere, particularly in regards to the death penalty. Even further, in order for a Jewish court to permit or pass the sentence of the death penalty there is a series of nearly impossible preliminary requirements, such as at least two people having to have directly witnessed the offence.

War

Religious wars have been fought seemingly from the inception of humanity. However, the concept of war and the accompanying violence/ death is complex amongst varying religions. In the Just War Doctrine of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is decreed that there are specific conditions which must be met in order for the act of war to be accepted in the eyes of the Lord. “It must be waged by lawful public authority in defense of the common good; It must be waged for a just cause; It must be waged with the right intention — not vengefully nor to inflict harm” (2302-2317). With that being said, many Catholics have a history of enlisting in war and fighting not only for their country but for their religion if need be. Catholics have engaged in a series of wars in their quest to defend their religion and escape religious persecution such as The Thirty Years War, The Irish War of Independence, The Spanish Civil War, etc., However, spiritual leaders within the Catholic community pride themselves on their pacifism and commitment to peace, and subsequently believe that war should be avoided at all costs. The majority of rank and file members within the Catholic Church insist that a human life should not be taken by another, no matter the reason. Catholic’s believe that we are each God’s children made in His image, and “You Shall Not Kill” is one of the Ten Commandments believed to have been passed down to Moses by God himself. To the general public Mormon’s are frequently viewed as a nonviolent group. However, the Mormon Church’s viewpoint on the subject matter of War appears to align with that of Roman Catholicism. In certain cases, war is deemed justified, particularly when it comes to defending themselves from religious persecution- a standpoint mirrored by higher ranking religious figures. In fact, Mormons formed their own militia and fought in the Mormon War of 1838 in Missouri (Merkley, 2016). To the general public, Mormons are frequently viewed as pacifists who are against any acts of violence entirely. In certain respects this is true, as one of the founding beliefs of Mormonism is based on a sense of brotherhood and togetherness amongst mankind. Followers of Judaism remain the most persecuted religious group of all time and subsequently have had more experience with war than any other religion. Due to this fact, “Orthodox views war to promote justice as ethically justified,”(Claussen, 2018). However much like Catholic and Mormon faith, The Jewish scripture the Mishnah distinguishes between “obligatory” wars and “optional” wars. Authority figures of the Orthodox Jewish religion have long recognized that in order to protect themselves and their relationship with God, warfare may be a necessity in the face of anti-Semitism. As for Jewish policy abroad, there have been many ancestors of Jewish men and women who have fought in the Six Day War and continue to participate in the Israel- Palestine conflict. In present day society, the majority of Jewish followers believe that the ongoing war between the United States and the Middle East should come to an end. Predominantly democratic, Jews have categorically voted against past president’s war agendas such as President George W. Bush and the Iraq War.

Healthcare

Although healthcare is a far more contemporary issue than the previously mentioned topics, it remains crucial nonetheless. The Catholic Church has historically started their own hospitals and charities dedicated to caring for the weak and ill. Presently, they remain constant fixtures in the current healthcare discussion, “The Church is concerned about health-care reform in this country today because the Church has been part of health care in this country from the beginning” (Nairin, 2010). A sample set by Jesus Christ himself, caring for the sick is an arguably fundamental aspect of the Catholic religion. For this reason clergy members and Church leaders dedicate a large aspect of their time and resources toward charitable efforts for those suffering from disease. Mormon’s have their own unique view on healthcare. On one hand, in order to live a healthy and clean lifestyle Mormon’s believe that one must abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and hot drinks. However, community members do believe in and support modern medicine and modern healthcare systems. While there are minimal scholarly articles which delve specifically into the Mormon church’s views on healthcare, LDS officials have been quoted as stating, “The health code ... of over a hundred years ago exactly mirrors the recommendations that are now being made in the scientific world in terms of improving health and maintaining quality of health,". With that being said, Mormon’s continue to view the President of their Church, Russell M. Nelson, as a living prophet. Nelson maintains that the greatest healing power is the power of God Himself, and that if He wills an individual to recover they will. Therefore, his mentality virtually disputes the practices of modern medicine. Orthodox Jewish religious figures have virtually always maintained the importance of followers having efficient access to health care. In certain close-knit Jewish communities, doctors were required to reduce their rates for poor patients. When this was not a sufficient method to care for the sick, communal subsidies were established. In viewing healthcare as an obligation of society, the issue largely effects Orthodox voting practices. Jews have continuously been synonymous with “liberalness and democratic identification” (Weisberg, 2014) particularly in regards to their stances on social issues such as healthcare. However, many Orthodox Jews do not believe in all aspects of healthcare, particularly common birth control methods. Their faith specifically prohibits the ingestion or use of contraceptives that are common in Western society, such as birth control pills or condoms. This subsequently leads to higher birth rates, which is directly correlated to an increase in birth defects and abnormalities.

Environment

Practicing Roman Catholic’s frequently regard caring for the environment with great importance. Revered figures in the religious community such as Pope Francis has called for action within the church to recognize climate change. He has been quoted stating, “Caring for the environment be added to traditional Christian works of mercy such as feeding the hungry and visiting the sick” In an official letter He established “World Day or Prayer For The Care of Creation” which states, “we wish to contribute to resolving the ecological crisis which humanity is presently experiencing. In doing so, we must first rediscover in our own rich spiritual patrimony the deepest motivations for our concern for the care of creation”. Pope Francis has played a significant role in modernizing the Church’s environmental stance. “The era of global, life-altering technologies in the mid- to late 20th century… generated legacies for our current era of ecology and sustainability (Peppard, 2015). Mormon’s have long maintained a direct connection between their faith and the Earth. “Mormons, including some in church leadership positions, expresses strong personal commitments to environmental causes and point to Mormon teachings and doctrines promoting environmentalism” (Williams, Smith, & Gibbs,1998). The religious denomination recognizes a direct relationship between their faith and the environment and consider it as an obligation to protect God’s Earth. As stated by the official spokesman for the Church of Latter-day Saints, “Latter-day Saint teachings have long emphasized that we have a responsibility to be wise stewards of the Earth and all of God’s creations.” Additionally, a recent Tribune-Hinckley survey found that roughly 63 percent of Mormons believe in climate change, a progressive viewpoint for most religions. The Orthodox Jewish faith’s environmental stance dates back to the religious group’s eternal bond with the Land of Israel (Kaplan, 2016). The significance placed on the Holy Land of Israel have even led members of the Judaic religion into several wars. Even further, many Orthodox Rabbi’s preach the significance of avoiding “any wanton destruction of nature” (Cohen, 1994). Therefore, many Jews typically favor the preservation of the environment as conducive of their typically Democratic voting stance. According to recent polls, the majority of Jewish Americans have voted that they are believers in Global Warming and would like to actively combat climate change. This is in contrast to many Republicans of other denominations who do not believe that climate change is occurring or a global threat.

Taxes

Taxation is rarely considered by the general public to be an issue which aligns directly with faith and religious practice. However, this is not the case for Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, or Orthodox Judaism. Just taxation is a pivotal aspect of Roman Catholic tradition (Curran, 1985). High ranking Church officials preach the importance of abiding by a governmental tax system and frequently reference direct quotations on the subject matter in biblical scripture. “The existing authorities have been put there by God…That is also why you pay taxes, because the authorities are working for God when they fulfill their duties. Pay, then, what you owe them….” (Romans 13:1, 6-7). Catholic’s are often guided by their moral compass in all aspects of their life, including social and federal issues such as taxes. Therefore, Catholics place a great level of significance on being law abiding, tax paying citizens. For the Mormon Church, paying taxes is also considered to go hand and hand with being a virtuous and honorable individual. Mormons pride themselves in being honest, even when complying with state mandated Tax code. Mormon officials, including those in church leadership positions, expresses strong personal commitments to environmental causes and point to Mormon teachings and doctrines promoting environmentalism (Williams, Smith, and Gibbs, 1998). The average Latter-day Saint practitioner believes in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law as a necessity in order obey their religion. Judaism and Taxes have a long-standing history. However, there have been several reported instances in which Mormon groups or those affiliated with the Mormon religion have attempted to evade taxation under the United States government. These actions were neither permitted nor supported by the Mormon Church. In the Jewish community, taxation is not a black or white issue. In biblical times, a taxation issue split Israel into two kingdoms (Shurpin, 2019). In certain respects, Orthodox Jews tend to feel bound by their religion to pay taxes and obey Government law. However, certain Jewish Americans believe that they should receive tax breaks from the government in order to manage the financial burden of sending their children to private and costly Hebrew schools. Even further, higher level officials in more extreme Orthodox or Hasidic temples maintain that certain Jews should not be subject to taxes at all if they operate and exist solely within their own communities. Men, women, and children who proclaim themselves as Hasid’s feel that they should not be required to pay taxes to a government which they are not benefitting directly from. With that being said, the majority of Orthodox Jews have historically and continue to pay their taxes consistently as long as they are free to live without persecution in a land of religious freedom.

Poverty

Poverty, or more specifically caring for the impoverished, is a core goal amongst a vast multitude of religious communities. Roman Catholic’s are taught to believe the needs of the poor and sick come before the needs of our own. This value has been incorporated into the way which Catholic’s observe their faith when they attend church services. At the start or end of mass services, the Priest or Bishop will send around a collections plate in which church attendees are expected to donate what they can to the poor. This belief has been exemplified through their long-standing history with various charitable organizations such as soup kitchens and clothing drives. Higher level Church members and officials such as Bishops or even the Pope Himself also are known to travel to impoverished areas and offer aid and prayer on behalf of the church. Mormon’s also believe in caring for the poor, although typically within their own tightknit communities. However, a recent research study conducted by Penn’s School of Policy and Practice found that Mormons, both clergy members and followers, are extremely invested in social welfare. “Regardless of where they live, they are very generous with their time and money. Mormons generosity is aimed toward helping those which are unable to help themselves. Through a theology of obedience and sacrifice and a strong commitment to tithing and service, Latter-day Saints are model citizens. Overall, researches found that members of the LDS Church are the most “prosocial” members of American Society” (Cnaan, Evans, & Curtis, 2012). Volunteering, as well as dedicating their time and money to the impoverished is considered an obligation of the Mormon Church. Donations made by religious members are typically segregated into two categories. First, there are secular donations to non-religious groups and causes, frequently with an emphasis on the poverty stricken. Second, Mormons also believe firmly in contributing to “church-affiliated welfare giving”. For Orthodox Jews, Charitable actions exist within and extend beyond their own community. There are a wide variety of Jewish organizations dedicated to the impoverished which exist in and outside of the United States. These include prestigious organizations ran by rank and file members in the religion such as Yad Ezra V’Shulamit (Feeding Israel’s Hungry Children and Families) and the UJA- Federation of New York which is dedicated to fighting poverty. However, it is worth noting that, “unlike the classical Christian view, the Rabbis saw no virtue in poverty. Very rarely in Judaism is poverty associated with righteousness" (Lifshitz, 2017). Although poverty is not considered an admirable quality, sacred text the Ethic of Fathers states, "Such is the way of Torah: Bread with salt you shall eat, water in small measure you shall drink, and upon the ground, you shall sleep; live a life of deprivation and toil in Torah. If so you do, "fortunate are you, and good is to you" (Psalms 128:2). Overall, Orthodox Jews make no qualms about the importance of donating and assisting the impoverished. In regards to present Jewish culture in general, various other religious denominations view the group to be typically well off financially. However, higher level of the Jewish temple frequently preach spreading their hard earned wealth to those who are less fortunate.

Gay Rights

Gay rights is an exceedingly difficult and devise conversation for virtually all religions. Neither official leaders of the Roman Catholic Church, The Church of the Latter-Day Saints, or Orthodox Judaism appear to officially hold a contemporary or progressive view on the subject matter. Many Abrahamic religions, particularly Roman Catholics, view homosexuality as a sin and are against any government mandated rights for the LGBTQ community. “Recent exchanges between Roman Catholicism and homosexual populations have been tense .In the past two decades, the American Roman Catholic Lesbian and Gay Organization Dignity was evicted from Churches by a formal statement from the Church hierarchy,” (Roden,2001). However, Pope Francis had since decreed that the “inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin”, thereby paving the way for more acceptance within the church community. With that being said, the majority of Roman Catholic’s do maintain that Homosexual’s should not be allowed to marry or have children, or even serve openly in the military. Mormon Church President Russel M. Nelson has decreed that there is a recognizable difference between same-sex attraction and outward homosexual behavior. Clergy members often preach that experiencing same sex attraction is not necessarily a sin and that homosexuals may be permitted to participate and practice within the Church. Although Mormon officials do believe that Gay men and women should be included in the Church, they remain opposed to Gay Marriage or adoption. Tight-knit Mormon communities often feel that the rights of homosexuals should be limited, and many same-sex members of the church appear to suffer from mental health implications (Jacobsen & Wright, 2014). LGBTQ members of the Mormon Church frequently feel ostracized in their own religion, a struggle common which is also common in Roman Catholicism. The Orthodox Jewish stance on Gay Rights is far stricter and more traditional. Orthodox groups frequently believe that only heterosexual marriages and relationships should be recognized and accepted. Rabbi’s and community leaders also emphasize the importance of traditional gender roles in relation to religious values. “Due to the emphasis on “traditional” gender roles, the “nuclear family”, pro-creation and conservative religious values, many gay and lesbian Jews feel a sense of alienation from the Jewish community and develop an ambivalent or conflicted relationship about their own Jewish identity” (Schnoor, 2003). Although certain temples strive to be more inclusive and welcoming, traditional Orthodox members are staunchly against certain rights being afforded to homosexuals, such as being wed by a Rabbi or in a temple. However, there are certain Jewish organizations dedicated specifically to the LGBTQ community such as Keshet, who’s primary focus is creating a Jewish Gay-Straight alliance for queer Jews of color.

Race Relation

The official stance of the Roman Catholic Church on the topic of race and racial relations is that every individual is considered one of “God’s children” and therefor are equal under the eyes of the Lord. However, this mentality has not been necessarily depicted in their political action throughout history, as “they have always been contributors to the amelioration of or the exacerbation of America's racial problem” (Williams, 2012). Nevertheless, America’s only Roman Catholic president John F. Kennedy played a large role in the Civil Rights Movement and announced that civil rights legislation would be submitted to congress to end segregation. His stance on the issue was largely attributed to his Roman Catholic background, which caused him to be guided by a strong moral compass and sense of compassion. However, following the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s many churches remained segregated in southern states and black and white Catholics continued to worship separately. The Mormon Church has had a long systemic history with racism. Up until three decades ago members of African descent were not allowed to be ordained and become priests. This rule served as an example set down by the highest members of the Church that Black Mormon’s were to be perceived as lesser than those who were white. However, Mormons typically abstained from segregated worship despite the trend being inherently popular in the south during the post-Civil rights era. Instead, blacks and whites typically worshipped together as one community. Presently, the official stance of the Mormon Church is one of harmony and equality between races. Since the policy has been eradicated, many African Americans have gone on to become ordained members of the Church of Latter- Day Saints. The Jewish Community and those of African descent have shared an equally complex relationship. On one hand, many members of the Jewish community feel a sense of concord with black men and women because they have both suffered a long history of oppression and violence. Throughout history, they have both been targeted by violent groups, riots, and forced to live in ghettos. Due to this, Jews played a sizeable role in the Civil Rights Movement and called for equality and an end to segregation. Both Blacks and Jews have also shared the land of Egypt as a place of great suffering and slavery. In addition, Jewish Americans and African Americans frequently live in the same boroughs or communities such as Brooklyn. They have subsequently developed feelings of comradery and live with their two cultures intertwined. Jewish community leaders frequently call for an alliance between the two groups as they often have common political goals and views. However, there is a distinct and apparent lack of African Americans who are members of the Jewish faith. Of the followers of African descent, there has been a multitude of reports of feelings of discrimination and discomfort within the community. In certain instances, black Jews have made the conscious decision to leave the faith due to strong feelings of “inter-community racism”. This issue is one which is still ongoing in present day. As for Latinos or individuals of Asian descent, it is exceedingly rare for them to be followers of the Jewish faith although it is uncommon for there to be a feeling of racial discomfort.

Aid to Foreign Countries

As previously mentioned, charitable work and aiding the poor plays a large role in the Roman Catholic religion. This assistance extends to foreign countries, with several Catholic organizations devoted entirely to helping those who are struggling outside of the United States such as the Catholic Relief Services. In addition, many of the offerings collected by members of the Clergy during Sunday Mass are often devoted to foreign aid. With the election of Pope Francis, an Argentinian native, the Catholic Church has also recently begun to offer an increasing amount of aid and attention to Latin American countries. These efforts are mainly focused on helping women and children located or displaced in impoverished countries across Central and South America. In the Church of the Latter-day Saints, a portion of their philanthropic efforts are dedicated entirely to assistance of foreign countries. Despite the fact that the Mormon religion is predominantly followed in the United States, followers often feel compelled to “bless the poor and needy when disaster strikes”. Mormons have frequently been at the forefront of disaster relief efforts in countries outside of the United States. According to their official website, over the past two decades they have been directly involved in foreign aid spanning across 150 countries. In the year 2018 alone, the Latter-day Saints offered assistance to approximately 50 countries. These charitable efforts are frequently led by higher level rank and file members of the Mormon Church. The predominant focus for Jews regarding aiding foreign countries is the Holy Land of Israel. For many years the nation of Israel was a struggling country which relied heavily on support from American Jews to survive. The Jewish community also continues to offer assistance to those effected by the ongoing Israel- Palestine conflict through organizations such as the IFCJ. The issue has been ongoing and deeply important to both American and foreign Jews since the establishment of Israel as an independent state in the year 1948. Despite being a largely democratic voting bloc, President Trump’s vocal support for the people of Israel and increased humanitarian efforts directly resulted in his support from many Judaic followers.

Conclusion In conclusion, the religious denominations of Roman Catholicism, Mormonism, and Judaism feature a vast multitude of similarities and differences. Although religion is based in spirituality and relating to a higher power, it has the propensity to directly affect individuals’ stance on a wide variety of political issues. These topics include, but are not limited to, including abortion, the death penalty, war, healthcare, environment, taxes, poverty, gay rights, race relation, and aid to foreign countries. Overall, an individual’s stance on these political issues are better explained once further exploring their religious perspectives. In many cases, the positions taken by the organizations often directly reflect the viewpoints of rank and file members of the religious groups. These figures and the view of the church/temple are more often than not directly correlated with that of the religions’ followers. In present day society, religion and politics remain two separate entities which continue to struggle to coexist.

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