Church Teaching Civil Rights & Liberties
Every member of society is imbued with a number of rights. With them come responsibilities.
In Catholic terms, a “right” has been defined as a subjective moral power, residing in the person posing it, “to do, hold, or extract something,” which functions through appeal to another’s will through the other person’s intellect. It is to be distinguished from might, i.e. the physical force or power to take something away from another. – Fr John Hardon, SJ, Modern Catholic Dictionary
Man’s history of sin begins when he no longer acknowledges the Lord as his Creator and himself wishes to be the one who determines, with complete independence, what is good and what is evil. “You will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen 3:5): this was the first temptation, and it is echoed in all the other temptations to which man is more easily inclined to yield as a result of the original Fall. – Pope Saint John Paul II, Veritatis splendor
Racism & Discrimination
The unity of the human family is not yet becoming a reality. This is due to obstacles originating in materialistic and nationalistic ideologies that contradict the values of the person integrally considered in all his various dimensions, material and spiritual, individual and community. In particular, any theory or form whatsoever of racism and racial discrimination is morally unacceptable. -433, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Conscience & Religion
The Catholic Church emphasizes, among other rights, the right to religious freedom. Emphasis is given to the paramount value of the right to religious freedom: “all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits”. The respect of this right is an indicative sign of “man’s authentic progress in any regime, in any society, system or milieu.” -320, 321 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
With euthanasia and medically-assisted death and abortion legalized, it is critical that healthcare providers whose deepest moral convictions tell them that such procedures are wrong, not be forced to participate. Catholic teaching says workers should be safeguarded from suffering any affront to conscience or personal dignity.
It is a grave duty of conscience to avoid cooperating, even formally, with practices contrary to the Law of God.
Freedom of Speech: truth, the press & the media
Information is among the principal instruments of democratic participation. Participation without an understanding of the situation of the political community, the facts and the proposed solutions to problems is unthinkable.
It is necessary to guarantee a real pluralism in the dissemination of information, ensuring that there are many forms and instruments of information and communications. Special attention must be given to the phenomenon of the news media being controlled by just a few people or groups. This has dangerous effects for the entire democratic system… The media must be used to build up and sustain the human community in its different sectors: economic, political, cultural, educational and religious. Society has a right to information based on truth, freedom, justice and solidarity. The essential question is whether the current information system is contributing to the betterment of the human person; that is, does it make people more spiritually mature, more aware of the dignity of their humanity, more responsible or more open to others, in particular to the neediest and the weakest.
A further aspect of great importance is that new technologies must respect legitimate cultural differences. In the world of the media the intrinsic difficulties of communications are often exacerbated by ideology, the desire for profit and political control, rivalry and conflicts between groups, and other social evils. Moral values and principles apply also to the media…. 414-416, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Gender Equity
The feminine genius is needed in all expressions in the life of society. The first indispensable step in this direction is the concrete possibility of access to professional formation. The persistence of many forms of discrimination offensive to the dignity and vocation of women is due to a long series of conditioning that penalizes women, who have seen themselves relegated to the margins of society and even reduced to servitude… An urgent need to recognize effectively the rights of women in the workplace is seen especially under the aspects of pay, insurance and social security. –295, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Property
Private property and other forms of private ownership of goods “assure a person a highly necessary sphere for the exercise of his personal and family autonomy and ought to be considered as an extension of human freedom … stimulating exercise of responsibility, it constitutes one of the conditions for civil liberty.” -171, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
The Church’s social doctrine requires that ownership of goods be equally accessible to all, so that all may become, at least in some measure, owners. The world exists for everyone, because all of us were born with the same dignity. Differences of colour, religion, talent, place of birth or residence, and so many others, cannot be used to justify the privileges of some over the rights of all. As a community, we have an obligation to ensure that every person lives with dignity and has sufficient opportunities for his or her integral development. -176, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Not to share our wealth with the poor is to rob them and take away their livelihood. The riches we possess are not our own, but theirs as well… Other rights having to do with the goods necessary for the integral fulfilment of persons, including that of private property or any other type of property, should in no way hinder [this right], but should actively facilitate its implementation. Fratelli tutti, -188-120
Human Rights
The Church also recognizes a number of Human Rights, including “the right to life, an integral part of which is the right of the child to develop in the mother’s womb from the moment of conception; the right to live in a united family and in a moral environment conducive to the growth of the child’s personality; the right to develop one’s intelligence and freedom in seeking and knowing the truth; the right to share in the work which makes wise use of the earth’s material resources, and to derive from that work the means to support oneself and one’s dependents; and the right freely to establish a family, to have and to rear children through the responsible exercise of one’s sexuality. The Church also emphases rights to adequate housing; clean water, and secure, nutritious food; education and access to culture, transportation, basic health care. – 151-166 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Individual Responsibilities
“In human society to one man’s right there corresponds a duty in all other persons: the duty, namely, of acknowledging and respecting the right in question.” “Those, therefore, who claim their own rights, yet altogether forget or neglect to carry out their respective duties, are people who build with one hand and destroy with the other. -156 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Subsidiarity
Subsidiarity is the principle that each element of society should serve its proper purpose, and support others in serving theirs. The Church regards the family as the primary unit of society, and considers that all other social units have a primary duty of supporting the family in its task of forming children and working with others to fulfill the purposes God intended for them.
One consequence of this principle is that each family, and after that each individual, and smaller groups of people, should be allowed to make for themselves all the decisions that can responsibly be left to them, rather than to larger groups or greater authorities. This is one of the fundamental social teachings of the Church, since it helps to ensure that each individual is empowered to find his or her own way to God.
Families, Individuals, and Civil Society
It is impossible to promote the dignity of the person without showing concern for the family, groups, associations, local territorial realities; in short, for that aggregate of economic, social, cultural, sports-oriented, recreational, professional and political expressions to which people spontaneously give life and which make it possible for them to achieve effective social growth. This is the realm of civil society… This network of relationships strengthens the social fabric and constitutes the basis of a true community of persons, making possible the recognition of higher forms of social activity.
The political community is established to be of service to civil society, from which it originates… This vision is challenged by political ideologies of an individualistic nature and those of a totalitarian character, which tend to absorb civil society into the sphere of the State. The political community and civil society are not equal in the hierarchy of ends. The political community is essentially at the service of civil society and, in the final analysis, the persons and groups of which civil society is composed.
The State must provide an adequate legal framework for social subjects to engage freely in their different activities and it must be ready to intervene, when necessary and with respect for the principle of subsidiarity, so that the interplay between free associations and democratic life may be directed to the common good. -185, 417, 418 Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Subsidiary governments: provinces, municipalities, territories, & Aboriginals
The principle of subsidiarity is opposed to various forms of centralization, bureaucratization, and welfare assistance, and to the unjustified and excessive presence of the State in public mechanisms… Just as it is gravely wrong to take from individuals what they can accomplish by their own initiative and industry and give it to the community, so also it is an injustice and at the same time a grave evil and disturbance of right order to assign to a greater and higher association what lesser and subordinate organizations can do. -185, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
Democratic Party Civil Liberties
Discrimination
The party states that:
– it will root out structural and systemic racism in the national economy and our society, and reform the criminal justice system from top to bottom
– it will ensure that our nation continues to prize diversity and compassion, and to welcome those who yearn to participate in the nation’s great democratic experiment
– it will give hate no safe harbor, will never amplify or legitimize the voices of racism, misogyny, anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, or white supremacy
– it will protect and promote the equal rights of all citizens, including women, LGBTQ+ people, religious minorities, people with disabilities, Native Americans, and all who have been discriminated against
The party advocates:
– diversity in appointment of federal judges, reflecting the diversity of America
– removal of the Confederate flag and statues of Confederate leaders from public properties
– recognition of Juneteenth (June 19) as a federal holiday
– enactment of the Equality Act to outlaw discrimination against LGBTQ+ people in housing, public accommodations, access to credit, education, jury service, and federal programs, in adoption of children, bullying and assault
– banning conversion therapy
– ensuring that federally funded programs for older adults are inclusive for LGBTQ+ seniors
Freedom of speech
The party states that it will restore FCC authority to pursue broadband providers who violate net neutrality principles or artificially raise prices for access
Truth & freedom of the press
The party states that that the free press is essential to our free democracy.
The party advocates:
– appointment of an independent media professional to head the US Agency for Global Media, to ensure that news and information projected by the federal government meets the highest standards of fact-based journalism
– out of concern for potentially harmful effects of corporate consolidation in the media industry, reinstating and strengthening media ownership rules and antitrust review of impacts of mergers
Religion & conscience
The party states that religious freedom is a core American value.
The party advocates:
– protection of the free exercise of religion
– action to advocate religious freedom throughout the world
– increased funding for security and protection at houses of worship
– action against hate crimes against religious minorities
The party has published no official statement concerning its polices on:
– rights to privacy
– rights to private property
Gender equity
The party advocates:
– guaranteed equal pay for women
– ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment
– overturning federal and state laws that create barriers to women’s reproductive health and rights, including by repealing the Hyde Amendment and protecting and codifying the right to reproductive freedom
– protecting rights of pregnant women in the workplace, including by requiring employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant and breastfeeding workers and those who have recently given birth, and enacting paid sick days and universal paid family and medical leave
Human Rights
Housing
The party states that housing should be within reach of all, and that no one should have to pay more than 30% of their income on it
The party advocates:
– providing Section 8 housing support for every eligible family and ending landlord discrimination
– equal access to credit and improved down payment assistance for families of color, low income families, and rural buyers
– a new refundable and advanceable tax credit of up to $15,000 for first-time home buyers
– expanding low-income housing tax credits as an incentive to builders
– providing energy efficiency upgrades
– vigorous enforcement of fair housing laws
Clean Water
The party states that every American has the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live without fear of exposure to toxic waste, especially those who have been left out and left behind for generations
The party advocates:
– historic investments aimed at eliminating legacy pollution
– clean and reliable drinking water for every community in America
– replacement of dangerous lead pipes
– investment in innovative water technologies to increase efficiency, conservation, re-use and recycling of water
Subsidiarity & Participation
Civic Organizations
The party advocates:
– using grants and relationships with community organizations to ensure workers know their rights and responsibilities under labor law
– statehood for the District of Columbia
– self-determination for Puerto Rico
– voting rights for US territories
– ending all efforts to privatize the US postal service
The party has published no official statement concerning its policies on:
– the role of the church and other moral institutions
– the roles of agencies, states, or municipalities
Green Party The Individual and Society
The party states, among its ten key values, that:
– centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice, environmental destruction, and militarization
– it seeks a restructuring of social, political and economic institutions away from a system controlled by and mostly benefiting the powerful few, to a democratic, less bureaucratic system
– decision-making should, as much as possible, remain at the individual and local level, while assuring that civil rights are protected for all
– it encourages individuals to act to improve their personal wellbeing and, at the same time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony
– it seeks to join with people and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of the planet
– the foundation of any democratic society is the guarantee that each member of society has equal rights
– respect for our constitutionally protected rights is our best defense against discrimination and the abuse of power
– it also recognizes an intimate connection between our rights as individuals and our responsibilities to our neighbors and the planet
– it shall strive to secure universal and effective recognition and observance of the principles and spirit expressed in the United National Universal Declaration of Human Rights as an international standard that all nations must meet
The party advocates:
– amending the US Constitution to clarify that human rights and freedoms attach only to living human beings, and not to corporations or other juridical persons, and that juridical persons have no permanent, constitutionally protected rights, though they may have such powers or immunities as are explicitly granted to them by legislative actions at either the federal or the state level
Gender Equity
The party states, among its key values, that:
– the nation has inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics
– it calls for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender
– human values such as gender equity, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty must be developed with moral conscience
– it recognizes that the processes for determining a nation’s decisions and actions are just as important as achieving the outcomes the nation wants
The party advocates:
– U.S. passage of CEDAW, the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which was adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly and ratified by 173 countries and is also known as the Women’s Convention, the Women’s Bill of Rights, together with an International Bill of Rights for Women
– passage of the Equal Rights Act
– noting that the illegal international trafficking in humans, primarily women, has reached staggering numbers and consequences around the world, the party supports the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking In Persons, Especially Women and Children, which supplements the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime adopted by the UN General Assembly in November 2000 as an important tool to facilitate international cooperation
– investigation and prosecution by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission of sexual harassment complaints
– equal numbers of women and men in Congress, peace talks, and negotiations, not only because these efforts directly affect their lives and those of their husbands, children and families, but also because when women are involved, the negotiations are more successful
– intensified effort to close the unfair male-female wage gap, including support for the Paycheck Fairness Act and similar legislation, and greater effort at enforcement
Adoptee Rights
The party states that:
– current laws deny millions of adopted adults access to vital records regarding their births. Such access is a basic human right.
The party advocates:
– transparency between adoptees, their mothers and adoptive parents
– immediate and direct access by adult adoptees to all identifying birth, hospital, foster care and adoption agency records and files concerning the adoptee, including the original adoption plans and any contracts that pertain to the adoptee or in which they are mentioned, to assist with researching their genealogy, medical history and the truth regarding the circumstances surrounding their adoptions and, if applicable, their time in foster care
– strict financial penalties when birth/adoption records have been lost or destroyed while under the care of agencies, hospitals, lawyers, etc. that have assumed the responsibility of storing these vital records
– full reparations for historical injustices in adoption.
Discrimination
The party states, among its key values, that:
– it is important to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious and spiritual diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships across the human spectrum
– the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in our organizations and decision-making bodies, including leadership roles for people who have been traditionally closed out of them
– one of its key values is respect for diversity, and it is committed to establishing relationships that honor diversity; that support the self-definition and self-determination of all people; that consciously confront the barriers of racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, class oppression, ageism, and ableism, and the many ways that our culture and laws separate us from working together
– it supports affirmative action to remedy discrimination, to protect constitutional rights, and to provide equal opportunity under the law
US Afrodescendants
The party states that:
– it condemns any belief in white supremacy, as well as the violence and discrimination borne by people of color in slavery’s aftermath, and that both continue to be social problems of paramount significance
– the community of people of African ancestry whose family members were held in chattel slavery in what is now the United States of America have legitimate claims to reparations including monetary compensation for centuries of human rights violations
– as with the Choctaw, the Lakota, the Lambuth, Japanese Americans and the European Jewish community, reparations are now due to address the debt still owed to descendants of enslaved Africans
– it is committed to full and complete reparations to the African American community of this nation for four hundred plus years of genocide, slavery, land-loss, destruction of original identity and the stark disparities which haunt the present, as evidenced in unemployment statistics, substandard and inadequate education, higher levels of mortality including infant and maternal mortality and the practice of mass incarceration
– it recognizes reparations as a debt (not charity)
– while consensus evolves as what would constitute full and complete reparations, it support the following initial steps:
– creation of a claim of action and a right to recover inherited wealth and other profits accumulated from the slave trade for the benefit of a reparations trust fund
– repeal of the slave clauses that survive today in the U.S. Constitution
– restoration of restore lands stolen through a variety of tactics including: violence, terrorism and the discriminatory access to operating capital that together has robbed black farmers and the broader community
– release of all political prisoners held by the USA
– support of existing Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as new and existing Education and Development Funds
– efforts to overcome the effects of over 200 years of racial discrimination
– an end to official support for any remaining symbols of slavery and specifically call for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from all government buildings
– condemnation of racial profiling by law enforcement agencies
– effective enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, including language access to voting
– a national language policy that would encourage all citizens to be fluent in at least two languages
– strengthening of legal services for the poor
Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity
The party states that:
– in keeping with its Key Values of diversity, social justice and feminism, it supports full legal and political equality for all persons regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity, characteristics, and expression
– it affirms the rights of all individuals to freely choose intimate partners, regardless of their sex, gender, or gender identity
– it recognizes the full civil rights of sexual and gender minorities
– it affirms the right of all persons to self-determination with regard to gender identity and sex
– it affirms the right of choosing non-binary and gender fluid identification, and therefore supports the right of individuals to be free from coercion and involuntary assignment of gender or sex
– it opposes all Federal military aid to national governments whose laws result in the death, other harm, or imprisonment of its citizens and residents who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA)
– it supports adoption of a policy that the U. S. Government recognize all same sex marriages or legal equivalents such as civil unions, in processing visitor and immigration visas
– it opposes security surveillance and covert infiltration of organizations that promote rights for sexual and gender minorities
Freedom of speech; truth & freedom of the press
The party states that:
– independent, critical media are essential to an informed and healthy democracy; that citizens must have ready access to news and information to make responsible informed choices as voters and to carry out their other duties of citizenship
– the 1st Amendment guaranteed freedom of the press because an exchange of ideas and an unfettered debate were considered essential components of a democratic society
– it is concerned that today’s government policy is designed less to enhance public deliberation than to boost the profitability of media corporations, with the result that mainstream media is increasingly cozy with the economic and political elites whom they might better be investigating
– mergers in the news industry have accelerated, further limiting the spectrum of viewpoints in the mass media
The party advocates:
– strengthening citizens’ influence over the broadcast media, breaking up dominant media conglomerates and boosting the number of community and non-profit news outlets
– in view of government interest in controlling the flow of information, guarding constantly against official censorship
– because large corporations are a common source of censorship and privatization of the broadcast airwaves has caused serious deformations of politics and culture, ending privatization of broadcast frequencies and reserving them for the creation of new not-for-profit community broadcasters and for broadband and wifi networks owned and operated by cities, counties and towns which want to deliver this news to their people at reasonable cost
– enacting tough new anti-trust laws for the media, carving up big media conglomerates, and following up with vigorous anti-trust enforcement
– ending commercial broadcasters’ free licensed use of the public airwaves, and requiring market-priced leasing of any commercial use of the electromagnetic spectrum. Revenues derived from these license fees should be used to fund the operation of community media. Tax electronic advertising to fund democratic media outlets
– reinstating and strengthening the Fairness Doctrine, to require that holders of broadcast licenses present controversial issues of public importance in an equitable and balanced manner
– establishing substantial public interest obligations for broadcasters and holding them accountable, including revocation of licenses from outlets that fail to satisfy their obligations
– supporting Public, Educational and Governmental (PEG) Access Television to ensure that citizens and community organizations have the opportunity to create and present their own programming on cable television
– to expand the role of community radio, expanding licensing of new non-commercial low power FM radio stations
– promoting greater opportunity for women and minority ownership of media outlets
– providing broadband Internet access for all US residents of this country, so that access to information is a right, not a commodity
– efforts to achieve net neutrality, to enable Internet users to access any lawful web content they choose and use any applications they choose, without restrictions or limitations imposed by their Internet service provider or government, except for restrictions that exist to prevent spam e-mail, viruses, and similar content that will harm the provider’s network or internet access Democracy
– ensuring free and equal airtime for all ballot-qualified political candidates and parties on radio and television networks and stations
– providing public funding for independent non-profit broadcasters, to ensure high-quality news and cultural programming with the widest possible range of viewpoints
– prohibiting commercial advertising targeted to children less than 12 years old, as well as advertising in public places such as schools, parks, and government buildings
– repealing the Telecommunications Act of 1996
– reducing mailing costs for non-profit and independent magazines and journals, and eliminate them for those that receive less than 20% of their revenues from advertising
– promoting policies to expand investigative reporting on federal, state and local issues
– promoting policies to encourage the people of the United States to watch less television, and instead to spend time with their families, friends and neighbors, and to engage in myriad other constructive, artistic or healthful pursuits
Freedom of Religion
The party states that:
– it believes that quality of life is determined not only by material aspects that can be measured and counted, but also by elements that cannot be quantified
– it firmly supports the separation of church and state, but also acknowledges the spiritual dimension of life, and honors the cultivation of various types of spiritual experience in our diverse society
– federal, state, and local governments must remain neutral regarding religion
The party advocates:
– support for U.S. constitutional guarantees for freedom of religion, separation of church and state, and assurance that there shall be no religious test for public office
– eliminating federal, state, and local laws that discriminate against particular religious beliefs or non-belief
– ending faith-based initiatives and charitable choice programs, whereby public funds are used to support religious organizations that may not adhere to specified guidelines and standards, including anti-discrimination laws
– ending discriminatory federal, state, and local laws against particular religious beliefs, and non-belief
– eliminating oaths (or affirmations) for holding public office at any level, employment at all government levels, oaths for witnesses in courts, oaths for jury membership, and the oath for citizenship
– prosecution of hate crimes based on religious affiliation or practice
– elimination of displays of religious symbols, monuments, or statements on government buildings, property, websites, money, or documents
– eliminating the politically motivated addition of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance
– ending faith-based initiatives and charitable choice programs, whereby public funds are used to support religious organizations that do not adhere to specified guidelines and standards, including anti-discrimination laws
– ending school vouchers whereby public money pays for students in religious schools
– ending governmental use of the doctrines of specific religions to define the nature of family, marriage, and the type and character of personal relationships between consenting adults
– revocation of the Congressional charter of the Boy Scouts of America, and for any private organization that practices bigotry against certain religious beliefs and classes of people
Environmental Justice
The party states that:
– environmental justice, which is the crossroads of environmental activism and the civil rights movement, is founded on two fundamental beliefs: that all people have the right to live, work, learn, and play in safe and healthful environments; and that people have the right to influence decisions that affect environmental quality in their communities
– government must ensure the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies
The party advocates implementation of the principle of environmental justice in our practices, policies and laws across the nation, including:
-making “pollution prevention” the preferred strategy for dealing with environmental justice issues, by eliminating environmental threats before they occur and considering cumulative environmental impacts when evaluating risk
– upholding the precautionary principle, requiring polluters to bear the burden of proof in demonstrating the safety of their practices, and expanding the application of the precautionary principle from chemicals and health to land use, waste, energy, food policy and local economic development
– expansion of the public trust doctrine, which holds that government’s role is to protect the commons, to include the domains of public health and protection of the natural environment
– assuring non-discriminatory compliance with all environmental, health and safety laws to guarantee equal protection.
– ensuring that rules and regulations are transparent to help communities employ their rights and participate in decision-making
– enforcing corrective justice, ensuring the rights of communities and local agencies to seek judicial redress. Communities and local agencies must not be required to show or prove “intent to discriminate” to achieve redress for problems of disproportionate and/or racist environmental impacts
– supporting, enforcing and strengthening the National Environmental Policy Act
Agencies, States, Municipalities & Territories
The party states that:
– community is the basic unit of green politics because it is personal, value-oriented, and small enough for each member to have an impact
– community involvement is a foundation for public policy
– it does not place its faith in paternalistic big government
– it calls for a global community of communities that recognize our immense diversity, respect individual personal worth and share a global perspective
Hawaii
The party states that:
– since illegal annexation in 1898, the federal and state governments have cheated and neglected the native Hawaiian people
– the 1993, the U.S. “Apology Bill” (U.S. Public Law 103-150) states, in part, “the native Hawaiians have never lost their inherent sovereignty nor their national home base.”
The party advocates:
– protecting of sacred and culturally significant native Hawaiian sites, and efforts to nurture native Hawaiian culture
– Kanaka maoli leadership and guardianship in protecting gathering rights, and lobbying the legislature to safeguard these rights without interference
– return of, or fair compensation for, ceded lands
– immediate distribution of Hawaiian Homelands, with government funds allocated for the necessary infrastructure
– prohibition of future sale or diminishments of the Ceded Land Trust
– open dialogue among all residents of Hawai’i on the sovereignty option of full independence, in a form that is fair to both native Hawaiians and other residents of Hawai’i
Puerto Rico
The party states that:
– since Puerto Rico was invaded by the United States in 1898, it has been held by the U.S. in the form of a colony
– after having established “Free Associated State” status for Puerto Rico in 1952, the US has continued to claim that Puerto Rico belongs to, yet is not a part of, the United States, with the result that Puerto Rico has been prevented from taking sovereign decisions to attend to its serious economic and social problems including unemployment, marginalization and poverty
The party advocates:
– the right of Puerto Rican self-determination and independence, in conformity with United Nations Resolution 1514(XV) of 1960
– environmental clean-up and sustainable development of Vieques, the island that was used as a firing range by the U.S. military
– ending recruitment of the youth of Puerto Rico into the U.S. armed forces and their deployment to U.S. wars abroad
– readdressing Puerto Rico’s outstanding debt, including review of corporate and other forms of taxation and tax exemptions to help redress economic suffering and the quality of life of the people of Puerto Rico
Community Service
The party advocates:
– to create new opportunities for citizens to serve their communities through non-military community service and challenge young people while encouraging social responsibility by providing them with land and resource management skills, formation of a Civilian Conservation Corps, with national leadership and state and local affiliates, to spearhead efforts to work on the tasks of environmental education, restoration of damaged habitats, reforestation, and cleaning up polluted waterways
Civil Society
The party states that:
– it is committed to strengthening America’s civil society, including the many mediating institutions at the community level
– support the ability of cities to establish civilian police review boards to increase understanding between community members and police officers, provide a public forum to air concerns on policy matters and to ensure public oversight and accountability of their local police department
Libertarian Party The party states that:
– its core belief is respect for the life, liberty and property rights of each individual. This means that no one may initiate force against another, as that violates those natural rights. While many claim adherence to this principle, only libertarians apply the non-aggression axiom to the state.
Civil Rights & Responsibilities
The party states that:
– individuals are inherently free to make choices for themselves and must accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make
– its support of an individual’s right to make choices in life does not mean that it necessarily approves or disapproves of those choices. No individual, group, or government may rightly initiate force against any other individual, group, or government
– it rejects the notion that groups have inherent rights. We support the rights of the smallest minority, the individual
Self-Ownership
The party states that:
– individuals own their bodies and have rights over them that other individuals, groups, and governments may not violate
– individuals have the freedom and responsibility to decide what they knowingly and voluntarily consume, and what risks they accept to their own health, finances, safety, or life
Expression and Communication
The party states that:
– it supports full freedom of expression and opposes government censorship, regulation, or control of communications media and technology
– it favors the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others
– it opposes government actions that either aid or attack any religion
Privacy
The party states that:
– it advocates individual privacy and government transparency, and is committed to ending government’s practice of spying on everyone
– it supports the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, property, and communications
– protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records
Personal Relationships
The party states that:
– sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government’s treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration, or military service laws
– government does not have the authority to define, promote, license, or restrict personal relationships, regardless of the number of participants. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships
– until such time as the government stops its illegitimate practice of marriage licensing, such licenses must be granted to all consenting adults who apply
Discrimination
The party states that:
– it embraces the concept that all people are born with certain inherent rights
– it rejects the idea that a natural right can ever impose an obligation upon others to fulfill that “right”
– it condemns bigotry as irrational and repugnant
– government should neither deny nor abridge any individual’s human right based upon sex, wealth, ethnicity, creed, age, national origin, personal habits, political preference, or sexual orientation
– members of private organizations retain their rights to set whatever standards of association they deem appropriate, and individuals are free to respond with ostracism, boycotts, and other free market solutions
Republican Party Civil Liberties
The party states that:
– it regards itself as the party of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
– the Declaration of Independence sets forth the fundamental precepts of American government: that God bestows certain inalienable rights on every individual, thus producing human equality; that government exists first and foremost to protect those inalienable rights; that man-made law must be consistent with God-given, natural rights; and that if God-given, natural, inalienable rights come in conflict with government, court, or human-granted rights, God-given, natural, inalienable rights always prevail; that there is a moral law recognized as “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”; and that American government is to operate with the consent of the governed
– it reaffirms the Constitution’s fundamental principles: limited government, separation of powers, individual liberty, and the rule of law. We denounce bigotry, racism, anti-Semitism, ethnic prejudice, and religious intolerance. It opposes discrimination based on race, sex, religion, creed, disability, or national origin, and supports statutes to end such discrimination
– it believes that merit and hard work should determine advancement in our society, and rejects unfair preferences, quotas, and set-asides as forms of discrimination
– it advocates appointment of judges that will strictly uphold the Constitution, rather than activists who will seek to redefine it
Freedom of speech
The party advocates:
– protection of donors to political parties, as a form of free speech, and a right of uncapped donations
– political speech rights of corporations and advocacy groups
– banning mandatory funding of candidates through union dues
– restoration of FCC authority to pursue broadband providers who violate net neutrality principles or artificially raise price s for access
The Right to Bear Arms
The party advocates:
– the right of individuals to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment, and opposes federal registration or licensing of gun owners
Religion & conscience
The party states that religion and morality are the indispensable supports of a free society, and notes that freedom of religion is the first of the freedoms of the Bill of Rights
The party advocates:
– repealing attacks on the charitable status of organizations based on religious beliefs, including adoption agencies and educational institutions
– the right of public display of the 10 Commandments, as a reflection of history and the Judeo-Christian heritage of the country, and prayer at public schools
– conscience rights for health care providers in providing abortions and euthanasia, or making referrals therefor.
Privacy
The party:
– advocates limitation of use of aerial surveillance on US soils, excepting border patrol
– opposes attempts to place tracking devices in our daily lives, of on motor vehicles
– opposes the Foreign Tax Compliance Act requiring reporting of funds held in foreign accounts
Private Property
The party advocates:
– legislation to reverse the Keto court decision extending the governmental right to seize property to cases of public interest that permit seizure and sale to private developers
– strong action by Congress to enforce intellectual property rights against all infringers, foreign and domestic
Human Rights
Gender equity
The party advocates:
– returning to the original intent of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and banning of provisions promoting blurring of gender lines and choices
Housing
The party states that home ownership expands personal liberty, builds communities, and helps Americans create wealth, and acknowledges that home ownership rates have dropped sharply, and that nearly 12 million families spend more than 50 percent of their incomes on rent
The party advocates:
– scaling back the federal role in housing and promoting responsibility on the parts of borrowers and lenders to avoid future taxpayer bailouts, e.g. of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae
– comprehensive review of regulations, especially those dealing the environment, that make it harder to rent, buy, or sell homes
– ending FHA support for high-income individuals
– ending governmental mandates that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or banks satisfy lending quotas to specific groups. Discrimination has no place in the housing industry
– ending undermining of zoning laws under Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing regulation, which is not proven to end discrimination.
Subsidiarity & Participation
The party states that independent individuals and the institutions they create together- families, schools, congregations, neighborhoods – are the pillars of a free society, that they create spaces where the power of government should not intrude.
The party advocates:
– free speech and rights of civic participation by organizations of citizens
– free speech and rights of civic participation by religious organizations
Agencies, States, Municipalities & Territories
The party advocates:
– leaving decisions concerning minimum wage laws to the states
– requiring Congress to take back its constitutional duty to legislate from the many federal agencies to which the power of legislation has been delegated
– legislation to give full force to the 9th Amendment reservation, in favor of the people, of all rights not assigned by the Constitution to the federal government
– restoration of powers between the federal and state governments in accordance with the assignments made in the Constitution, including federal grant programs covering matters reserved to the states, and consuming one sixth of the federal budget
– turning over environmental regulation for resource production and pollution controls to states
– turning over to states more than 640 million acres of federal land
– in acknowledgement of the special role of the District of Columbia in belonging both to its residents and to country as a whole, full rights for DC’s citizens. However, statehood would require Constitutional amendment
Points to Ponder Civil Rights & Liberties
As the country enters the COVID recovery phase, concerns have been raised regarding federal and state tracking, retention, and use of private information, including for example information required for vaccine passports.
– to what extent is the collection and use of such information by governments appropriate, and to what extent should it be limited? How important is the right of privacy during a time of perceived emergency such as a pandemic, and to what types of personal information does it apply?
Civic & Individual Responsibilities
It is clear that the nation and states owe their citizens great respect for each of a broad range of human rights. But with rights come responsibilities. What responsibilities do individuals have toward their communities, states, the nation, and the world? For example, to what extent are citizens called to:
– live sustainable lifestyles, for example by conserving energy, avoiding waste, and ensuring that they minimize their impact on future generations?
– participate in society, for example through informed voting, continued engagement with candidates and elected representatives, and keeping up responsibly with the news?
– lend a hand to their neighbours, for example by volunteering at home or within the community, in addition to paying taxes?
– in addition to human and civil rights, many parties speak of things Canadians and others “deserve.” How do the parties determine what citizens do or do not deserve? Do they apply predictable, objective criteria in making such determinations, or can such determinations sometimes seem arbitrary and unfair, or, in the context of elections, opportunistic? What criteria should be applied?
– as lists of our defined rights expand, how do we reconcile conflicts between them? And how should they be enforced, and by whom?
Government and Civil Society
– To what extent, if any, should powers or responsibilities of federal, state, or local governments be expanded, reduced, or redistributed in order to ensure that individuals, public interest groups, and service organizations have opportunities to employ their lives and talents in the service of others, and the common good? To what extent should those powers be shared with non-governmental entities? What roles should other social institutions – for example, the Church, schools, and civic organizations – play in increasing social and civic equity and caring for all?
Social Health Care
– To what extent is it appropriate for federal, state, or local governments to provide taxpayer-supported health care to citizens? Is it appropriate to give any medical services to anyone, any time they ask? If not, how can one properly and even-handedly determine which needs should be met at public expense?
– To what extent is it appropriate to rely on private service providers, including non-profit and community organizations, such as church-supported hospitals, to provide health care services? For example, it can sometimes seem that care for the whole person – including for example spiritual care – is lacking when care is provided by various institutions. Would it be beneficial to make spiritual and other sorts of specialized care, in addition to general health care, available through institutions such as religious organizations?
– What are the costs and benefits of providing services through the government, private businesses, charities, or other community organizations?