Bishop Morlino, Paul Ryan's own bishop, speaks in an open letter to the Diocese of Madison (comprising most of southern Wisconsin) regarding Ryan's candidacy and the role of Catholic teaching in shaping political policy:

Original article


Dear friends,


It was no shock at all for me to learn that our diocesan native son,
Paul Ryan, had been chosen to be a candidate for the Vice Presidency of
the United States. I am proud of his accomplishments as a native son,
and a brother in the faith, and my prayers go with him and especially
with his family as they endure the unbelievable demands of a
presidential campaign here in the United States. It is not for the
bishop or priests to endorse particular candidates or political parties.
Any efforts on the part of any bishop or priest to do so should be set
aside. And you can be assured that no priest who promotes a partisan
agenda is acting in union with me or with the Universal Church.
It is the role of bishops and priests to teach principles of our
faith, such that those who seek elected offices, if they are Catholics,
are to form their consciences according to these principles about
particular policy issues.




However, the formation of conscience regarding particular policy issues
is different depending on how fundamental to the ecology of human nature
or the Catholic faith a particular issue is. Some of the most
fundamental issues for the formation of a Catholic conscience are as
follows: sacredness of human life from conception to natural death,
marriage, religious freedom and freedom of conscience, and a right to
private property.
Violations of the above involve intrinsic evil — that is, an evil
which cannot be justified by any circumstances whatsoever. These evils
are examples of direct pollution of the ecology of human nature and can
be discerned as such by human reason alone. Thus, all people of good
will who wish to follow human reason should deplore any and all
violations in the above areas, without exception. The violations would
be: abortion, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, same-sex
marriage, government-coerced secularism, and socialism.
Where intrinsic evil is not involved

In these most fundamental matters, a well-formed Catholic conscience,
or the well-formed conscience of a person of good will, simply follows
the conclusions demanded by the ecology of human nature and the
reasoning process. A Catholic conscience can never take exception to the
prohibition of actions which are intrinsically evil. Nor may a
conscience well-formed by reason or the Catholic faith ever choose to
vote for someone who clearly, consistently, persistently promotes that
which is intrinsically evil.
However, a conscience well-formed according to reason or the Catholic
faith, must also make choices where intrinsic evil is not involved. How
best to care for the poor is probably the finest current example of
this, though another would be how best to create jobs at a time when so
many are suffering from the ravages of unemployment. In matters such as
these, where intrinsic evil is not involved, the rational principles of
solidarity and subsidiarity come into play. The principle of solidarity,
simply stated, means that every human being on the face of the earth is
my brother and my sister, my “neighbor” in the biblical sense. At the
same time, the time-tested best way for assisting our neighbors
throughout the world should follow the principle of subsidiarity. That
means the problem at hand should be addressed at the lowest level
possible — that is, the level closest to the people in need. That again,
is simply the law of human reason.
We can disagree on application

As one looks at issues such as the two mentioned above and seeks to
apply the principles of solidarity and subsidiarity, Catholics and
others of good will can arrive at different conclusions. These are
conclusions about the best means to promote the preferential option for
the poor, or the best means to reach a lower percentage of unemployment
throughout our country. No one is contesting here anyone’s right to the
basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, healthcare, etc. Nor is anyone
contesting someone’s right to work and so provide for self and family.
However there can be difference according to how best to follow the
principles which the Church offers.
Making decisions as to the best political strategies, the best policy
means, to achieve a goal, is the mission of lay people, not bishops or
priests. As Pope Benedict himself has said, a just society and a just
state is the achievement of politics, not the Church. And therefore
Catholic laymen and women who are familiar with the principles dictated
by human reason and the ecology of human nature, or non-Catholics who
are also bound by these same principles, are in a position to arrive at
differing conclusions as to what the best means are for the
implementation of these principles — that is, “lay mission” for
Catholics.
Thus, it is not up to me or any bishop or priest to approve of
Congressman Ryan’s specific budget prescription to address the best
means we spoke of. Where intrinsic evils are not involved, specific
policy choices and political strategies are the province of Catholic lay
mission. But, as I’ve said, Vice Presidential Candidate Ryan is aware
of Catholic Social Teaching and is very careful to fashion and form his
conclusions in accord with the principles mentioned above. Of that I
have no doubt. (I mention this matter in obedience to Church Law
regarding one’s right to a good reputation.)
Peace and reconciliation in coming months

I obviously didn’t choose the date for the announcement of Paul
Ryan’s Vice Presidential Candidacy and as I express my pride in him and
in what he has accomplished, I thought it best to move to discussion of
the above matters sooner rather than later. No doubt it will be
necessary to comment again on these principles in the days ahead for the
sake of further clarification, and be assured that I will be eager to
do so.
Above all, let us beg the Lord that divisions in our electorate will
not be deepened so as to have a negative impact on pre-existing
divisions within the Church during this electoral season. Let there be
the peace and reconciliation that flow from charity on the part of all.
Thank you for reading this. God Bless each one of you! Praised be Jesus
Christ!