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Faithful Citizenship
It is election time and a good time to remember that, as Catholics, we have a religious and moral obligation to be faithful citizens. Have you voted yet?
Election seasons can be stressful. Often, we are unclear on the issues, and perhaps uncertain about which candidates to vote for. Political rhetoric is increasingly angry, and often leads to divisiveness and even hatred. We might think our vote won’t make a difference anyway, so why bother.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops reminds us that, “As Catholics and Americans, we are blessed to be able to participate in our nation’s political and public life…Our love for this country, our patriotism, properly impels us to vote.” https://www.usccb.org/resources/Introductory-Note-Bulletin-Insert.pdf. We have a duty to vote!
The Catholic Church does not endorse any political candidate or tell us how to vote. And it’s important to keep in mind that neither the Democratic nor the Republican party align totally with Catholic teaching. Yet, voting comes with responsibilities. We must form our consciences so we can look critically at the issues of the day through a moral lens and with the mind of Christ.
Our bishops call our attention to issues with significant moral dimensions that should be carefully considered in each campaign. Some issues involve principles that are non-negotiables and can never be abandoned, such as the fundamental right to life from conception to natural death and marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Some actions radically contradict the dignity of the human person and are “intrinsically evil”: “whatever is hostile to life itself such as…abortion and euthanasia…, whatever is offensive to human dignity, such as…slavery, prostitution and trafficking...” Gaudium et Spes, 27.
When evaluating the candidates and the state measures in this election, it is critical that every conscientious Catholic voter consider the Catholic teaching on such matters and evaluate the candidates’ stand on these issues.
The USCCB offers us resources on their webpage, Faithful Citizenship, to help us develop our consciences and make good, moral decisions about candidates and issues, in accordance with Catholic teaching. https://www.usccb.org/offices/justice-peace-human-development/forming-consciences-faithful-citizenship.
Another helpful resource is the California Catholic Conference (CCC), https://cacatholic.org/. The CCC is the staff office of the California Catholic Conference of Bishops, and the official public policy voice of the Catholic Church in California. One excellent resource they offer is Making Practical Decisions Using the Principles of Catholic Social Teaching, https://cacatholic.org/issues/faith-in-the-public-square/making-practical-decisions-using-the-principles-of-catholic-social-teaching/.
Our California Bishops give us this guidance about Catholics and public policy:
- We, as Catholics, seek the common good.
- We believe that the shaping of public policy is not simply a task for others, but for each of us.
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We hold that the principles of Catholic Social Teaching can be used to strengthen public life and build a better society.
So, if you have not yet voted, get out there and vote!
“We need to participate for the common good.
Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics.
This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics
by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern.”
-Pope Francis
~St. Luke Life, Justice and Peace Ministry
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