Dear Parishioners:
This Tuesday, November 5, is a significant day for our nation, Election Day. Voting is not just a right but a civic duty for all Americans. As Pope Francis has reminded us, each of us has a 'vocation as a citizen,' and for Catholics, this means voting also carries a moral dimension. Every vote counts, and our Catholic Faith teaches us that 'responsible citizenship is a virtue and participation in political life is a moral obligation.' So, let's exercise our civic duty and moral responsibility by voting on Election Day.
Some may have voted early. If you haven't, I urge you to vote on Tuesday. The best thing to do both before and after Election Day is pray. Pray for all candidates and our state and nation. Pray before you enter the voting booth to cast a ballot. Spend time praying and reading Scripture, and ask God to help guide your conscience as you decide for whom to vote.
Also, study the Church's teachings on the important issues facing our state and nation. We must study how the teachings about the human person, human dignity, justice, and peace apply to the relevant issues of the day—issues ranging from how we treat innocent unborn life to how we handle newcomers at our borders, from how we protect religious freedom to how we steward our natural resources, from how we factor the poor into our economic policies to the vision of family life we promote.
We cannot ignore Church teachings on these issues as we form our consciences to vote. The Church warns against dismissing some teachings as "optional concerns." The Church's moral principles are never negotiable. With such clear moral teaching in mind, study the positions held by candidates on these important issues.
There is no perfect candidate for any office. After all, they are politicians chiefly concerned with getting elected or re-elected. A growing number of candidates and elected officials, especially in Rhode Island, hold positions that are gravely immoral and against Church teaching on the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the human person. These extreme positions held by candidates must also be considered when voting for a particular person for higher office. Sometimes, this leaves seemingly no one we can vote with a clear conscience. It is the dilemma of our current political landscape.
As we carefully consider candidates, it is important to differentiate between inherent moral principles and prudential judgments. Prudential judgment determines how to act in situations with room for flexibility. At the same time, inherently moral issues are actions considered evil by their very nature. For instance, abortion is a fundamentally different moral issue than an objectionable immigration policy. Abortion always takes an innocent human life and is, therefore, inherently evil. Immigration policies are a matter of prudential judgment.
Because of the positions of certain candidates, many inside and outside the Church demand bishops and priests publicly support or oppose a particular candidate. However, the Church cannot and should not endorse any candidate or political party. It is not only illegal, but it is not the proper role of the Church to be partisan.
Rather, the Church provides a clear moral teaching that should inform our conscience and guide us as faithful Catholics. We should vote as Catholics who consider the common good of all people, not just our own political, economic, or personal self-interest.
Before we vote, we must properly form our conscience with the teachings of the Church, pray for insight, and act on this formation process. Voting with a well-formed conscience, one based upon the teachings and moral values of the Church, is part of living out a life of faithful discipleship in Christ.
Pray before you vote. Pray for our country. Pray for all the candidates, not just the ones you may support. Pray that there will be peace and harmony no matter the election outcome. The bulletin has a Prayer Before An Election for your use in prayer.
As we begin this All Souls Month, we pray for the gentle repose of the souls of our fellow parishioners who died this past year. Their names are listed in the bulletin. May they Rest in Peace. Study, pray, and vote! And then pray again!
Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Pats!