Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This week, our country heads to the polls. We often make the mistake of putting our political affiliation above everything else, or of trying to modify our religious belief so that it can be politically acceptable. No candidate will ever perfectly satisfy, no holder of public office has executed their duties blamelessly, and no political party can offer an agenda or platform that perfectly aligns with the truths of the Catholic faith. As a result, it is important as we approach an election to go back to basics. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has published Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship as a helpful guide as we elect government officials. I include an excerpt here.

“Because each human person is created in the image and likeness of God, each one of us possesses innate and inviolable human dignity. This dignity is present in each person from the moment of their conception and throughout their lives. As Pope Francis has emphasized, human dignity is central to building a society in which we are ‘brothers and sisters all.’

The dignity of the human person is the foundation for a moral vision of society. As we seek to imitate the Good Samaritan and become neighbor to all, we must work to protect the dignity of all, especially those who are most vulnerable.

As we engage in the public square with a well-formed conscience:

• We work to protect the most vulnerable – children in the womb who are in danger of abortion – while also standing in radical solidarity with mothers. Building on their bond of flesh and kinship, and on the network of family, neighbor, and community relationships in which they are situated, the Church actively assists mothers and their children to have a brighter future.
• We continue to protect the dignity of our sister or brother who is elderly, disabled, or ill by strongly rejecting euthanasia and assisted suicide. These practices are symptoms of a “throw-away culture,” in which children of God of inestimable worth are cast aside as worthless.
• Likewise, we must recognize the inherent dignity of the migrant and refugee. In our country now, that means comprehensive immigration reform that offers a path to citizenship, treats migrant workers fairly, prevents the separation of families, maintains the integrity of our borders, respects the rule of law, and addresses the factors that compel people to leave their own countries.
• We support the dignity of the person, created male or female; therefore we oppose a gender ideology that fails to recognize the difference and reciprocity between man and woman.
• Racism attacks the dignity of the human person by denying that we are all equally made in the image of God, so we must overcome racism in our hearts as well as in our systems and institutions.
• We continue to seek reform of the criminal justice system and to end the use of the death penalty. We support common sense measures to reduce gun violence.
• Finally, we seek to prevent and remedy any aspects of an “economy of exclusion,” which “does not hesitate to exploit, discard, and even kill human beings,” and to work instead toward an “economy of communion” rooted in ethical concern.”

Peace,

Fr. Sam