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Faithful CitizenshipA Call to Political Responsibility
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Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
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"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, 09.16.2013As Election Day approaches, we must remember that we vote because we are citizens, but we vote conscientiously because we are people of faith. In their teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics, the USCCB reminds us that “responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.”
The USCCB published Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility in 2015 as their teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics.
"This statement represents our guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy. We urge our pastors, lay and religious faithful, and all people of good will to use this statement to help form their consciences; to teach those entrusted to their care; to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue; and to shape political choices in the coming election in light of Catholic teaching. The statement lifts up our dual heritage as both faithful Catholics and American citizens with rights and duties as participants in the civil order."
The USCCB published a new introductory letter in 2020 along with a two-part summary to complement their full teaching document in 2020. The bishops approved a second update to the document in 2024, with a new introduction and five additional bulletins to help the Catholic faithful put their faith into action.
Participation in political life requires judgments about concrete circumstances. While the bishops help form the laity in accordance with basic principles, they do not tell the laity to vote for particular candidates. On these often complex matters, it is the laity’s responsibility to form their consciences and grow in the virtue of prudence to approach the many and varied issues of the day with the mind of Christ.
The two-part summary from 2020 and the bulletins from 2024 are all excellent resources to revisit any time we have an election and are available below.
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Fr. Bill on Faithful Citizenship
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Oregon's registration deadline is October 15th!
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Ballot Drop Site Locations
Not sure where the closest Official Ballot Drop Site is? Use the State of Oregon's tool to help you locate one nearby! Remember, ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day, or received at a county elections office or official drop site by 8:00pm on Election Night.
Click here to find your nearest ballot drop site!
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Civilize It: A Better Kind of Politics
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We are called to engage in civil dialogue, especially when “discourse is eroding at all levels of society.” We must “strive to understand before seeking to be understood, to treat with respect those with whom we disagree, to dismantle stereotypes, and to build productive conversation in place of vitriol.”
Civilize It: A Better Kind of Politics is a nonpartisan initiative that seeks to assist Catholics to counter polarization and division in Church and society by following the example of the Good Samaritan, who challenges us to “become neighbors to all” (Fratelli Tutti, no. 80). Each of us must make room in one’s heart for those with whom you disagree and engage in respectful dialogue with each other.It can be difficult to evaluate candidate’s competence on issues and make decisions about their character and integrity when living in a culture dominated by “partisan attacks, sound bites, and media hype.” The Church calls us to practice “a different kind of political engagement” (no. 14) as we consider the ability of each candidate to advance the common good.
Join Catholics across the country responding to Pope Francis’ call to build “a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good” (Fratelli Tutti, no. 154), by pledging charity, clarity, and creativity to promote the common good. Click here to take the pledge and commit to a better kind of politics!
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Prayer Before an Election
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Lord God, as the election approaches,
we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city/state/country,
and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community.
We ask for eyes that are free from blindness
so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters,
one and equal in dignity,
especially those who are victims of abuse and violence, deceit and poverty.
We ask for ears that will hear the cries of children unborn and those abandoned,
Men and women oppressed because of race or creed, religion or gender.
We ask for minds and hearts that are open to hearing the voice of leaders who will bring us closer to your Kingdom.
We pray for discernment
so that we may choose leaders who hear your Word,
live your love,
and keep in the ways of your truth
as they follow in the steps of Jesus and his Apostles
and guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
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Catholic Social Teaching
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"Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith. . . [and] is built on a commitment to the poor. This commitment arises from our experiences of Christ in the eucharist. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains, "To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren" (no. 1397). . . Our commitment to the Catholic social mission must be rooted in and strengthened by our spiritual lives. In our relationship with God we experience the conversion of heart that is necessary to truly love one another as God loved us. . . The Church's social teaching is a rich treasure of wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. It offers moral principles and coherent values that are badly needed in our time. In this time of widespread violence and diminished respect for human life and dignity in our country and around the world, the Gospel of life and the biblical call to justice need to be proclaimed and shared with new clarity, urgency, and energy.
— USCCB, Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions
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