Faith in the Public Arena

Responsible citizenship does not end at the voting booth — it is a moral obligation.

In an election year, civility has a bad name and may be seen as being weak, or an unwillingness to “speak truth to power.”

When voting for a candidate, citizens trust that the elected official will consider his or her conscience and do what is in the best interest of the constituents.

“It pains us to see Catholics fostering division among the body of Christ by calling into question the faithfulness of others who vote differently. We are all responsible for our moral choices, including voting, and we must do so in accordance with a well-formed conscience.”

“Our families have emerged as many people’s primary community during the COVID-19 pandemic. This fits the family’s natural role in society, but the change has not been easy. Many families have experienced new challenges amid COVID-19.”

A quarter-century has passed, and attacks on life continue with alarming frequency. As each attack further darkens our society, we — the Church — must carry the light of life preached in Pope St. John Paul II’s “Gospel of Life.”

The unprecedented scale of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing efforts to provide critical hospital care have raised serious questions about rationing (limiting access) based on disability or age.

Much, including our politics, cannot go back to the way it was before. It is, as Pope Francis says, a time for choosing.