Dear Parishioners,

The polls are open and every Catholic ought to vote so that our values may be reflected in the governance of our country. This is a huge election this year with most of the federal government being contested. As I have said before, if even for one election every Catholic voted for pro-life issues, then the pro-choice position would be untenable for the future. That being said, I would like to go over some principles in order to decide who to vote for in the election. While the Church does not support any particular party or candidate and every Catholic is free to vote according to their conscience, we still ought to base this decision on universal teachings of the Church.

The first thing to consider is whether or not the candidate supports policies contrary to the faith. Recently Bishop O’Connell listed many issues that should be considered by Catholics in his article, “Our 2024 Call to Exercise ‘Faithful Citizenship” (Which can be found online). These issues include: issues of human life, religious liberty and marriage (and family life).

The second thing to consider is if they support policies that promote the common good, and the good of the Church. Bishop O’Connell lists some of these issues including: economic disparity, immigration reform, racial inequality, violence and the environment.

The third thing to consider is the character and trustworthiness of the candidate.

Lastly, it is good to consider how qualified they are for the office for which they are running. Basically, do they have relevant experience or proven they can handle the office?

There is no such thing as a perfect candidate and that is exactly why the Church does not endorse any candidate. People of good will can come to opposite conclusions and think that the other side is crazy for making the choices that they do. So, please, above all, practice charity to all, especially those you disagree with. No matter who wins which offices, we will still be one country and one Church. Ultimately, God is in charge, not us.

God Bless!

Fr. Carter