Letter from the Bishop

Beloved Sons and Daughters,

As the election season is upon us, let us be mindful of the solemn responsibility that rests upon us to promote and fulfill our obligation to vote. This obligation has very strong consequences because the Church and government must work together to bring about peace and strive towards making the Kingdom of God present.

Inspired by prayer, we are called by God to select candidates and policies that build a civilization of love and justice. There are those who argue that the Church has no business in politics, citing their understanding of the separation of Church and State. In reality, the Church has the moral obligation to assist in our political decisions and proclaim ethical principles. These are proclaimed by means of faith and reason through love and are inspired by Divine Truths and not arbitrary momentary emotional responses. Through these principles, the Church’s mission to stand against injustices and protect all persons from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death is fulfilled regardless of race, sex, or creed.

Dignity of the Human Person

The first principle that grounds the Church’s social teaching and moral vision is the sacred dignity of the human person. The Church states that all human beings are children of God and we revere their lives and stand against all activities that contribute to what Pope Francis has called a ‘throw-away culture.’ By ignoring this first and most important principle, we inevitably do harm and spread hatred. In good conscience, we cannot support candidates who do not view human life as sacred. We stand against candidates who support unjust wars, torture, the killing of innocent civilians, terrorism, abortion, infanticide, and assisted suicide. Instead the Church seeks laws and policies that protect and promote a culture of life such as those that encourage childbirth and adoption over abortion as well as those that address poverty, health care, etc.

Principle of Subsidiarity

Another important concept in choosing a candidate is the economy and the economic policies that affirm the dignity of the human person. Each person must be valued as an end, where the economy serves for the good of the person, without treating them as a slave to the economy. Therefore, the Church seeks policies that provide an opportunity for a person to rise out of poverty and have the dignity of work.

The Church’s teaching on achieving a just economy is based on policies and principles that are handled by the lowest capable authority where the government and larger institutions do not overwhelm or interfere with these smaller or local institutions. They only interfere when the local institutions cannot adequately protect human dignity and needs. That is why specifically, the Catholic Church has rejected communism, socialism, and some forms of capitalism where the economy is seen as greater than the individual and treats the person as one piece of the overall machine. Although socialism has become popular with many candidates, because of its alluring assistance to the poor, it must be rejected. Even though the media has several times labeled Pope Francis as a socialist, he has emphatically and directly rejected Marxism and Socialism like all the Popes before him. As Pope Francis proclaimed, “The Marxist ideology is wrong...The concern for the poor is a mark of the Gospel and Church tradition, rather than an invention of communism. I must say that communists have stolen our flag. The flag of the poor is Christian...Poverty is the center of the Gospel. The poor are at the center of the Gospel.”

The Common Good

Another important principle is justice and peace. These are principles that help build a better world for future generations. They target eradicating racism, sexism while showing care for creation, working for environmental protections like clean air and water, providing basic human needs such as food, shelter, education, healthcare, and freedom of religion.

Principle of Solidarity

Compelled by the Gospel, the final principle is one that recognizes that we as human beings are one family. We as Catholics should care for the poor, orphans, widows, immigrants and refugees. Though the Catholic Church teaches that every country has the right to protect itself and create border protections to stop illegal immigration, the Church has also called upon all countries that are able to accept refugees to do so as an act of mercy.

Finally, consider doing more than voting. Many of us only think about politics during election years. However, if you feel called, take an active role in politics by working with lawmakers in establishing policies that support life. For those in our community who have responded to this call, let us find away to support them but only if they follow these principles. Let us build together the Kingdom of God and may His love and grace overshadow us and all creation, now, at all times, and forever.