WASHINGTON - 4 September 2008 - 700 words
Catholic Church in America gears up for presidential election
As the November election approaches, Catholic dioceses around the country are stepping up efforts to help Catholics understand Church social teaching and get them out to vote with a well-formed conscience.
Efforts revolve around Forming Consciences
for Faithful Citizenship, the bishops' document approved last
November, and related materials that the United States Conference
of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has made available.
Some, like the Dioceses of Evansville, Indiana, and Brownsville,
Texas, have decided to publish the document as a series in their
diocesan newspaper. Others, like the Archdiocese of Chicago, have
published Faithful Citizenship sidebars throughout the year in
their archdiocesan paper. The archdiocese also published a two-page
summary of the statement and a series of articles by USCCB experts
on topics ranging from embryonic stem cell research to immigration,
abortion, poverty and global warming.
In most dioceses the approach is multimedia.
The diocese of Fargo, North Dakota, has sponsored interviews and
public service announcements on AM 1370 Catholic Radio, and will
sponsor a roundtable discussion just before the election on the
same radio station. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo is also writing
a column for the diocesan newspaper addressing the responsibility
of Catholics to form their consciences for participation in public
life. Similarly, the Diocese of Buffalo, New York, has produced
a two-part radio interview with a local moral theologian that
will air on four stations on consecutive Sundays in September;
the diocese also is publishing Faithful Citizenship columns on
its Web page and in the diocesan newspaper, the Western New
York Catholic, up until the election.
The Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, has turned a half hour-cable
show interview with Bishop Robert McManus into a DVD and put together
a discussion guide to be used at adult faith formation gatherings
in September. Similarly, the Diocese of Austin, Texas, recorded
a talk in mid-August by Bishop Gregory Aymond on a DVD and made
it available to diocesan parishes. Like Bishop Aymond, many Catholic
bishops are promoting the Novena for Faithful Citizenship, a nine-day
prayer resource available at the bishops' website. Austin also
has an ongoing Faithful Citizenship task force that works year
long, focusing on the ongoing nature of the teaching.
The Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey,
has identified a Sunday in mid-September as "Faithful Citizenship
Sunday." Copies of the Faithful Citizenship DVD are being
given to each parish and pastors are being urged to show the DVD
after Mass and at other appropriate times.
The Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire, has developed the document
Conscience and Your Vote, a question and answer resource
for Catholics and other interested persons regarding participation
in the political process. The diocese also has created a special
webpage devoted to Catholic social teaching and the election.
A letter from Bishop McCormack on the importance of voting, information
on how to register to vote, articles on Catholic social teaching
and links to the Faithful Citizenship website can also be found
on the page.
The Diocese of San Diego has developed a voter guide called "November
2008, As A Catholic, How Do I Decide?" Recently, the Office
of Social Ministry in San Diego began offering non-partisan voter
registration at the parish level, which will be ongoing. Mindful
of the importance of the Hispanic vote, the diocese is producing
all of its materials in English and Spanish. So is the Diocese
of Harrisburg, Philadelphia, whose diocesan newspaper will be
publishing the Faithful Citizenship series of articles in both
languages.
The Colorado Catholic Conference is also doing a major voter registration
and get out the vote drive in all three dioceses in the state.
Youth and young adult ministries in Detroit, Oklahoma City, Wilmington,
Delaware, Rochester, Minnesota, and parish ministries such as
St. Stephen's in Bradshaw, Maryland. are also reaching out to
young adults for discussion of Catholic social teaching and the
issues highlighted in Faithful Citizenship.
Among those who decided to take the promotion to the public square
are the local division of the Legion of Mary in Pueblo, Colorado.
who decided to use their yearly booth at the Colorado State Fair
this summer to promote the message of Faithful Citizenship.
Source: USCCB
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