Shaping political life through the understanding of Catholic tradition

by Mary Karnitz

Catholic women can shape political life and enhance our democracy by understanding how important politics is in the Catholic tradition. CCW is not a political action committee, but a group of Catholic women who live their Catholic faith in the world. We realize the need to make our voices heard through communication with our elected officials at all levels of government.

This year we have corresponded with our United States Senators and Representatives to remind them of the gospel truth on some important issues that challenge the core foundations of our society. These issues are directly related to our beliefs as Catholics. We are all called to courageously live the teachings of Jesus in our society, and we know that we cannot separate our lives as Catholic women from the way we vote in the ballot box.

We, as women who have the special role of bringing life into the world and nurturing that life, have a particular responsibility to confront the urgent issue of protecting every human being’s inalienable right to life in all areas of our society.

As women and mothers, we also wait to speak for the sanctity and sacredness of marriage that exists between a man and a woman, knowing that God created the two genders to compliment each other in their relationship and in their role as parents. Another important issue that is based on Jesus’ teaching on the protection of human life is that embryonic stem-cell research is never a viable option because it necessarily destroys the life of an unborn child.

From Lourdes France on Sunday, August 15, 2004, Pope John Paul II issued a special call: “I appeal urgently to all of you, dear brothers and sisters, to do everything in your power to ensure that life, each and every life, will be respected from conception to its natural end. Life is a sacred gift and no one can presume to be its master.”

As Christian mothers and Christian women, we have the responsibility to work within the political process to affect social justice for the sake of the common good. Please join the Council of Catholic Women in prayer as this year’s elections draws near and cast your vote in an informed manner based on Catholic moral teaching.

Mary Karnitz is from New Ulm, MN, and is the DCCW Legislation Commission Coordinator

Letter travels to Washington supporting Christian values!

Last May, Gwen Christiansen of New Ulm and DCCW International Concerns Coordinator, had the opportunity to personally deliver a letter written by DCCW Legislative Chairman Mary Karnitz to the offices of U.S. Senator Norm Coleman and Minnesota Congressman Mark Kennedy in Washington, DC. The letter encouraged state representatives as a whole, to stand up for the integrity of the family as in the Federal Marriage Amendment, the protection of life from conception to natural death, and to rid society of abortion.