Bishop asks leaders to study document, "Faithful Citizenship" before voting

In November of this year, Minnesotans will vote to elect a new U.S. president and vice-president, one U.S. senator, eight congressional representatives, sixty-seven state senators, and one hundred and thirty-four state representatives. Candidates are already vying for votes.

Relating current issues to the Scriptures and Catholic social teaching is central to the Church’s mission. Pre-election campaigns elicit impassioned discussion of many social issues and the kind of public policy that should be implemented to address them. The principle regarding the separation of church and state is not a call to silence on these issues; rather, it guarantees the right to free speech in educating Catholics and promoting responsible citizenship.

The U.S. Catholic bishops have prepared a thoughtful document, Faithful Citizenship, encouraging Catholics to become involved in the political process, to consider the issues and candidates’ positions in light of Church teaching, and to vote.

A workshop, September 7, conducted by John Carr of the United States Catholic Conference, at St. Henry’s Church in Monticello will offer ways for fostering responsible political participation for parishioners.

For more information about the workshop and a copy of the document Faithful Citizenship, contact Christopher Loetscher, director of the diocesan Office for Social Concerns, 507-359-2966.