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If you don’t know that Election Day is on Tuesday, Nov. 3, I am slightly jealous of you. You’ve probably missed out on some of the craziness, negativity, and frustration that has been the 2020 campaign season.
It’ll all be over soon, right?
Other than perhaps the Super Bowl, I can’t think of an event still in existence, or with its peak effect, that creates as much national attention as the day when we learn who the president will be over the next four-year term.
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Many faithful Catholics have asked me to offer some direction regarding conscience formation and the moral aspect of the many issues facing us as a nation, as we approach this year’s presidential election.
We would all agree that this election has a contentious and angry divisiveness that we have not seen in our lifetimes.
This is due, in part, to the personalities, policies, and factions in play, and it certainly has been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic and social unrest (I believe that there are other, more significant and fundamental reasons for the growing tension in our society, but that’s a topic for another time).
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On April 2, there is a state-wide election in Wisconsin. Offices on the ballot are justice of the state Supreme Court, Court of Appeals judge (Districts 2, 3, and 4), and Circuit Court judge in several counties. There are also candidates for local offices.
Perhaps one of the most important elections is one new justice for the state Supreme Court. This court is the highest appellate court in Wisconsin.
The court has seven justices, who are selected in nonpartisan elections for 10-year terms. The court has jurisdiction over all other Wisconsin courts and can also hear original actions.
With Supreme Court justices serving such a long term, voters should be vigilant to study where the candidates stand on the issues they value.
As Catholics we have both a right and a responsibility to vote.
Even Pope Francis has encouraged people to be involved. “We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern,” the Holy Father said.
Ever since I was old enough to vote, I have always voted in every election. I think of it as both a right and a responsibility.
On November 6, we will have a midterm election. These happen every four years near the midpoint of a president’s four-year term of office.
Ever since I was old enough to vote, I have always voted in every election. I think of it as both a right and a responsibility.
On November 6, we will have a midterm election. These happen every four years near the midpoint of a president’s four-year term of office.
Dear Friends,
If you weren’t certain before, after this current election season, I hope you’ve now come to understand and believe that we are not in heaven!
I love the United States of America. I truly believe that our Founding Fathers had it right in so many ways, and that we have enjoyed a country that has provided — albeit still imperfectly — levels of freedom and opportunity for more people than any other in history. Nevertheless, I never made the mistake of thinking that this was heaven, or that some perfect candidate or party was ever going to usher in God’s Kingdom here on earth.
Four years ago, during the last presidential election, I wrote that living in a swing state isn’t much fun. We had been inundated with television advertising and campaign phone calls for many months.
Just as it was four years ago, this election season has also been a trying time for Wisconsinites, who find themselves bickering with relatives, friends, co-workers, and even church members over political candidates and issues. I’ve noticed people have even requested Facebook friends to stop posting information on politics.
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MADISON — This election year, Catholics may find it difficult to choose candidates and be tempted not to vote.
However, failure to vote would not be in keeping with Catholic teaching, which emphasizes that faithful citizens should be involved in the political process.
That’s what Barbara Sella told those gathered recently at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Madison for her presentation, “Be Catholic First: Tools for Discerning as We Approach Election 2016.”
Sella is associate director for respect life and social concerns for the Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC), the public policy arm of the state’s Catholic bishops.
Faithful citizens “cannot and must not remain on the sidelines,” she said in quoting Pope Francis. “We have an actual role to play in the politics of our nation.”
Sella said, “The Church emphasizes that our choices have to be grounded in moral principles, and we have to use our prudential judgment based on the values of our faith.
“Forming our conscience is the first step. But we have to form it in line with the teachings of the Church.”
The role of the Church itself is as a “teaching institution.” The bishops and priests teach the laity. “We are the doers,” Sella emphasized.
“The bishops and priests rely on the expertise of lay people.”
This year, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is emphasizing four key principles in its materials on Faithful Citizenship (see www.faithfulcitizenship.org):
On Independence Day, I saw many in the Badger State wearing red, white, and blue. Like some of you, I “liked” statements on social media asserting national pride and joined in singing patriotic songs at Mass.
These celebrations affirm our democracy and recognize those who have protected our founding freedoms.
However after reviewing past election results, I was reminded that everyone enjoys the celebration, but many people don’t like the planning. Elections are how we as citizens plan our government.
MADISON — A prayer rally will be held in Madison at the King St. side of the State Capitol Plaza Area on Wednesday, June 15, at 12 noon.
The rally is part of the Decision America Tour 2016 with Franklin Graham, evangelist and son of Billy Graham.
