By Chris Sparks
"I saw the Mother of God, unspeakably beautiful. She said to me, My daughter, what I demand from you is prayer, prayer, and once again prayer, for the world and especially for your country" (Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1934).
On Nov. 8, we’re once again confronted by an election and asked to cast our vote for the next phase of the life of our increasingly divided country. It’s one of the funny, providential truths of our national life that voting takes place in the month the Church usually dedicates to praying for the dead, remembering those who’ve gone before us, and, out of love for them, making reparation for their sins.
Remembering that those who came before bought the right to vote for us at a great price, we have a responsibility as citizens to vote.
Our duty as citizens
Even in a time of hard choices, bad candidates, and political parties far from the coherent, wise vision of Catholic social teaching, we should still plan to cast our vote. We shouldn’t normally allow elections to pass us by, to neglect our role as citizens in a democratic republic.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (2239-2240) tells us:
It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one’s country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.
Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country …
We are called on to bear witness, to participate in our common civil life, to be voices for the voiceless, especially the unborn. After all, if we can comfortably sit out an election, it usually means we’re doing pretty well, that if nothing much changes, it won’t affect us. That means we have an even greater obligation to take part.
“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more” (Lk 12:48). Jesus said that those who mourn are blessed (see Mt 5:4), not those who are comfortable (see Jas 5:1-6).
Blessed are those who recognize the injustices in the world today and take action through justice and mercy to make them right, to alleviate the sufferings of our neighbors, to take care of other members of the brothers and sisters descended from Adam and Eve.
Catholic commitment
Back before he was elected pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger wrote an official document, approved by St. John Paul II, titled “Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life,” published on Nov. 24, 2002, the Solemnity of Christ the King. I urge you to read it. He said, “When political activity comes up against moral principles that do not admit of exception, compromise or derogation, the Catholic commitment becomes more evident and laden with responsibility.”
What are those moral principles that do not admit of exception? The future Pope Benedict XVI offered a list, including issues such as abortion, euthanasia, the rights and responsibilities of the family, religious freedom, a just and humane economy, peace, and more (see also Evangelium Vitae, 3).
So pray! Pray for our nation’s leaders, for all the candidates, and for our country. Pray for wisdom and prudence as you study the Church’s social teaching in the Catechism and in the Compendium of Catholic Social Teaching, as you research the candidates and the issues, and as you proceed to cast your vote with a good, well-informed conscience.
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