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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Voter’s Guide 2016

The issues, the candidates and your vote 2016

“Politics, according to the Social Doctrine of the Church, is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good.”
—Pope Francis, Daily Homily, September 16, 2013

Casting a Principled, Informed Vote this November

An election year message from the Roman Catholic bishops of Minnesota

Faithful Citizenship means prayerful, active, and responsible participation in the political process. That includes knowledgeably exercising the right to vote with a well-formed conscience.

Voting is a privilege and an important duty. It is an opportunity for God’s faithful to love our neighbors by electing legislators who will hopefully enact policies that protect the weak, strengthen the family, promote the conditions for all to flourish, and ensure that citizens can practice their faith without fear of reprisal.

The responsibility of voting is especially important to Minnesotans this year; our entire state legislature is up for election. At a time when many Catholics feel politically homeless and not represented well by either party, this year’s elections provide a special opportunity to work for life and dignity where it matters most—in our own backyard. Minnesota Catholics should not let frustrations with the presidential race prevent them from participating in our many important local elections.

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The choices we are to make on Election Day are not always obvious. We must rise above partisanship, self-interest, and emotions to elect candidates who are most likely to work for the common good and govern in a manner consistent with God’s providential care for all of creation. We should prepare ourselves by forming our consciences, studying the candidates’ positions and character, and turning to God for guidance in prayer.

As you get ready to cast your vote, we encourage you to visit the Minnesota Catholic Conference’s election resources center, at MNCatholic.org/election. Here, you’ll find a novena to help you prayerfully prepare for election day, resources to help you find out where the candidates stand on the issues, and materials for forming your conscience.

Thank you for bringing your faith into the public arena.

And don’t forget to vote!


Resources:

FORMING YOUR CONSCIENCE

Minnesota Catholic Conference: Casting a Principled, Informed Vote this November

Election Day Novena: Nine Days for Our State & Nation

Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: Discerning Your Vote

Faith in the Public Arena: Getting Voting Right

The Holy See: A Doctrinal Note on some questions regarding the participation of Catholics in political life

The Holy See: Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

LEARNING ABOUT THE ISSUES AND CANDIDATES

Minnesota Catholic Conference: Legislature Candidate Questionnaire

Minnesota Catholic Conference: Current Legislative Priorities

Minnesota Catholic Conference: Minnesota legislative bill tracker

Project Vote Smart

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: Political Activity Guidelines

GETTING INVOLVED

Minnesota Catholic Conference: MCC’s Catholic Advocacy Network Action Center

Minnesota Catholic Conference: Ways to get involved

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: USCCB Action Center

Minnesota Secretary of State: How to register to vote

BECOME AN MCC CATHOLIC ADVOCACY NETWORK MEMBER

Network membership is free and provides access to Catholic resources that you can trust, including brief, monthly E-Update newsletters, legislative Action Alerts that provide step-by-step instructions on how to take action, and a legislative Action Center that helps you look up your lawmaker’s contact information, tracks bills and more!

Brief, monthly E-Update newsletters that include:
• Event listings
• Useful educational resources for your family, parish or Catholic school
• Commentary on current policy issues through a non-partisan, Catholic lens
• Information on how to help advocate for and shape public policy

Legislative Action Alerts that provide:
• Status on key legislation during federal and state Legislative Sessions
• Easy, clear instructions on how to “take action”
• “Advocacy 101” tips on how to talk about policy issues of concern for Catholics
• Pre-written communications that can be personalized and quickly sent from the Network online system to your Senator, Representative, or other elected officials

An online Action Center that features:
• A bill tracker to watch legislation of interest to the Catholic Church in Minnesota
• Search tools for looking up your legislative district and elected officials
• Ongoing advocacy campaigns and take action tools
• Downloadable and printable catechetical and advocacy-based materials for families, parishes and schools

Become a member

 

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