10/25/2026
FROM FR. EUGENE
The midterm elections are upon us, and it's time to exercise our fundamental rights and participate in the electoral process. To vote is both a civic and moral responsibility. The Catechism of the Catholic church clearly recognizes this duty as a mandate for citizens to engage and work alongside civil authorities to build a society rooted in truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom (CCC 2239). Exercising the right to vote is a moral obligation tied to the common good: "Catholics have a serious and lifelong obligation to form their consciences in accord with human reason and the teaching of the Church,” the document continues.
In 2007, the U.S. Bishops' Conference issued “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” a guide to participation in public life, which includes a section on voting. The bishops have periodically updated it since, with the latest edition approved in late 2023. In the document, the bishops wrote that “responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” Quoting Pope Francis in Evangelii Gaudium, the bishops also note that public service, when it seeks the common good, is a “lofty vocation.”
The bishops envision voters who are guided by their moral convictions and not their attachment to any one party or interest group. A Catholic’s engagement in politics ought to be “shaped by the moral convictions of well-formed consciences and focused on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good, and the protection of the weak and the vulnerable.” Conscience is not something that allows us to justify doing whatever we want, nor is it a mere ‘feeling’ about what we should or should not do. Rather, conscience is the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us and calling us to do what is good while shunning what is evil. Conscience always requires serious attempts to make sound moral judgments based on the truths of our faith.”
Blessings,
Fr. Eugene