Every four years, ahead of the U.S. presidential election, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issues an updated voter guide, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, to provide Catholics with a moral framework for their voting decisions. This year’s guide posits that it is not based on “personalities or partisanship, the latest news cycle or what’s trending on social media.” The best approach for making voting decisions in this year’s upcoming elections may well be to follow the protocol formulated by the bishops: “Take time away from social media and spend time with Holy Scripture and the Blessed Sacrament. Turn off the TV and the podcast and listen in silence. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, a crisis pregnancy center. Serve the poor, the needy, the outcast. Pray often, letting faith inform your political participation.” Then, go vote. Consider using the following prayer as you prepare to vote:
Give us, O God, leaders whose hearts are large enough to match the breadth of our own souls and give us souls strong enough to follow leaders of vision and wisdom. In seeking a leader, let us seek more than development for ourselves— though development we hope for— more than security for our own land— though security we need— more than satisfaction for our wants— though many things we desire. We beg you, Great God, give us the vision as a people to know where global leadership truly lies, to pursue it diligently, to require it to protect human rights for everyone everywhere. (Sr. Joan Chittister)
God bless! Have a wonderful week!