September 26, 2024
Dear Friends in Christ,
The countdown to the election in the United States is on, and with it comes important decisions for us as believers and citizens. To assist in reaching those decisions, I wish to share a teaching document from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on political responsibility, “Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility.”
The main purpose of this document is to help us form our consciences as we prepare to cast our ballots and otherwise participate in the political process. It helps us see the issues that confront our society, locally, nationally, and internationally, through the lens of Catholic social teaching and assists us in our responsibility to help shape a just and peaceful society.
In such a society, the dignity of the human person is paramount. A just society protects the most vulnerable among us. Thus, protecting the unborn while assisting mothers in need remains a pre-eminent priority. Of great concern are physician-assisted suicide, gun violence, and human trafficking. As faithful of the Church, we are rightly concerned about the redefinition of marriage and gender, infringements on religious freedom, lack of justice for the poor, the suffering of migrants and refugees, the need for greater access to healthcare and education, and care for our common home. We need also to ponder the role of the United States in a time of rising international tensions and bitter armed conflicts.
Faithful Citizenship helps us look beyond and behind sound bites and partisanship. It encourages respectful and thoughtful dialogue in the political process. We can contribute to overcoming the bitter divisions that beset our country through our prayers and example. I invite you to spend time and reflect on Faithful Citizenship. In addition to the main document, Faithful Citizenship includes a letter from the United States Bishops and brief “bulletin inserts” on key issues confronting us.
Let us not forget to pray for our country and all those in public life. Let us also ask the Holy Spirit to lead us in continuing the arduous work of creating a just and peaceful society at home and force for justice and peace abroad.
With sincere personal regards, I am
Faithfully in Christ,
Most Reverend William E. Lori
Archbishop of Baltimore