Church and State (Part I of V)

08-18-2024Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Are you free to vote for whatever candidate you prefer? Yes and no. You are free to vote for whomever you like but that choice has personal and public consequences. The Church teaches that you and I have moral responsibilities that must be considered before casting your ballot. Since your vote does have moral implications and social repercussions you are not free to vote for just any candidate. You are to follow your conscience but your conscience must be well formed according to the teachings of the Church and in line with your call as a disciple of Our Lord Jesus.

Given the current political climate, it can be difficult for me to remain focused on my responsibilities as a Catholic and as a citizen of the United States of America. I love being Catholic. I love being an American and the United States of America. Living in this contentious political climate, I recently was reminded of Benjamin Franklin’s response to Elizabeth Willing Powel's question: "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" His response: “A republic, if you can keep it.” As the 2024 election is upon us, this is a good time to reflect on our duty as Catholics to preserve our republic.

By virtue of our baptism, we are called by God to live our faith, to be “salt of the earth” and the “light to the world” in every aspect of our daily lives. Living our faith has a direct impact on our political and social responsibilities to contribute and build up the common good.

The Catholic Church has both the right and the duty to discuss the importance of civic participation and the impact issues have on the community and the common good. To that end, informing one’s conscience based on Scripture and Catholic social teaching can give glory to God and help to build the Kingdom.

In the Forward to “Catholics in the Public Square Revised 4th Edition” written by The Most Reverend Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Phoenix, the Most Reverend José H. Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles, offers powerful insights for Catholics who participate in their civic duty to elect government officials to public office. To help Catholics to be informed citizens, I would like to spend the next several weeks leading up to the 2024 election, reflecting on Archbishop Gomez’ reflection as well as sharing information that can help form one’s Catholic conscience. My hope is that these reflections will assist you in making responsible decisions about the future of our state and our nation.

To be continued…

God Bless, Fr. Don Kline Pastor