A prevalent thought in today’s culture is autonomy: that we are independent beings that enter into society only because it would be to our advantage. The Catholic Church, however, teachers us that a person is inherently social. For this reason, Catholic social teaching is a backbone of our faith. Protecting life and the dignity of the human person, and promoting justice and peace are societal responsibilities. Society has an obligation to serve the common good and we have an obligation to contribute to society. Through our involvement we can help to shape a world committed to these values

In Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship, the US bishops state, “In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.”

Voting is the greatest opportunity we have for involvement in political life. Sometimes the issues seem so confusing or the candidates so lacking, confusion and mistrust lead many not to vote at all. But as Catholics we have more than just the news and popularity polls to help us sift through the mounds of information: we turn to Scripture and Church tradition to guide us as we seek to make our best decisions.

Visit http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/ for more information and guidance!