Be Faithful Citizens! Vote on November
2
“We
urge all Catholics to register, vote and become more involved in public
life, to protect human life and dignity, and to advance the common
good.”
[Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to
Political Responsibility (USCCB, September 2003)]
1. We,
the Bishops of Florida, address these words to everyone in Florida’s
Catholic community. The Church teaches that every Catholic is called to
an active and faith-filled citizenship. We encourage all Catholics who
are eligible, to register and vote. We also encourage those who are
ineligible, especially our youth, to contribute their own study, prayer
and insights in support of the election process.
2. As we prepare for Election Day on November 2, these are important
steps for all of us: (1) develop an informed conscience in keeping with
the sacred and certain teachings of the Church; (2) seek accurate
information on issues that impact human life and shape our culture; (3)
consult and be familiar with Church teachings on these issues so that
our votes will support our core values; (4) encourage candidates to
clarify their positions on these key issues; (5) seek wisdom and
guidance through prayer and reflection; (6) actively participate in
discussions within family, parish, and in other settings - respectfully
listening, and offering our own perceptions to others; and (7)
prayerfully and thoughtfully choose by casting our vote, either by
absentee ballot or in the voting booth.
3. From a moral perspective, the issues of concern are not always of
equal importance or urgency. Some are more fundamental and therefore
more pressing than others. Pope John Paul II reminds us in the Gospel of
Life, “It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging
and defending the right to life, upon which all other inalienable rights
of individuals are founded and from which they develop.”
4. In our preparation, each of us should measure candidates and proposed
constitutional amendments by how they will safeguard or diminish the
life, dignity and rights of the human person. Dignity and rights have no
meaning for the person who has been denied life. We should inform the
candidates that our values impel us to insist - because of our Lord’s
own witness to the sacredness of human life - that the killing of an
unborn child or vulnerable adult is always intrinsically evil and can
never be justified.
5. Many of these concerns will be acted upon by our elected officials
during their terms of office. We should determine what policies the
candidate, if elected, would pursue to protect the lives of our most
vulnerable, and whether that same candidate would address other pressing
concerns in ways that respect the inviolability of life at every stage
from conception to natural death. How does the candidate propose to
protect the life and wellbeing of each person regardless of age or
condition, while advancing the common good of our society?
6. Our Candidate Questionnaire Program has posed questions to
presidential, congressional, and state candidates in Florida and their
responses have been sought. The questions include these issues of
concern for the Church: abortion, embryonic stem cell research, cloning,
healthcare, assisted suicide, death penalty, education, undocumented
persons, affordable housing, federal minimum wage, the definition of
marriage and the environment. This questionnaire is a collaborative
effort of the Florida Catholic Conference, The Florida Catholic
newspaper, the Florida Council of Catholic Women and the Knights of
Columbus. You may view the questions with responses from candidates in
your district in the October 28 issue of The Florida Catholic newspaper,
or by going to www.flacathconf.org. Copies of the questionnaire are also
available through local parishes.
7. Several proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution will appear
on the November 2 ballot. We have issued statements in support of
Amendment One on Parental Notification of Abortion, and in opposition to
Amendment Four on Slot Machines. The statements may be viewed at
www.flacathconf.org.
8. In our tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation
in the political processes a moral obligation. Let us share our values
with a strong voice and use our votes to shape a society that will
protect human life, promote family life, pursue social justice and, with
charity, work together in solidarity. Each of us has an important role,
and our collective efforts can strengthen our nation and renew our
Church. Study, discuss, pray, vote and take someone with you to the
voting booth!
9. In humility, we seek God’s love and blessings on our cherished state
and nation.
Archbishop John C. Favalora Bishop John J. Nevins
Bishop Norbert M.
Dorsey, CP
Archdiocese of Miami Diocese of Venice
Diocese of Orlando
Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ Bishop Robert N.
Lynch Bishop Victor
Galeone
Diocese of Pensacola/Tallahassee Diocese of St.
Petersburg
Diocese of St. Augustine
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, JCL Coadjutor Bishop Thomas G. Wenski
Auxiliary Bishop Felipe J. Estevez
Diocese of Palm Beach
Diocese of Orlando Archdiocese of
Miami
Florida Catholic
Conference
201 W. Park Avenue * Tallahassee, FL * 32301-7715
Phone (850) 222-3803 * Fax (850) 681-9548
