September 24, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On this page of our website (stjohnvianneyvt.org/faithfulcitizenship) you will find some links to theological and pastoral resources that I have collected concerning the political, governmental, and national involvement of Catholics. The articles contained here are not focused exclusively on the November 2020 elections, but the current discourses about the upcoming elections, of course, constitute a key reason that so much material is currently in circulation on these topics. The first resource I will share comes from Bishop Coyne's promotion of the U.S.C.C.B.'s document on Faithful Citizenship. Then follow below, blog posts that I have made for my own pastoral ministry, and one article I personally recommend.
{-Note: The length the faithful citizenship document truly constitutes a small booklet. While I would support all efforts to read the whole work, it is more likely to be used as a reference text, after considering articles of briefer introduction. Thus, I will share the "word count" of all resources linked on this page. Even without reading topical sections of “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” the introduction itself is a very helpful short read (1,009 words) -}
Please join me in prayer for the holiness of our nation. I ask all our parishioners to join me in choosing one day of fasting in the next month, such as one Friday, to increase the efficacy of our prayers. (This need not be the classic definition of a fast; e.g. you may offer a no-media “desert day.” Those who cannot omit meals may fast from their foods of choice by choosing meals less appealing, etc.)
May our Lord, King of Kings and Lord of the Universe, bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life.
God bless you, Father Tim
"Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you; pray for it to the LORD, for upon its welfare your own depends" - Jeremiah 29:7
"Over the last few months I have been approached to offer guidance for the upcoming national election. Many have urged me to endorse one candidate or political party over another. Please know that the Diocese of Burlington does not endorse any individual or political party but teaches that Catholics are encouraged to fulfill their civic duty and vote drawing on both faith and reason to safeguard and ensure the dignity of every human person and promote the common good of all citizens.
"That is why I refer all Catholics in our Diocese to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ 'Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,' a comprehensive teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics, which provides guidance for all who seek to exercise their rights and duties as citizens. This document provides a consistent moral framework regarding the issues facing our nation and world and helps guide choices in elections in the light of Catholic Social Teaching. It can be viewed online here."