Hey there,
Four years ago, in the lead up to the 2020 Presidential election, I received an email from a Genuflector suggesting a good subject to cover would be how a Christian/Catholic could support <insert political figure name here> and not be struck by lightning.
The candidate name doesn’t really matter. Regardless of your party affiliation, or lack thereof, I suspect everyone has had this thought from time to time.
And even though the popular advice is to “never discuss politics or religion in polite company,” with a Presidential election coming up in the US, I agreed.
Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves once again four months away from another Presidential election. So it’s appropriate to resurrect this topic and update the resources.
There are plenty of articles making the case for why Catholics should vote Republican and just as many as to why you should vote Democrat … and even some on why you should vote Independent … but we’re not going there.
The truth of the matter is, no single political party is totally aligned with the teachings of the Catholic Church. And voting is a decision that each one of us must discern individually.
So don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you how to vote. This is more about how to approach voting from a Catholic and Holy perspective.
Afterall, we’re all trying to get to heaven. And everything we do here and now will determine whether and when we get to walk through those pearly gates. Including how we cast our votes.
So at the risk of offending you all with talk of politics and religion, this week’s issue of Genuflect looks at Catholic voting again. I’ve updated the resources to cover how and why to vote as a Catholic, tools for discernment, Catholic social teaching, how to use prudence for decision making, prayers for elections, overcoming toxic politics, and a look at how Catholics may determine the 2024 election.
With four months to go until election day, you’ve got plenty of time to do your research, pray, and get prepared to cast your holy Catholic vote. And pray some more!
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Founding Editor, Genuflect
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genuflect: resources
Catholic Voting Guide
This brief guide to Catholic voting is the perfect place to start. It addresses fundamental questions like why should Catholics vote, does the Church tell us how to vote, is there anything Catholics must reject, and more. And it details the four main steps Catholics should take before voting.
A Guide to Catholic Voting | Our Sunday Visitor
Voting Catholic
The Catholic Church does not require us to vote for a particular political party. But it does require us to cast an informed vote. Here are the 7 main themes of Catholic social teaching that should inform our Catholic vote.
Voting Catholic | About Catholics
Catholic Social Teaching
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops publishes a guide leading up to the presidential election to help Catholics discern their vote. This is a comprehensive guide that does not tell us how to vote, but helps us understand Catholic Social teaching.
Forming Consciences For Faithful Citizenship | USCCB
Worldwide Election Guide
Catholic Conscience provides an election guide … for everyone. British Columbia in October, United States in November, Canada in 2025. Check it out and make sure you’re prepared.
2024 Election Guide | Catholic Conscience
Lesser of Two Evils
It’s not uncommon for voters to be frustrated with the selection of candidates. Neither one is attractive and one even wonders if they should just stay home on election day. If you find yourself in this position, you should check out this article from Canada that addresses this problem head on and offers advice on how and why to discern your Catholic vote.
Voting Like a Catholic – Tools For Discernment | Archdiocese of Regina
Latest Election News Resources
The Association of US Catholic Priests provides a “collection of ”news reports, opinions, columns and commentaries on current events and issues of religion and contemporary society – with no endorsement by the AUSCP of any view expressed.”
Your Conscience, Your Vote • How to Vote as a Catholic in 2024 | AUSCP
Using Prudence
When it comes to making decisions, nothing is more critical to Catholics than the virtue of Prudence. It gives us the ability to look at a situation and know the right thing to do. We should all use prudence to drive our informed vote so here’s a look back at Genuflect’s coverage of this important cardinal virtue.
This Week’s Top Resources For Using More Prudence | Genuflect
Election Prayers
As Catholics we believe in the power of prayer. There’s no better time to apply that power than before, during, and after an election. Here are several prayers to help.
Prayers For The Election | Xavier University
Overcoming Toxic Politics
We tend to stick together with like-minded people, finding our tribe. Unfortunately, today we’re becoming less tolerant of those with differing opinions … especially where politics is concerned. Father Joseph Byerley explains why this is not only bad for our culture, but it goes against Christ’s teachings … and is a sin. And he offers some suggestions for overcoming this toxic hyper-tribalism.
Pride Fueled by Hyper-tribalism is Toxic | Catholic Star Herald
Importance of The Catholic Vote
Catholics tend to be evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. And they reside in key battleground states, making them an important voting bloc. Catholics tend to vote for the winner, so their vote is often sought by the candidates. Here’s a historical look at the Catholic vote.
Catholics Could Decide The 2024 Election | National Catholic Reporter
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