Parish and Clergy Resources for 2010 Elections
(May be used anytime before August 22) -
Learn, Pray, Vote: Register Now to Vote in 2010 Elections
You must be registered in order to vote in this fall’s elections, which include races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Basic requirements include being an American citizen, a Maryland resident, and at least 16 years of age (must be at least 18 years old by the general election to vote). The deadline to register to vote in Maryland’s primary election is Tuesday, August 24. You must be registered with a party to vote in that party’s primary. Visit www.elections.state.md.us or www.mdcathcon.org, or call the Maryland State Board of Elections at 1-800-222-8683 to learn more.
(May be used anytime between August 29 and October 10) -
Learn, Pray, Vote: Register Now to Vote in 2010 Elections
You must be registered in order to vote in this fall’s elections, which include races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Basic requirements include being an American citizen, a Maryland resident, and at least 16 years of age (must be at least 18 years old by the general election to vote). The deadline to register to vote in Maryland’s general election is Tuesday, October 12. Visit www.elections.state.md.us or www.mdcathcon.org, or call the Maryland State Board of Elections at 1-800-222-8683 to learn more.
(May be used anytime) -
Learn, Pray, Vote: Get the Facts
Critical elections will be held this fall. “In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” (Faithful Citizenship, 13) Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote this fall. Visit Maryland Catholic Conference’s website to learn about the candidates and key issues at www.mdcathcon.org/elections.
(May be used anytime after September 1) -
Learn, Pray, Vote: Candidate Survey Responses Available
Critical elections will be held this fall. “In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.” (Faithful Citizenship, 13) Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote this fall. Visit Maryland Catholic Conference’s website to view candidate survey responses and learn about key issues at www.mdcathcon.org/elections.
(May be used anytime before September 5) -
Learn, Pray, Vote: Vote Early or Absentee in Maryland
Can’t make it to the polls for the September 14 primary election? Any registered Maryland voter may vote in person early or absentee by mail. Early voting for the primary will be held September 3 thru September 9, while the deadline to request an absentee ballot is September 7. You must be registered with a party to vote in that party’s primary. Visit www.elections.state.md.us or www.mdcathcon.org, or call the Maryland State Board of Elections at 1-800-222-8683 to learn more.
(May be used anytime between September 21 and October 24) -
Learn, Pray, Vote: Vote Early or Absentee in Maryland
Can’t make it to the polls for the November 2 general election? Any registered Maryland voter may vote in person early or absentee by mail. Early voting for the general election will be held October 22 thru October 28, while the deadline to request an absentee ballot is October 26. Visit www.elections.state.md.us or www.mdcathcon.org, or call the Maryland State Board of Elections at 1-800-222-8683 to learn more.
(To be used the weekend of Sunday, September 12) -
Learn, Pray, Vote: Primary Election this Tuesday, September 14
This Tuesday is Maryland’s primary election. It includes races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote on Tuesday. You must be registered with a party to vote in that party’s primary. Look for candidate survey responses in (the Catholic Review) (the Catholic Standard and El Pregonero) (The Dialog) and on the website of the Maryland Catholic Conference at www.mdcathcon.org/elections.
(To be used the weekend of Sunday, October 31) -
Learn, Pray, Vote: Primary Election this Tuesday, November 2
This Tuesday is Maryland’s general election. It includes races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Candidate surveys are available at the back of church and more information may be found in (the Catholic Review) (the Catholic Standard and El Pregonero) (The Dialog). Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote on Tuesday. Learn more about the candidates and key issues on the website of the Maryland Catholic Conference at www.mdcathcon.org/elections.
(All below may be used anytime between now and the November 2 general election) -
Learn, Pray, Vote: Abortion in Maryland vs. Other States
Your Maryland tax dollars fund about $2.5 million in Medicaid abortions annually, and Maryland is one of only 16 states that funds Medicaid abortions for any reason. Our state’s abortion rate is nearly 40% higher than the national rate, and continues to increase, even while rates decline nationally. Your vote can help change those numbers and build a society more respectful of human life and dignity. This fall’s elections include races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote on Sept. 14 in the primary and Nov. 2 in the general elections. Learn more at www.mdcathcon.org/elections.
Learn, Pray, Vote: State Dollars and Stem Cell Research
Maryland taxpayers have spent $56 million on stem cell research, including research that destroys human embryos, but no cures have resulted. Your vote can help ensure that tax dollars are devoted to ethical research – such as adult stem cells that already save lives. This fall’s elections include races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote on Sept. 14 in the primary and Nov. 2 in the general elections. Learn more at www.mdcathcon.org/elections.
Learn, Pray, Vote: Struggles for Maryland’s Poor
Maryland is the wealthiest state in the nation yet nearly 450,000 Marylanders – more than the entire population of the Eastern Shore – live in poverty. Your vote can help to build a society more responsive to the needs of the poor and vulnerable. This fall’s elections include races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote on Sept. 14 in the primary and Nov. 2 in the general elections. Learn more at www.mdcathcon.org/elections.
Learn, Pray, Vote: Justice for Catholic School Students
The 127,000 students in Maryland’s Catholic and other nonpublic schools save state taxpayers $1.5 billion annually, but only receive about $4 million a year in state support. Your vote can help ensure that all students, regardless of where they attend school, get the support they deserve. This fall’s elections include races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote on Sept. 14 in the primary and Nov. 2 in the general elections. Learn more at www.mdcathcon.org/elections.
Learn, Pray, Vote: The Death Penalty in Maryland
Maryland still allows use of the death penalty, even though a state commission found that there is a “real possibility” of executing an innocent person. Our state’s laws also allow for imposing a sentence of life without the possibility of parole for capital crimes. Your vote can help ensure human life is respected from conception until natural death. This fall’s elections include races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote on Sept. 14 in the primary and Nov. 2 in the general elections. Learn more at www.mdcathcon.org/elections.
Learn, Pray, Vote: Upholding Marriage in Maryland
Maryland lawmakers are likely to consider challenges to state and federal laws recognizing marriage as between one man and one woman – the only relationship capable of bringing children into the world. Your vote can help ensure that our laws uphold marriage and the important role of both mothers and fathers in their children’s lives. This fall’s elections include races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote on Sept. 14 in the primary and Nov. 2 in the general elections. Learn more at www.mdcathcon.org/elections.
(May be used anytime before August 22) -
You must be registered in order to vote in this fall’s elections, which include races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. The deadline to register to vote in Maryland’s primary election is Tuesday, August 24. You must be registered with a party to vote in that party’s primary. See today’s bulletin or contact the Board of Elections to learn more.
(May be used anytime between August 29 and October 10) -
You must be registered in order to vote in this fall’s elections, which include races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. The deadline to register to vote in Maryland’s general election is Tuesday, October 12. See today’s bulletin or contact the Board of Elections to learn more.
(To be used the weekend of Sunday, September 12) -
This Tuesday is Maryland’s primary election. It includes races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote on Tuesday. You must be registered with a party to vote in that party’s primary. Learn more about the candidates and key issues by contacting the Maryland Catholic Conference.
(To be used the weekend of Sunday, October 31) -
This Tuesday is Maryland’s general election. It includes races for governor, U.S. House and Senate, and the Maryland General Assembly. Candidate surveys are available at the back of church, a letter from the bishops is in the bulletin today and more information may be found in (the Catholic Review) (the Catholic Standard and El Pregonero) (The Dialog). For more information, contact the Maryland Catholic Conference. Learn about the issues, pray for guidance, and vote on Tuesday.
(May be used anytime) -
• The direct duty to build a just society through the political process belongs to the laity, not to the institutional Church. (Deus Caritas Est, 29)
• “It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person.” (Catechism, 1913)
• “As far as possible citizens should take an active part in political life.” Citizens have the right, and at times the duty, to speak up on policy issues that impact human dignity and the common good. (Catechism, 1915 and 2238)
• We have not only a right, but an obligation to vote. “Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory…to exercise the right to vote.” (Catechism, 2240)
• “In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. This obligation is rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do.” (Faithful Citizenship, 13)
• Participation in public life and public policy allows us to open up every corner of our lives to Christ. “Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel.” (Pope Benedict VIX, Address to U.S. Bishops, 2008)
(May be used anytime) -
• We have a responsibility to follow our conscience when voting and engaging in public life, but we first have the responsibility to correctly form our consciences “in accord with human reason and the teaching of the Church.” (Faithful Citizenship, 17)
• Our conscience is not merely a “feeling” about what we should do, and should never be a justification for doing whatever we want. Rather, “conscience is the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us.” (Faithful Citizenship, 17)
• Forming our consciences is a 3-part process. First, we must genuinely seek the truth by studying Scripture and the teachings of the Church. Second, we must educate ourselves about the facts of a situation. Third, we must pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. (Faithful Citizenship, 18)
• “There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor.” (Faithful Citizenship, 22)
• “Such actions are so deeply flawed that they are always opposed to the authentic good of persons. These are called ‘intrinsically evil’ actions. They must always be rejected and opposed and must never be supported or condoned.” (Faithful Citizenship, 22)
• Among the intrinsically evil actions that must always be opposed are those that intentionally destroy or assault innocent human life and dignity. These include abortion, euthanasia, human cloning, research on human embryos, genocide, torture, and racism. (Faithful Citizenship, 23)
• At the same time, respect for the dignity of human life compels us to respond to our neighbors’ basic needs, including food, shelter, health care, education, and work. We must never dismiss or ignore these issues. (Faithful Citizenship, 25 and 29)
• September 5, 2010 (First Reading – Wisdom 9:13-18b) It is impossible for mortal men to know the mind of God, but He shares His wisdom with us through the working of the Holy Spirit. We must pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance when forming our consciences, including when discerning for whom and how to vote.
• September 12, 2010 (Second Reading – 1 Tim 1:12-17 and Gospel – Luke 15:1-32) Even though we have sinned, the Father mercifully embraces us. We should prayerfully consider how best to share this mercy and generosity with others through the exercise of our vote in Tuesday’s primary election.
• September 19, 2010 (First Reading – Amos 8:4-7 and Gospel – Luke 16:1-13) Our public lives cannot be separated from, but rather must be an extension of, our faith. This consistent exercise of our faith must express itself in our homes, in our offices and schools, in our neighborhoods, and in our vote.
• September 26, 2010 (First Reading – Amos 6:1,4-7 and Gospel – Luke 16:19-31) God has given us gifts and talents to serve Him and our neighbor. In this election season, let us pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit on how we can use the gift of our vote to best serve our vulnerable brothers and sisters.
• October 3, 2010 (First Reading – Hab 1:2-3; 2:2-4 and Gospel – Luke 17:5-10) Genuine faith in God produces extraordinary results. When this faith is brought to bear on public life, it can help improve conditions for the poor and vulnerable and build a society more respectful of human life and dignity.
• October 10, 2010 (First Reading – 2 Kgs 5:14-17 and Gospel – Luke 17:11-19) God’s generosity deserves our thanks and gratefulness as a response. In this election season, let us thank God for the blessings of freedom and liberty and express this thanks through the prayerful exercise of our vote.
• October 17, 2010 (Second Reading – 2 Tim 3:14 – 4:2 and Gospel – Luke 18:1-8) Prayerful persistence pays off. This can be hard to believe when we look at our society, which too often disregards the sanctity of life and marriage and the needs of the poor and vulnerable. But God calls us to be persistent on these issues, which we can demonstrate through prayer and through our votes.
• October 24, 2010 (All Readings) Our prayers never fall on deaf ears. The Lord always listens, and responds when we approach Him in humility. Let us approach Him in such a manner in our prayers, especially as we reflect on the upcoming elections.
• October 31, 2010 (Gospel – Luke 19:1-10) Zacchaeus allowed his personal encounter with Christ to embrace his public life and responsibilities. So it should be with us. What we do and the Person we encounter here at Mass should be carried out into our public lives as well, including our votes in the election this week.
(From the U.S. Bishops’ Faithful Citizenship materials. May be used throughout the year.)
• For the people of the United States, that we may be united in building a society in which everyone can have the opportunity to live with dignity and hope, we pray to the Lord. …
• For the Church, that we may be a witness to Christ’s love by practicing charity and promoting justice and peace throughout the world, we pray to the Lord. …
• For Catholics throughout Maryland, that the values of our faith may guide us as we exercise our responsibility as voters, we pray to the Lord. …
• For the members of this community, that we may find ways to help build a world of greater respect for human life and human dignity, we pray to the Lord. …
• For those who serve in elected office, that they may lead with courage and wisdom, reflecting the Church’s teaching that the moral test of our society is how the weak, the poor, and the vulnerable are faring, we pray to the Lord. …