Conscience and Your Vote

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Conscience and Your Vote

Conscience and Your Vote

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Bishop John B. McCormack recently developed a document, “Conscience and Your Vote,” to assist others in understanding the nature of conscience and the moral obligation to vote and to outline Catholic social teaching on some of today’s pressing issues.The document is based on the shared faith and human understanding we possess as Catholics. This is not a “Voter Guide.” The Diocese of Manchester does not in any way endorse a particular candidate, political party, or political action committee.

Read Conscience and Your Vote
Click here to download a copy (pdf)
Joint statement of Cardinal Rigali and Bishop Murphy on voting and the abortion issue (pdf)
Read Bishop McCormack's message, "The Place of God in the Public Arena"

Student Video Contest

Students were asked to create a short film that outlines the civic responsibilities of Catholics and the important issues facing our world today, paying particular attention to the precepts laid out by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. See two of the entries to the video contest:

View Video Contest Entry #1 by Maureen Gibbons

View Video Contest Entry #2 by Conor Mullaney and Eric Kallander

Student Artwork

Students were asked to create a drawing, painting, poster, or collage to express any or all of the following civic responsibilities of faithful citizenship set forth out by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
  • Protecting Human Life
  • Respecting the Human Dignity of All
  • Promoting Justice & Peace
  • Giving Preferential Option to the Poor
  • Ensuring the Dignity of the Worker
  • Caring for God’s Creation
The following sampler shows some of the entries for the student art contest. These submissions are from Trinity High School in Manchester, NH.

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Student Essays

Students were asked to write an essay in 1,000 words or less addressing the role of faith in civic life.

Read some essay selections from Trinity High School students

Faithfulcitizenship.org

How one teacher successfully integrated www.faithfulcitizenship.org into the classroom

Many Catholic school teachers in New Hampshire are looking for ways to offer a “teachable moment” on Catholic values with the elections fast approaching. Karen Courter, a teacher of US and world literature at Trinity High School in Manchester, has incorporated the Faithful Citizenship Web site (www.faithfulcitizenship.org) into her curriculum. Here are some suggestions she has for your class room:

  • Provide a link to www.faithfulcitizenship.org on any class Web pages.
  • On a projector, show students in class the Web site and its features.
  • Ask students to watch election specials (e.g., speeches, debates) and evaluate what was said by the candidates in light of the information on the Web site.
  • To get extra participation points, students can show the Web site to their parents, and ask their parents to send an email to the teacher evaluating the site.
  • Ask students who are reading classics like The Scarlet Letter and the writings of our Founding Fathers to study the Web site to understand what separation of church and state does and does not mean.

Some feedback received from parents:

“. . . I was extremely impressed by the site and was very glad to know that such a site existed.”

“This site needs to be publicized more widely . . . I’ll be glad to pass the word on.”

Subscribe to the Faithful Citizenship e-mail list and you could win an iPod!

faithful citizenship logo The Faithful Citizenship website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (www.faithfulcitizenship.org) contains a number of interesting and popular resources for parish and school leaders, youth, and all Catholics, about what it means to be a faithful citizen. These resources include, among other things, podcasts, videos, discussion guides, online quizzes, lesson plans, and a Novena for Faithful Citizenship. If you visit www.faithfulcitizenship.org and sign up for the Faithful Citizenship e-mail list by November 4, 2008, you will be registered to win an iPod containing podcasts on what it means to be a faithful citizen. Spread the word!

A Message from Bishop McCormack Bishop John B. McCormack

Dear Friends in Christ:

On November 4, 2008, citizens of New Hampshire will have the right to vote for our state and congressional representatives and our new president. For Catholics, however, to vote it is not only a right but a moral duty. Becoming involved in political life is part of our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and bear Christian witness in all we do here on earth.
Read the full message from the bishop

Resources for Parishes

Voting in New Hampshire

Youth

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