Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish 

In my homily last week, I talked a bit about the upcoming election.  (Just to make sure there’s no misunderstanding: Christ the Divine Shepherd Parish, its clergy, staff, and volunteers will not endorse any candidate or party in any election while in their role as an employee or volunteer of the parish). In the homily, we talked about the Church’s position that it is our duty as faithful citizens to vote, and the need to form our consciences well, in order to aid our decisions (including our voting decisions).
This week, I’d like to remind you of the resource that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has provided, in order to help us discern issues and approaches to voting in the upcoming election. You can click on the “Faithful Citizenship” button near the top right of this webpage.

In addition, Bishop Zubik has put out a message regarding the election.  I’d like to share some excerpts from his message with you:

Each day over the course of the last several weeks, I have been receiving anguished messages from so many of you who want me to endorse one or another of candidates for public office, including the office of president.  While I urge all the faithful of our diocese, both the laity and the clergy, to help build a better society by exercising your right to vote, it is not my role nor can it ever be for me to tell anyone for whom to vote. As Church, we must be about addressing issues grounded on our faith and tradition.
At the same time, I recognize that many of you feel such deep distress about this election, perhaps the most contentious in the course of our lifetime. From the perspective of Catholic social teaching, there are problems with each of the major parties’ platforms and their endorsed candidates. So many of you are sharing with me that you want to do the right thing for our country, especially for our most vulnerable people. Quite honestly, the concerns that matter most to Jesus and to us, His Church, have been taken captive across a political divide. … As you prepare for election day, November 3, I urge you to study the issues carefully so as to arrive at a decision made by a well-formed conscience.

• Pray over how best to support the common good and the life and dignity of all people
• Seek guidance through prayerful reading of Jesus in the New Testament
• Honestly inform yourself about the moral teaching of the Catholic Church

To follow one’s conscience does not mean following one’s feelings. It means praying over, studying about, and looking at the big picture of “life issues” beginning with conception. When we vote, we must vote with the most vulnerable in mind, from children—born and unborn—to the elderly, racial minorities, those with disabilities, immigrants, the unemployed, and so many others who have been marginalized.
As a word of caution, please also note. From our Catholic perspective it is morally unacceptable to vote for a candidate with the specific intent in support of something which is evil, i.e., abortion, racism, etc.
Once again, and in an effort to help you make a good ‘conscience’ decision about the 2020 elections, we as a diocese have posted political guidelines and resources on our diocesan website (https://diopitt.org/catholic-voter-guide).
… You should also be aware that I am reminding our priests and deacons not to speak for or against any candidate, particularly from the pulpit. … As we face the next weeks preparing to vote, I thank you for taking into consideration the thoughts that I have shared with you in this letter. Please vote! Please vote with an informed conscience! Please vote with the whole truth in mind.

We’ve placed a link to the letter here on our website.  Please read the whole letter! Bishop Zubik discusses life issues and their role in the voting decisions we will make!

Please continue to support our parish through your prayers and generosity!  Christ the Divine Shepherd, have mercy on us!  St Bartholomew, St Bernadette, St Gerard Majella, St John de Brebeuf and companions (the North American martyrs), St Michael, and St Susanna, pray for us!

Blessings,
Fr Larry