As Fr. Bill mentioned at the end of Sunday Mass, the Church does not direct Catholics to vote for particular candidates. Instead, we are invited to weigh all of the issues:
It falls to faith-filled Catholics in their own conscience to bring Catholic social teaching in its entirety to bear on their voting choices, to ask deeply and without partisanship or self-interest what opportunities to advance the common good are available in 2020, and which candidate will best advance the common good through her actions.
Below is a link to the Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship teaching document on political responsibility issued by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops,
https://www.usccb.org/offices/justice-peace-human-development/forming-consciences-faithful-citizenship.
In-person early voting begins this Saturday, October 24 and runs through November 1, https://www.ny.gov/early-voting-and-absentee-voting-mail-or-dropbox. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3. You can also still obtain and return an absentee ballot by going in person to the Board of Elections Borough Office located in our neighborhood. Their extended hours are listed on the Absentee Voting page.
345 Adams Street, 4 Fl
Brooklyn, NY 11201
https://vote.nyc/page/absentee-voting
Prayer Before Election from the U.S. Bishops’ Conference
Lord God, as the election approaches, we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city, state, and country, and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community.
We ask for eyes that are free from blindness so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters,
one and equal in dignity, especially those who are victims of abuse and violence, deceit and poverty.
We ask for ears that will hear the cries of children unborn and those abandoned, Men and women oppressed because of race or creed, religion or gender.
We ask for minds and hearts that are open to hearing the voice of leaders who will bring us closer to your Kingdom.
We pray for discernment so that we may choose leaders who hear your Word, live your love, and keep in the ways of your truth as they follow in the steps of Jesus and his Apostles and guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.