Today is Election Day across the United States of America. Citizens in 34 states have already had the opportunity of voting, through early balloting. We in fuddy-duddy Pennsylvania have not yet picked up on this trend, hence today is it, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
So, if you are reading this on November 6, VOTE! As Bishop David Zubik says in his letter in the most recent Pittsburgh Catholic, "Take your faith into the ballot booth."
Remember, too, that our "faithfilled exercise of citizenship" only begins with voting. It does not end there. We citizens with a specific moral perspective have a similar responsibility to follow-up on the elected officials, at whatever level, to observe their votes, to share with them our opinion on pending pieces of legistlation, and to try to establish a relationship with them (or at least their staff in local offices) so that they know what issues are most important to us. When wealthy people and corporations do this, they call it "lobbying." When folks of modest or little means do this, they call it "organizing." Either way, it's the "American way" of doing politics.
As the bishops state in FCFC, "In this coming election and beyond, we urge leaders and all Catholics to share the message of faithful citizenship and to use this document in forming their own consciences, so we can act together to promote and protect human life and dignity, marriage and family, justice and peace in service to the common good. This kind of political responsibility is a requirement of our faith and our duty as citizens."
(A more cynical view of voting from Rob Rogers of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.)
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