Catholics and The Nov. 2 Election
I cannot recall an election that ever mobilized Catholics so much to register, get out the vote and even pray for the "right votes." These mobilizations are coming from conservative Catholics, liberal Catholics and everything in beween.
Yesterday, an ad ran in the New York Times paid for by readers of Sojourners magazine headlined "God is not a Republican. Or a Democrat." It said: "We will measure the candidates by whether they enhance human life, human dignity, and human rights; whether they strengthen family life and protect children; whether they promote racial reconciliation and support gender equality; whether they serve peace and social justice; and whether they advance the common good rather than only individual, national, and special interests."
National Catholic Register posted an article listing various election-related efforts nationwide, including rosaries, novenas and prayer sessions.
Excerpt:
"Priests for Life, the organization that encourages priests to promote the sanctity of life from the pulpit, is urging Christians to engage in "intense prayer" over the course of nine weeks, from Aug. 31 to Nov. 2. Father Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life describes the urgency to the prayer campaign as twofold.
"First of all, the magnitude of whom we’re electing — the president and senators," Father Pavone said in an interview. "Secondly, we seem to be at a point where the country is so divided on such basic issues. Life continues to be primary, and the candidates are clearly opposite each other on this question."
"The group is asking participants to sign up at its website (www.priestsforlife.org) so it can collect a "spiritual bouquet" for America."
