The following comes from an Oct. 6 story on Inland Catholic Byte, an online publication of the San Bernardino diocese.
With voter participation spiraling to record low numbers in the two counties of the diocese of San Bernardino and an important national election approaching, an effort is underway to increase voting among Catholic and other faith communities here.
The Diocesan Office of Social Concerns and Inland Congregations United for Change, a faith-based community organizing group with strong Catholic ties, are helping parishes form civic engagement teams that will urge parishioners to vote in the November 4 general election. The parish teams will also urge support for State Proposition 47, the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act. The measure would allow those who commit six specified non-violent offenses to have their conviction downgraded from a felony to a misdemeanor, with the savings generated from reduced prison populations going toward mental health and drug abuse programs, K-12 education for at-risk youth and victims services.
At press time, civic engagement teams were already in place at ten parishes including Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral and St. Bernardine Church in San Bernardino, St. Joan of Arc parish in Victorville and four parishes in the Coachella Valley. Eight other parishes are in the process of forming teams. ICUC is attempting to form a total of 40 civic engagement teams in Catholic and other denominations.
“This is a real opportunity for folks to get some experience in building social concerns ministry capacity at the parish level and to put faith into action,” said community organizer Thomas Weiler. Community organizers conducted trainings of those who are serving on the parish civic engagement teams in September and the parish teams were then to start inviting parishioners to sign cards pledging to vote. Volunteers will next follow-up by phone with voters in their parish using voter registration lists cross-referenced with the signed pledge cards. Finally, the parish civic engagement teams will canvass homes around their churches in an effort to reach vote-by-mail voters….
To read the original story, click here.
Yes, but are they going to vote with a Catholic conscience? Do they even know what that means? Sounds like liberal leaning Social Justice teams looking for more Democrat voters.
VOTING means do NOT vote for candidates / politicians who support INTRINSIC EVILS.
INTRINSIC EVILS include:
Abortion;
Euthanasia;
Contraception;
Homosexual Marriage;
Embryonic Stem Cell Research; and
Cloning.
One may NOT Receive HOLY COMMUNION if they vote for – – – –
read:
“WORTHINESS to RECIEVE HOLY COMMUNION – General Principles ” Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI).
https://www.priestsforlife.org/magisterium/bishops/04-07ratzingerommunion.htm
Registering American citizens to vote (not illegal aliens) is a good thing.
(Never encourage illegals to break the law.)
The article does not cover
1) – not voting for those who support INTRINSIC EVILS.
2) Nor does the article state which felonies they want downgraded to lessor crimes ? ? ?
Do not follow the suggestions of others without knowing the facts of any proposed legislation.
Usually details of proposed legislation can be found on the internet, or you can contact your County (City) office of the registrar for more information on ballot initiatives.
Mac, every registered voter in the state of California receives a fairly thick booklet with all of the propositions laid out, with pros and cons and follow up arguments for each. There is no reason that any voter does not know or understand the issues when they vote. It is getting the folks out to vote that is the issue. In the greatest democracy in the history of the world, the majority of people don’t think that voting is important, worth taking the time away from soccer practice or that their vote counts. So, let’s start with the positives and encourage them to try to get people to vote. That is a good first step.
Voting is “morally obligatory” for all Catholic citizens to “VOTE”. (CCC 2240)
Remember that when we elect the morally corrupt who support intrinsic evils,
if elected, they appoint judges and high administrators of like mind.
Local, State, and Federal elections are all important.
Usually those seeking higher office start at the local level.
Check the voting records of incumbents on the internet to see if they support any of the intrinsic evils, or support them in their public actions and words.
Beward of candidates who say ” I believe this, but support that ….”.
If all of your choices of candidates support some of the intrinsic evils,
always vote for the lessor of the evils. – The one who will do the least harm.
In addition, one can check the National and the State Party Platforms (Democrat and Republican) on the internet. This will show you that particular Party’s GOALS.
After election, always encourage elected officials to vote morally, and against intrinsic evils.
Send them emails, letters, phone calls, etc.
Proposed Federal, and State Legislation (and sometimes Local) can be found on the internet.
I checked the web site of the San Bernardino Diocese –
and they have no links encouraging Catholics to read the Bible or the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/ccc_toc.htm
If your Diocese is not encouraging the literate to learn their Faith accurately and completely, contact the Office of the Bishop.
Ask that a prominent reference to the Bible, and another to the CCC be included on the web site, and in parish bulletins, and parish web sites.
Prior to calling the Diocese, read these quotes about the CCC from Popes St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis. (It will give you ammunition if there is any resistance at the Diocese level.)
“What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
On the Diocese of San Bernardino homepage, click on New Evangelization
On USCCB page, click on what we believe
On that page: For Bible, Click on Bible, then click on Books of the Bible
For the Catechism, click on Catechism, then click on online edition.
I wonder which is worse: voting a carefully considered — but perhaps ‘incorrect’ — opinion or sitting on ones posterior and not voting.
I live in the Diocese of San Bernardino, and I have no doubt as to the real purpose of this organizing. Our Bishop and our President have much in common. Need I say more?
Is ACORN working with them ???? Hmmmmm?
Question everything that this bishop supports