In a few minutes, the citizens of Iowa will be gathering for their caucuses in which they will be selecting a candidate from their respective parties for president as well as building planks for their parties platforms this coming fall. I am not an Iowan, but a Minnesotan. We too caucus and do the same, only a few weeks later. I used to be a fervent caucus-goer, even being a precinct chairman one year, and going to the county convention a number of years.
But I am sorry to say I gave that up many election cycles ago. Not that it wasn’t interesting or even fun (it is one of the few ways in which real democracy is still at work in our country) but because once things got beyond the county conventions, it seemed the big wigs took over and my lonely voice was dissipated in rapid fashion. Also, there is no viable political party that espouses enough of our Catholic values and social doctrine for me to say I am Republican or Democrat or whatever.
Having said all that, I have never missed an opportunity to vote, whether in local, county, state or national elections since 1973, except for the one time I was overseas and unable to vote absentee. I weigh carefully the candidates and try to sort through the moral, civil and political issues before casting my vote. It is both a moral obligation and a privilege to do so.
Yes, we have an obligation to participate in the political processes of our country to the extent we can honestly do so. We are stewards of the common good, and must safeguard it through using the ballot.
With the Iowa caucuses soon to be begin, we are off and running….. or are we?
Get involved and be active citizens, informed and motivated protecting life, marriage and family, the poor, ending the death penalty, and fostering the common good. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops put out a document entitled Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship to help us understand the moral and life issues before us, and assists us to wade through the issues in an intelligent and prudent manner. Read it. You can access it by logging on to: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/Forming-Consciences-for-Faithful-Citizenship-2011.pdf
God bless you!
