Election Day in Minnesota is Tuesday, November 6th
This is your home for 2018 election resources! As Catholics, we are called to form our consciences, inform our votes instead of simply conforming to political ideologies or partisan politics, and together we can begin to transform our state. Use the resources below to prepare your heart and mind for Election Day.
Form Your Conscience
Novena
Visit our Novena page to find great videos, prayers, reflections, and discernment questions.
Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship
Review “Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship” is the official Election Year teaching of the U.S. Catholic bishops. This resource provides guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy, lifting up our dual heritage as both faithful Catholics and American citizens. The Faithful Citizenship webpage includes additional resources, such as bulletin inserts and informational videos.
Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics
Read through “Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics“. Originally released in 1998 by the USCCB, “Living the Gospel of Life” is still a viable election resource for American Catholics looking to form their consciences in preparation for elections in 2018. It contextualizes our present-day policy debates within deeper shifts and trends in society’s consideration of human life and dignity.
Inform Your Vote
Which Candidates and Issues are on my Ballot?
Visit the Secretary of State’s website to find a sample ballot that is specific to your address. This election resource tool serves as a starting point to reach out to your candidates and find out where they stand on issues that impact life and human dignity.
2018 Candidate Questionaire
This questionnaire touches on several important issues that impact life and human dignity. We encourage you to download this 2018 candidate questionnaire and use it as a guide in conversations with candidates. Whether you meet candidates in person, speak with them on the phone, or send the questionnaire via mail or email the responses you receive should be used to help inform your voting. This questionnaire is not a hard and fast script, nor is it an exhaustive list of all acceptable applications of Catholic Social Teaching; there are some questions on it that you may choose not to ask; there may be other perfectly valid questions not included on it that you decide to bring up.
When you have received responses from any candidate you are encouraged to share those responses with the Minnesota Catholic Conference. A copy of the completed survey can be mailed to 475 University Ave. W St. Paul MN, 55103 Attn: Shawn Peterson or emailed to speterson@mncatholic.org
Guidelines for Political Activity
As Catholics, we must never be afraid of bringing our faith into the public square. However, because the Church is not a political entity, we must make sure that our individual advocacy efforts are kept distinct from the Church’s teaching voice. This election resource, updated in July 2018, provides guidelines for parish and diocesan political activity, clearly laying out which activities are prohibited and which are permissible.
Further Minnesota Election Resources
The Secretary of State’s website provides a number of helpful election resource to get you ready for Election Day, including online voter registration, locating your polling place, and learning more about absentee voting.
Transform Our State
Catholic Advocacy Network
Join the Catholic Advocacy Network to easily take action and stay informed on issues, policies, and legislation throughout the year. This is an easy way to let your legislators know about issues that are important to you.
Catholics At The Capitol 2019
Register to attend Catholics At The Capitol 2019. We have an incredible line-up of speakers and music for this amazing day of prayer, inspiration, and advocacy training to equip you to live out your faith in the public arena, meet with your legislators, and advocate for life and dignity. Join us at the RiverCentre & Capitol in St. Paul on Tuesday, February 19th, 2019.