Bishop's Interview: Election season is a time for Catholic voices, faithful witnesses

Editor: Bishop, in a few short months we will cast our votes for our next president and other political leaders. What is our role in the political arena?
Bishop Vásquez: As Catholics we are called to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And as citizens of the U.S., we are called to participate in public life and contribute to the common good. Our participation in the political process should be influenced by our faith, and we want to build a society worthy of the God-given dignity of every person. It is our obligation to get involved and to elect leaders who will enact laws that serve the common good.
The U.S. bishops have written “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” to help Catholics form their consciences in view of Catholic teaching. As the bishops write in the opening letter of the document, “Our approach to contemporary issues is first and foremost rooted in our identity as followers of Christ and as brothers and sisters to all who are made in God’s image.” As Catholics from every walk of life we bring our faith and our consistent moral framework into our communities, our nation and the world, not just during election season, but ongoingly in our daily lives.
Editor: The bishops recently updated the “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” which is a great summary of the teachings of the church and our responsibilities as Catholics to participate in the political process. Tell us more about this document.
Bishop Vásquez: In “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” the U.S. bishops lift various issues of different moral weight and urgency. Some of those issues include addressing abortion, euthanasia, the use of the death penalty and imprudent resort to war; protecting the fundamental understanding of marriage as the life-long and faithful union of one man and one woman; achieving comprehensive immigration reform; caring for our common home; helping families and children overcome poverty; providing healthcare while respecting human life, human dignity and religious freedom; and establishing and complying with moral limits on the use of military force.
This document should be read by all Catholics as they prepare to vote in local, state or national elections because it informs us of our responsibility to exercise our duties as good citizens in the public forum.
During the 2019 General Assembly of the U.S. bishops, we wrote the introductory letter addressing issues that are very pertinent to what is going in our country today. Specifically, we discussed abortion, immigration and racism. I encourage everyone to read that letter because it states very clearly the call to holiness and the need for respect and dialogue in the public arena.
Editor: How do we form our consciences?
Bishop Vásquez: Catholic teaching explains that a person’s conscience must be informed and well formed. First, we must seek the truth to assess the moral and societal issues facing us today. Secondly, we must read sacred Scripture and study the teachings of the church. This process should be applied when addressing the issues of abortion, immigration, racism, marriage and the family. Ultimately, we must take what we learn to God, asking the Holy Spirit to guide us in making a good, informed decision about how to vote.
In “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” the bishops state, “Conscience is not something that allows us to justify doing whatever we want, nor is it a mere ‘feeling’ about what we should or should not do. Rather, conscience is the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us, and calling us to do what is good while shunning what is evil. Conscience always requires serious attempts to make sound moral judgments based on the truths of our faith.”
Editor: Often we refer to the common good. What is the common good?
Bishop Vásquez: In the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, “Gaudium et Spes,” the common good is defined as “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily.” By common we mean all people. To pursue the common good is to work toward the greatest good for all persons, not the greatest good for the greatest number and certainly not the greatest good for only a specific group of people. There is a difference between the good for most of the people and the good for all people.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives three essential elements of the common good: rights, needs and peace. The government must respect and protect the rights of each person; it must allow people to meet their basic needs; and it must provide security and defense of the people.
Editor: Often at this time, the diocese is asked for voter’s guides. What’s your response to that question?
Bishop Vásquez: Voter’s guides are often problematic in that they tend to favor one particular party, and they can skew the candidates’ positions. Voter’s guides are often checklists, and they are not concerned with forming consciences. In the Diocese of Austin, I have asked our parishes to use “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” as our guide to prepare for the upcoming elections. As church leaders, we are focused on forming good, solid Catholics to make well informed decisions as they vote and participate in all aspects of faithful citizenship. Therefore, I encourage all Catholics to read this document in prayerful reflection to help us bring the richness of our faith into the public square.
Editor: As we prepare for the next election, what is your prayer for our country?
Bishop Vásquez: Our times call for Catholic voices and faithful Catholic witnesses. I pray that God moves each of us to be faithful citizens by living our faith in our world, in our families, in our work and in public life. May we seek justice and the common good in our society. May we elect good and wise leaders who will serve the good of all as build up the Kingdom of God.