Parishes to stress political action

Catholics in many parishes in the Albany Diocese will hear homilies about politics this weekend, which has been declared "Political Responsibility Sunday" by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard.

Some parishes will also distribute responses from President Clinton, the Democratic nominee for president, and Bob Dole, the Republican candidate, to questions posed by the Office of Government Liaison of the U.S. Catholic Conference. (Ross Perot of the Reform Party declined to participate. The Evangelist will post the responses at a future date)

In a letter, the Bishop asked pastors to raise the consciousness of parishioners about their role in the political process, including voting in the November elections.

Helpful materials

Citing "these difficult economic times" and "a time when the very moral fabric of our nation is being eroded," Bishop Hubbard asked pastors to consider using some materials enclosed with his letter. Those materials, supplied by the U.S. Catholic Conference, include:

* the American bishops' 1996 statement titled "Political Responsibility: Proclaiming the Gospel of Life, Protecting the Least Among Us, and Pursuing the Common Good";

* the bishops' 1995 statement following up their 1986 pastoral letter on the economy; and

* a brochure outlining what parishes, as tax-exempt organizations, legally can and cannot do regarding the election process.

Catholic Charities subsequently sent pastors more material for "Political Responsibility Sunday," including a suggested homily and a reminder about a presentation by John Carr on Oct. 9, 7 p.m., at St. Joseph's Provincial House in Latham.

Mr. Carr, a representative of the U.S. Catholic Conference, will speak on "The Call to Political Responsibility: Understanding the Challenge of Our Catholic Social Teaching." His speech is co-sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the Albany diocesan Public Policy Committee and the Albany diocesan Sisters' Council.

The suggested homily says in part: "We have both a right and responsibility to participate in the process of electing the nation's leaders. This means that we must become informed on a full range of issues and the candidates' positions on them in order to prepare ourselves for this important act of citizenship. Assault weapons, immigrants, unborn children, welfare, capital punishment, violence in schools, the military budget, welfare, and the care of elderly, disabled and sick people -- all of these must be examined in the light of Christ's teaching."

(09-19-96) [[In-content Ad]]