<span>Faithful citizenship</span>

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Faithful citizenship
- As Catholics, our faith informs the work we do, the actions we take and the words by which we live. In Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the U.S. bishops call on Catholics to form their consciences, apply a consistent moral framework to issues facing the nation and world and shape their choices in elections in light of Catholic Social Teaching. These teachings include the four basic principles of Catholic social doctrine:
  
  Dignity of the Human Person
  
  The Common Good
  
  Subsidiarity
  
  Solidarity
  
  “A Catholic cannot vote for a candidate who favors a policy promoting an intrinsically evil act, such as abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide . . . racist behavior, if the voter’s intent is to support that position” (emphasis added). This is called “formal cooperation in grave evil” (para. 34). Such decisions should consider a candidate’s commitments, character, integrity and ability to influence a given issue.
  
  It is important to realize that the political choices faced by citizens impact not only general peace and prosperity, but an individual’s salvation. In his reflections on the Eucharist as “a sacrament of charity,” Pope Benedict XVI called us to “a Eucharistic form of life.” This means that the love we encounter in the Eucharist should shape our thoughts, words and decisions, including those that pertain to the social order.
  
  Read Forming Consciences for Faith Citizenship in English and Spanish. See additional resources on the Maryland Catholic Conference web site. St. Francis parishioners are likely to live in congressional districts 3, 6 and 8. Look up your congressional representative.
Voting
- As U.S. citizens, our most important duty is to vote.
  
  Register to vote or update your name, address, and party affiliation.
  
  Request a mail-in ballot.
  
  Voter registration for the Presidential General Election closes on October 13, 2020. You have until 9 pm that date to submit your application on Maryland’s Online Voter Registration System.
  
  Any registered voter may vote by mail-in ballot. You may request a mail-in ballot online or by downloading a paper form, filling it out, signing it, printing it and returning it to the local Board of Elections. Your mail-in ballot request must be received by the Board of Elections by Tuesday, October 20.
  
  Election Day is Tuesday, November 3.