AMERICA : USA : ELECTIONS UNDERWAY - PRAY FOR THE NATION


Since this article was written Obama won the election with 303 electoral votes.
-----US citizens are voting Tuesday in general elections. Democrat Barack Obama, and Republican Mitt Romney. The Head of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York encouraged Catholics and all people of good will to remember that all the duties of citizenship – including voting – are essentially moral duties, the discharge of which requires proper formation.
Please pray the rosary for this election; many groups are praying in Church, at home and in other places. There are many prayer vigils and novenas.  Dolan said, “As far as possible, citizens should take an active part in public life - ” said Cardinal Dolan in the video message on participating in faithful citizenship, which appears on the USCCB website, adding, “that’s from the catechism.” Cardinal Dolan went on to say, “Of course: to vote – we have an obligation to do that – and then [to] hold our elected officials responsible for their promises and positions.”
BISHOPS CONFERENCE OF USA PRAYER


Prayer Before an Election


Lord God, as the election approaches,
we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city/state/country,
and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community.
We ask for eyes that are free from blindness
so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters,
one and equal in dignity,
especially those who are victims of abuse and violence, deceit and poverty.
We ask for ears that will hear the cries of children unborn and those abandoned,
Men and women oppressed because of race or creed, religion or gender.
We ask for minds and hearts that are open to hearing the voice of leaders who will bring us closer to your Kingdom.
We pray for discernment
so that we may choose leaders who hear your Word,
live your love,
and keep in the ways of your truth
as they follow in the steps of Jesus and his Apostles
and guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace.
We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

The Catholic bishops of the United States reissued their document on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,. The Bishops emphasized the importance of religious freedom and raising six “current and fundamental problems, some involving opposition to intrinsic evils and others raising serious moral questions,” namely: abortion and threats to the lives and dignity of the vulnerable, sick or unwanted; threats to Catholic ministries, including health care, education and social services, to violate their consciences or stop serving those in need; intensifying efforts to redefine marriage; unemployment, poverty and debt; immigration; and wars, terror and violence, particularly in the Middle East. The bishops wrote, “It does not offer a voter’s guide, scorecard of issues or direction on how to vote. It applies Catholic moral principles to a range of important issues and warns against misguided appeals to ‘conscience’ to ignore fundamental moral claims, to reduce Catholic moral concerns to one or two matters, or to justify choices simply to advance partisan, ideological or personal interests.”


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