Bishop Daniel E. Flores called on Catholics in the Rio Grande Valley to vote wisely Nov. 3, stressing a well-formed conscience and the common good.
In his letter, he wrote: “voting in our local, state and national elections is a serious responsibility. Please prepare your hearts and minds to vote, and to vote wisely. Early voting in Texas begins on Monday, October 19, and continues through Friday, October 30. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to vote early, if you are able.”
“For Catholics especially, voting is an occasion to reflect seriously on how our faith informs our judgments about how best to promote what is just and good in the community. Because the Gospel of Christ says a great deal about our love for and responsibilities to our neighbor, our faith cannot be separated from our voting decisions.”
“A well-formed conscience does not simply follow personal preferences or political loyalties. It seeks to recognize what is true and good and pursue its advancement out of loyalty to God first. As Catholics we keep the common good in mind when voting. This means that we vote not out of self-interest, but out of a concern to promote the good of the whole community.”
“The Church does not tell us for whom to vote. Rather, she offers the moral principles that guide our consideration of the issues and candidates before us. Thus, we recognize the importance of protecting human life from conception to natural death, of respecting the dignity of every human person, of protecting the unity of families, of the just treatment of workers, of caring for the poor, the vulnerable, and the voiceless; and of seeking justice and peace in the world. Concerns about how to address issues affecting us locally, like hunger, family separations, community safety, and care for the elderly should also be in our minds as we decide how to vote.”
He asked all to approach elections “with prayer, with a sincere desire to seek what is right and just, and with a willingness to do our part for the good of the whole community. May the Holy Spirit guide our consciences and grant us the wisdom to cast our votes wisely.”
