Election Day in the United States is Tuesday, November 4th which is exactly two weeks away from today. Over the next two weeks, posts will be made which address Catholics and voting.

As Catholics living in the U.S., we are called to participate in the political process in order to promote the common good. In our political system in which we are governed by elected representatives who are elected by popular vote, at a minimum, we must participate by voting. Several paragraphs in the Catechism speak to this duty to be involved in politics:

2239 It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community.

2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one's country [Rom 13:7]:

Pay to all of them their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. [Christians] reside in their own nations, but as resident aliens. They participate in all things as citizens and endure all things as foreigners.... They obey the established laws and their way of life surpasses the laws.... So noble is the position to which God has assigned them that they are not allowed to desert it. [Ad Diognetum 5: 5, 10]

For more information, see the document, Participation of Catholics in Political Life, which was promulgated by the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.