• USCCB Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship (pdf)

• Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching

• Praying like a Faithful Citizen 9 ways to pray

• Diocese of Davenport Do's and Do Not's

• Election 2020 Bishop Zinkula Letter English / Spanish 

• Election Prayer Resources

• We’re called to form our conscience in accord with Catholic teaching

• Five things Catholic priests can do during the election to keep their parish non-partisan

• Tom Chapman of the Iowa Catholic Conference discusses Faithful Citizenship for Iowa Catholics

• Catholic Messenger article -Election 2020: ‘Shaping the moral character of society is a requirement of our faith’

• Catholic Messenger's Audio Podcast  (with Bishop Zinkula) -Catholic Conversations EP 16: Practicing faithful citizenship: Election 2020 | YouTube version

The election season is well underway.  This time offers an excellent opportunity to help parishioners understand the importance of acting in the political arena with a properly formed conscience. 

Our faith call us to action.  The Hebrew prophet's constantly called for justice.  In Matthew 25 Jesus shares his vision of the last judgment in which what we have done for the "least of these"  Is key issue.  We know that we must respond in charity (feeding the hungry) and also in justice (attempting to change the conditions that result in people being hungry in the richest nations on earth).  

Faithful Citizenship is just that--faith filled citizenship, active participation in the political process.  The Church, whether the Holy Father or our Bishops, speak to issues in the light of Scripture and Church tradition.  The Church ask us to learn the issues, to reflect on our faith, and judge the issues by the standards of our faith.  The Church does not authentically tell us who to vote for, nor who to avoid on the political landscape, as it is the issues, not the individuals or parties to which the Church speaks.  Catholic vote with an informed conscience on the issues, a conscience guided not only by a careful study of the issues, but also by our faith.

It is sometimes difficult, particularly with the emotion and partisanship that politics generates, to know what are acceptable practices in the political arena for Catholics and Catholic Churches.  For that reason, the Church has developed guidelines, political do's and don'ts.  You can find these here please click here 

Questions concerning the guidelines of other Church and politic issues can be directed to: Kent Ferris or Glenn Leach

USCCB Resources:

Iowa Catholic Conference Resources:

The Iowa Catholic Conference (ICC) has released its “Faithful Citizenship for Iowa Catholics” letter.  The Catholic Church does not endorse or oppose candidates or political parties. However, it contributes to the political process by encouraging Catholics to take action in the political arena with a properly-formed conscience.  Read More...

Spanish Resources:

Formando la conciencia para ser ciudadanos fieles
Please Click here for other resource available in Spanish. 

Other Resources:

Iowa General Assembly:

The 89th Iowa General Assembly is se to begin on schedule January 11.  Learn more here...

Switchboard numbers to leave a message for your legislator:

• Iowa House is 515-281-3221

• Iowa Senate is at 515-281-3371.

You can find out who your legislator is at www.iowacatholicconference.org/voter-voice.