An inherent promise from our bishops, which we should remind them to fulfill....

Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States with Introductory Note (11/17/15)

Our bishops recently made an inherent promise, which we should remind them to fulfill:

"During election years, there may be many handouts and voter guides that are produced and distributed. We encourage Catholics to seek those resources authorized by their own bishops, their state Catholic conferences, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops" (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, paragraph 8, page 10).

Heretofore, we have not been getting well served with election information from the Archdiocese or the Pa Catholic Conference.  For example, even in a "major" election year such as 2014, election information  has not been so specific as to include local municipalities (cf, CatholicPhilly.com, Know the candidates in Pa. before Nov. 4 election, 10/6/14).  In the presidential election year of 2012, information from the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference does not seem to have even included races for Pa representatives and senators in Harrisburg:

•Know the Positions of PA’s Statewide Candidates
•Know the Positions of PA’s Statewide Candidates (Spanish)
•Statewide Candidates Complete Questionnaire
•Interview with US Senate Candidate Tom Smith
•Interview with US Senate Candidate Senator Bob Casey, Jr.
•Know the Positions of PA’s United States Senate Candidates
•Know the Positions of PA’s United States Senate Candidates (Spanish)
•Know the Positions of the Presidential Candidates (English)
•Know the Positions of the Presidential Candidates (Spanish)

In "off" election years, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference basically sends people elsewhere to look for information (cf., The Company You Keep: Inform Your Conscience for 2015 Judicial Elections, 10/26/15).

On a lighter note, when James Taylor sings that "the first of December was covered with snow, he is fortunately wrong about the year 2015 and Bucks County!

Come 2016, our voices in defense of human life and marriage/family need to be MUCH better heard!