An Open Letter to Catholic Voters

An Open Letter to Catholic Voters As Catholic social justice leaders, theologians, women religious and parishioners across the country, we are encouraged by Pope Francis that “a good Catholic meddles in politics.” Politics must serve human dignity and the common good. This presidential election is the most consequential of our lifetime. We feel compelled to speak out because President Trump flouts core values at the heart of Catholic social teaching, threatens foundational democratic principles and shows disdain for basic decency. The same president who used a Bible as a political prop for a photo opportunity in front of a church defiles the Gospel in his words and policies. A consistent pattern of racism, sexism and nativism defines this presidency. While neither political party or candidate reflects the fullness of Catholic teaching on every issue, President Trump’s character, policy decisions and cruelty toward anyone who challenges him demonstrates a fundamental contempt for what it means to be a Christian. His use of fear-based politics -- encouraging white backlash against legitimate calls to address racism and police violence – seeks to divide Americans for electoral gain. His attacks on media outlets that hold him accountable, and his efforts to cast doubt on the integrity of mail in-voting, are reflective of a politician who consistently undermines trust in our democratic institutions. We are alarmed by the consistency of his demagoguery. This is a president who claims there were “very fine people” on both sides of a violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, tells women of color in Congress to “go back” to the countries they came from, defends Confederate symbols and wants to dismantle protections for immigrants who came to the United States as children. Despite his hateful rhetoric and immoral policies, President Trump described himself as the “best president in the history of the Catholic Church” during a conference call with Catholic bishops, and boasts about his “pro-life” record. There is nothing pro-life about spreading disinformation about COVID-19, sending refugees and asylum-seekers back to certain death, reinstituting the federal death penalty, policies that worsen climate change, and exploiting racism for political advantage. Pope Francis speaks about an economy of exclusion that kills, and reminds us that the lives of the poor, the lives of migrants, are “equally sacred” as life in the womb. “We cannot tolerate or turn a blind eye to racism and exclusion in any form,” the Pope says, “and yet claim to defend the sacredness of every human life.” Voting requires an informed conscience and the prudence to apply moral principles to particular situations, issues and choices. In the days leading up to November 3, we encourage Catholic voters to use a tool of Catholic social teaching -- see, judge and act – to reflect on the signs of our times, and vote in ways that further justice and the common good. Signed, Patricia McGuire Trinity Washington University President Sister Simone Campbell, SSS NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice Executive Director Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Mercy Justice Team Rev. Bob Bonnot Association of U.S. Catholic Priests Executive Director Rev. Bryan N. Massingale Fordham University Professor of Theological and Social Ethics Francis Xavier Doyle U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Former Associate General Secretary (Retired) Dolores Leckey U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Former Executive Director Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth (Retired) Frank Monahan U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Former Director, Office of Government Liaison (Retired) John Gehring Faith in Public Life Action Catholic Program Director Johnny Zokovitch Pax Christi USA Executive Director Patrick Carolan Vote Common Good Catholic Outreach Director Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach Steven P. Millies, Ph.D. The Bernardin Center Associate Professor of Public Catholic Theological Union Theology, Director Jeannine Hill Fletcher Fordham University Professor of Theology Dr. Joseph J. Fahey Catholic Scholars for Worker Justice Chair Dolores L. Christie, Ph.D. Catholic Theological Society of America Retired Executive Director Richard W. Miller, Ph.D. Creighton University Professor of Systematic Theology Department of Theology Nicholas P. Cafardi, JD, JCD Duquesne University School of Law Dean Emeritus Gerald J. Beyer Villanova University Associate Professor of Christian Ethics Kathleen Maas Weigert Loyola University Chicago Professor Emerita David O’Brien College of the Holy Cross Professor Emeritus David DeCosse Santa Clara University Religious Studies Adjunct Associate Professor Lisa Fullam Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University Professor of Moral Theology Rev. John Coleman S.J. Saint Ignatius Parish, San Francisco, CA J. Matthew Ashley University of Notre Dame Associate Professor of Systematic Theology Paul Lakeland Fairfield University Timothy Brunk Villanova University Associate Professor of Theology Dennis M. Doyle University of Dayton Professor of Religious Studies Susan A. Ross Loyola University Chicago Professor Emerita of Theology Craig A. Ford, Jr., Ph.D. Saint Norbert College Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies Mary Hines Emmanuel College, Boston Professor Emerita of Theology Ron Pagnucco St. Benedict / St. John's University Associate Professor Department of Peace Studies College Neomi De Anda, Ph.D. University of Dayton Associate Professor, Department of Religious Studies Lisa Sowle Cahill Boston College J. Donald Monan, S.J. Professor of Theology Kristin E. Heyer Boston College Professor of Theological Ethics Marie Dennis Pax Christi International Senior Advisor to the Secretary General, Co-President (2007-2019) Mary Ann Hinsdale, IHM, Ph.D Boston College Assoc. Prof. of Theology Paulette Skiba, BVM, Ph.D. Clarke University Professor of Religious Studies Jame Schaefer PhD Marquette University Professor of Systematic Theology and Ethics, Department of Theology Nancy Sylvester, IHM Institute for Communal Contemplation and President Dialogue Marcus Mescher, PH.D. Department of Theology at Boston College Associate Professor of Christian Ethics Raymond Ward Wolfington Center, Cabrini University Director Ron Pagnucco St. Benedict / St. John's University Associate Professor in Department of Peace Studies College Sister Pat Millen, OSF Sisters of St Francis of Philadelphia JPIC Coordinator – West Don Kelley Columbus, Ohio Nancy Kelley Columbus, Ohio Alex Mikulich Stockbridge, MA Sister Marie Lucey, OSF Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis Brother Brian McLauchlin Pax Christi Metro Washington, DC- Baltimore Dr. Anne Dichele Quinnipiac University Dr. Barbara Weber-Chess Dr. Carol Rice St. Matthew Baltimore Dr. Dennis Warner Pax Christi Dr. Dolores Christie CTSA, /Gesu Parish, Cleveland Dr. James Cleghorn St Matthew Catholic Church, Baltimore Dr. John Inglis University of Dayton Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies Dr. John Park Dr. Karen Park St. Norbert College Dr. Kathleen Gallagher Elkins Dr. Paul Schutz Santa Clara University Dr. Phil Jutras St. Johns of Wellesley Dr. Thomas Bolin Dr. Willis Hawley University of Maryland Father Chris Ponnet St Camillus /Pax Christi Los Angeles Father Gregroy Barras AUSCP/Diocese of Biloxi Father T. Michael McNulty Father Terrence Moran Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth Office of Peace, Justice, and Ecological Integrity Prof. Denise Carmody Santa Clara University Prof. Francis Schüssler Fiorenza Harvard University Stillman Professor of Roman Catholic Theological Studies Prof. Joseph A. McCartin Georgetown University Prof. Julie Hanlon Rubio Santa Clara University Prof. Lisa Fullam Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University Prof. Paul Lakeland Fairfield University Prof. Philip Jutras Framingham State University Sister Andrea Koverman Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Sister Barbara Kane Dominican Sisters of Peace Sister Carolyn Giera Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania OH Sister Diane Sobczak Sisters. of St. Francis, Sylvania, OH Sister Gretchen Faerber Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, Ohio Sister Judith Ann Zielinski Sisters of St Francis, Sylvania, OH Sister Kathleen Hebbeler Sister Marguerite Polcyn Sisters of St. Francis Sister Martha Walsh Sister Mary J Tensing Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Sister Mary Joyce Moeller Sister of Divine Providence Sister Nancy Bramlage Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati Sister Patricia Gardner Sisters of St. Francis Sister Patricia Theriault Sisters of St. Francis, Sylvania, Ohio Sister Ruth Rosenbaum CREA Sister Ruth Peterson Benjamin Whitehouse St Francis of Assisi Chuck Small Catholic Community of St. Francis of Assisi Daniel Ortiz Sacred Heart Chapel - Lorain, OH Gregory Chronister Jason Miller Jeff Noccioli St. James, Stanford CT Paul Williams Peter Dunbeck Diocese of Worcester Chair of Environmental Stewardship Ministry Raymond Heil St. Vincent de Paul Church, Baltimore Robert Cooke Pax Christi Ryan Hall Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service Deborah Dewees Fran Ludwig Boston Catholic Climate Movement Gladys Whitehouse St. Francis of Assisi Parish Janine Walsh Franciscan Action Network Lynn Mayer St Catharine's, Glen Rock, NJ Mary Morch Megan Nerz St. Francis of Assisi, Raleigh NC Ann Marie Brennan Christian Life Community Barbara Mariconda Author of "Prayers for the Journey" Donna Esposito Associate of the Congregation of Divine Providence Elaine Crawford St. Matthews Jo Anne Stanton St Matthew Church- Baltimore Joan Monti St. Francis of Assisi

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