2012 Election Resource Kit for Individuals & Families

on 15 August 2012. 2012 Election

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Useful Links

Examine "Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship"

Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship is a short documents and can easily be read in one sitting. But you can also learn more about the major topics by examining the following summaries:

Church Teaching - In-Depth

A well-formed conscience depends on understanding the teachings of the Church and using it to make sound, moral ballot decisions. But these teachings go beyond the election too - helping us understand how we live and work in our modern society.

Catholic Social Teaching
Bishop Statements
Political Participation
Voting
Parish Guides

The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church summarizes the entire body of Catholic social teaching. The teaching is summarized here with introductions to each of the social encyclicals since Rerum Novarum in 1891; seven themes used to group the various teaching - starting with the right to life as the most important; and an in-depth look at Charity in Truth, written by Pope Benedict XVI, characterized as the latest social encyclical.
The newest statement from the California Catholic Conference is In Search of the Common Good: A Moral Framework for Addressing the California Budget Crisis.

Find statements from the California Bishops here.
The Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life, published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2002, provides important guidance on the role of Catholics in political and social life. Click here for a summary and a link to the full document.
Where’s the Paragraph on Term Limits?

So, how do we decide something as technical as term limits by applying Catholic social teaching? ...Read More
- How to Lobby
- Guidelines for Parish Advocacy

Special California Issues

Our state’s propositions are too often shrouded in rhetoric. Prudence, after all, requires determining the good and that requires more than reliance on campaign slogans and political spin. Here is more information to help you determine your vote on several key topics in California.