Anne D’Antuono sat in the vestibule of Our Lady of Angels Church, Bay Ridge, waiting for the 9 a.m. Mass to finish. On the table in front of her were registration forms for people wanting to vote in the fall but who had not yet signed up.
As Msgr. Kevin Noone, pastor, gave the last blessing and dismissed the congregants, several stopped to talk with Anne. Some wanted to change their addresses with the Board of Elections and they were assisted.
The same scene was taking place in churches all around Brooklyn and Queens last weekend. This is part of a diocesan campaign to help Catholics, regardless of party affiliation, register to vote. More than 100 parishes in the diocese have agreed to be part of this massive registration drive.
Schools and academies offered registration assistance to parents of students from June 6 through June 10, and parishes were featuring voter registration tables outside of Sunday Masses on June 12.
The service, which is being coordinated by the external affairs arm of the DeSales Media Group, is for those who need to register for the first time, update their registration, change their party affiliation, or simply make sure they are registered voters.
Parish captains will collect all forms and deliver them to DeSales. They will then be forwarded to the Board of Elections.
The diocesan effort is in line with the thinking of Pope Francis who has said:
“We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern.”
Each year, the U.S. Bishops remind the faithful of their duty to vote and issue “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” to help them guide their consciences.
“We urge our pastors, lay and religious faithful, and all people of good will to use this statement to help form their consciences; to teach those entrusted to their care; to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue; and to shape political choices in the coming election in light of Catholic teaching,” write the bishops. “The statement lifts up our dual heritage as both faithful Catholics and American citizens with rights and duties as participants in the civil order.”
“In the Catholic tradition,” they write, “responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.”
Visit www.faithfulcitizenship.org to read the full statement, watch videos and access other great resources.