by Antonina Zielinska
In the months leading up to the U.S. general elections, the Catholic Citizens Committee has been helping parishioners throughout Brooklyn and Queens participate in the democratic process.
The committee is organizing voter registration drives and encouraging parishioners to sign-up for its mailing list. Members of the committee will use the information provided to send parishioners information on the policies that effect the Catholic Church.
“We want to make sure that Catholics are not only registered to vote but are also actively voting — and voting their faith,” said Brian Kaszuba, director of special projects for the Catholic Citizens Committee.
The committee also supports parishes that hold volunteer-run drives by sending materials and information. As of last weekend, Kaszuba said the diocesan organization has worked with 50 parishes, helped register more than 4,000 citizens and signed up more than 1,000 people to its mailing list. He said the goal is to engage 100 parishes in the drives by the end of August.
Among the parishes that invited the committee to run a voter registration drive outside of their church was Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Sunset Park. Diana Fernandez spoke on behalf of the committee during the announcements at the end of Mass.
“We don’t want Catholics to be mute,” she told the congregation. “We want Catholics to have a voice. We are not here for any party or candidate. We just want you to vote your faith.”
Fernandez said Catholics can have an influence on politics by educating themselves and fulfilling their civic duty.
“We want Catholics throughout the diocese to know what is going on in our country,” she said. “The simplest way to get involved is to vote.”
Father Joseph Tizio, C.Ss.R., pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, said he was happy to welcome members from the Catholic Citizens Committee because the drive will help the parish continue its renewed commitment to community outreach.
“We are trying to get as many parishioners as possible,” he said. “We think this is an important election for our parishioners.”
Although Father Tizio said the Church cannot tell its faithful which party or candidate to vote for, it should help its faithful understand the political issues that effect it most, such as immigration policy.
Parishioner Minerva Leyva said that as a native of Mexico, she is interested in policies that effect immigrants. She said it is important for her to stay informed because these policies have a great effect on the Latino community.
“I can’t vote,” she said. “I can only pray.”
Although, not eligible to vote herself, she walked away from the voter registration drive encouraged. Her daughter, Idelisse Banos, who has recently turned 18, took home a registration card. Now, Leyva said, her family will be able to have a bit more influence on what happens in their community.
Another issue that is important to the Catholic Church is the Health and Human Services Mandate that would require nearly all employers to provide contraceptives in their health care benefits, Kaszuba said.
“I think it’s an important issue that everyone should take into consideration when they are voting,” said parishioner Veronica Hanks.
Hanks said the issue is especially important to her because she is a nurse in Kings County Hospital. She said the nurses in her hospital are not forced to assist in or perform procedures which they find morally objectionable. This sort of respect for people’s conscience should be extended to all parts of society, she said.
However, in order for such positive change to occur, she said the general population has to be involved.
“Everyone should vote,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to make your voice heard.”
According to the 2008 national exit polls for the last presidential election, Catholics made up 22 percent of the total vote.
Kaszuba encourages any parish who would like to host a voter registration drive to contact Vincent LeVien, director of external affairs of the DeSales Media Group, at 718-499-9705 or vlevien@desalesmedia.org.