2010 Elections |
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"We commit ourselves to ongoing education of ourselves and others in areas crucial to our life and ministry." - IHM Assembly 1987 on Education
The Issue The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops urges citizens "to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically and to choose their political leaders according to principle, not party affiliation or mere self-interest." The IHM Justice, Peace and Sustainability Office has compiled a list of events and resources to help faithful citizens reflect on the issues at stake and to discern political choices based on the common good, the preferential option for the poor and other principles of Catholic social teaching. Check back to this Web site for additional resources.
New ! Post Election Analysis and Resources Post Election Reflection and Prayer - By Mary Agnes Ryan, IHM The 2010 Midterm Elections: What Have We Learned? - By Simone Campbell, SSS The Hill's New Members Guide 2010 - Meet the new members who will be joining the 112th Congress. It Takes a Movement: Sojourners Post Election Anaysis - A six-part series by Jim Wallis reflecting on the past two years and painting a post-election vision for people of faith Lame Duck Session - This sheet, compiled by the Coalition on Human Needs, briefly summarizes the important issues that Congress must address in the lame duck session. Public Citizen Analysis/Bill Moyers - Tyson Slocum, director Public Citizen's Energy Program, looks at what the election means for energy policy. With his analysis we've also included an excerpt from Bill Moyers' recent speech at Boston University's Howard Zinn lecture series. Moyers addresses the question, "So what are we to do about big money in politics?" He offers a hopeful response. Election Novena - The 8th Day Center for Justice in Chicago has published a novena of prayers that can help our discerning at this election time and remind us of what manner of world we are trying to build. These prayers are great for private reflection or for community prayer Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States. - This statement urges Catholics to be involved in public life and to use the values of their faith to shape their political choices. It does not tell Catholics who to vote for, but rather to make choices that promote the common good. Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) - This 1995 encyclical by Pope John Paul II expresses the position of the Catholic Church on the value and inviolability of human life. "What Do We Desire?" The Future of Faith and Citizenship - Serene Jones won an Award of Merit in the long-format theological reflection category for this article, which was published in Reflections, the magazine of Yale Divinity School. Serene Jones is a Yale professor. She recently became the first female president of Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Back to List of Resources Consistent Ethic of Life Background Sheet - This resource by Educaton for Justice provides an overview of and background information on the Catholic Social Teaching principal of a Consistent Ethic of Life which maintains that all life is sacred from the moment of conception through natural death. Principles and Policies for Christian Voters - This issue guide for Christians, published prior to the 2008 elections by Sojourners, urges voters to create a more just and peaceful world is organized around the following principles and policies: compassion and economic justice; peace and restraint of violence; consistent ethic of life; racial justice; human rights, dignity and gender justice; strengthen families and renew culture; and good stewardship of God's creation. A Consistent Ethic of Life - Kenneth Overberg, SJ, provides an explanation and analysis of the church's teachings on the Consistent Ethic of Life. Back to List of Resources
The Center of Concern Election 2010 Guide - Topics include immigration, international relations, jobs and outsourcing, poverty, Security, health care, and climate change. The issues are framed in the context of globalization and a commitment to the common good faithful to the universalism of the Christian vision. They reflect the conviction that merely national solutions to security, health, poverty, employment, migration, the ecology and life itself cannot provide more than short-term fixes.
The Indiana/Michigan Justice Promoters haveeducational packet addressing three important national issues: immigration, economic life and the cost of ongoing war. Quotes from Scripture and Catholic social teaching introduce each issue, followed by brief commentaries and questions that arise for the candidates, as well as for your own reflection. This document is available for download as a PDF or Word Document.
Friends Committee on National Legislation 2010 Questions for the Candidates - This guide features questions for the candidates on issues including Afghanistan, immigration, military spending, global climate change and nuclear weapons. Back to List of ResourcesBy the People: Election 2004 - Although it was created for the 2004 presidential election, this Web site from PBS features a number of valuable and timeless "Savvy Voter" tools which teach you how to dissect a camapign ad, interpret a debate, analyze poll results, evaluate a platform, assess a Web site and view media coverage of elections critically. Michigan Truth Squad - A Project of the Center for Michigan, Michigan Truth Squad analyzes and cries "foul" on misleading and negative TV and web campaign ads. MLive Voter Guide - This interactive voting guide allows Michigan voters make side-by-side comparisons of the candidates, mark up a mock ballot and add notes and comments. When finished, you can print out your ballot or email it to others. |
