Ahead of the upcoming election, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney of the Paterson Diocese has joined his fellow Catholic bishops of New Jersey in releasing a new collaborative video about the Church’s teaching on “Faithful Citizenship.” The bishops emphasize that voting is not just a civic duty but a spiritual responsibility for Catholics in the three-and-a-half-minute video.
The bishops’ message states, “God calls each of us as Catholics to further the work of his kingdom. One important way we can promote good values in our communities and in our nation is by participating in the political process. If you do not bring God’s voice into the voting booth and the decisions shaping our country, who will?”
In the video, each bishop voiced a different part of the message while all endorsing it. In addition to Bishop Sweeney, the participating bishops are Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R., archbishop of the Newark Archdiocese, Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., of the Trenton Diocese, Coadjutor Archbishop James F. Checchio, of the New Orleans Archdiocese and the administrator of the Metuchen Diocese, and Bishop Joseph A. Williams of the Camden Diocese.
This video is the second Faithful Citizenship video project sponsored by the New Jersey Catholic Conference.
James King, executive director, explained the project’s ongoing purpose: “With the Nov. 4 election fast approaching — and with New Jersey voters preparing to cast ballots that will elect a new governor, members of the General Assembly as well as several local municipal and school board elections — the bishops used this moment to remind Catholics of their obligation to participate in the democratic process.”
“Additionally, the bishops remind the faithful that it is not the Church’s place to tell them how to vote,” King said. “Each of us has the right — and the responsibility — to follow our conscience, shaped by Scripture and the Church’s wisdom.”
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King said the message is not only about voting and preparing to vote, but a call to action for all Catholics to help bring civility back to our political process.
“Unfortunately, today, we see how political division has affected our society. Catholics are not immune to the effects of political division; too many of us allow our politics to shape our faith when our faith should shape our politics. We must remember that Christ calls us to be peacemakers.”
The bishops offer two key resources at https://njcatholic.org to help Catholics prepare to vote and bring civility back to political discourse. They are:
- Civilize It: A call to bring civility, compassion, and clarity to public discourse, following the example of the Good Samaritan.
- Faithful Citizenship: A practical guide offering “dos and don’ts” during election season, including how to register, where to vote, and how to evaluate candidates and issues through a moral lens.
The video closes with a simple but powerful call to action: “Your voice matters in New Jersey. Let us vote for what is good, what is true, and what builds a better future — for you, your family, and our neighbors. May God bless you.”
The video is available in English and with Spanish captioning. It has been distributed to the diocesan media outlets in New Jersey. Watch the full video here. To access voter resources, visit https://njcatholic.org.
