Catholic Action campaigns, better politics with Pope Francis, drivers needed and more

Helping Catholics prayerfully and thoughtfully discern their vote

Dear brothers and sisters,

We’ve had a busy month here at Catholic Conscience! You may recall our Catholic Action campaign for the 2019 federal election—a voter education and get-out-the-vote program offering Catholics resources for prayerfully and thoughtfully discerning their own vote and encouraging them to exercise their sacred obligation to vote. This month, we’ve partnered with Catholic organizations in Saskatchewan and British Columbia to bring the campaign to those provinces for their provincial elections. In Saskatchewan, we’re honoured to have worked with all the Roman Catholic dioceses of the province and the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy. Our campaign there has included recorded interviews with all the political parties, party platform comparisons, vote pledges, and more! And in British Columbia, we’ve worked with the B.C. Catholic newspaper, which devoted twelve full pages to our party platform comparisons.

It’s been a hectic few weeks, but we’ve both felt struck with a profound gratitude. And so, we want to thank you all for the many ways you support the work of Catholic Conscience. Whether you simply enjoying reading this newsletter or our other resources, or you’ve volunteered with us, or attended one of our events in the past, know that we feel a deep calling to the vocation of growing Catholic civic and political leadership in Canada—a vocation made possible because of your support. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, and know that you are all in our prayers.

We’ll close by asking you all to say a special prayer for our fellow Canadians in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, who are going to the polls soon. You’ll find a prayer we’ve written for them at the end of this newsletter. May they all vote with the common good at heart—Saint Joseph, guide us!

With love,
Matthew Marquardt & Brendan Steven

BRITISH COLUMBIA GOES TO THE POLLS ON OCTOBER 24TH; SASKATCHEWAN, ON OCTOBER 26TH

Saint Joseph, Patron of Canada, pray for our fellow Canadians in Saskatchewan and British Columbia as they vote for their next provincial governments! Catholic Conscience was proud to partner with local Catholic organizations to deliver our Catholic Action campaign—a unique voter education and get-out-the-vote program for Catholic voters—in both provinces. In British Columbia, we worked with the B.C. Catholic to provide printed and digital versions of our party platform comparisons, offering the political parties’ key policies side-by-side with each other and relevant Catholic social teaching. In Saskatchewan, we partnered with the province’s Catholic dioceses to deliver a similar party platform comparison; along with resources for pastors writing homilies on the responsibility to vote, vote pledges for digital circulation, and interviews with each of the province’s political parties.

You can visit www.catholicconscience.org/saskatchewan2020 to see all our materials for the Saskatchewan election. And for British Columbia, visit www.catholicconscience.org/britishcolumbia2020.

DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT BY DONATING TO SHARELIFE BEFORE NOVEMBER 8TH

In less than three weeks, the annual ShareLife parish fundraising campaign in the Archdiocese of Toronto will end. Every year this campaign raises critical millions to support 40 different Catholic charities and agencies in Toronto, supporting our vulnerable neighbours through every method of outreach you can imagine. With COVID-19, our support for Catholic charities has never been more critical. From now until November 8th, a generous donor is matching every donation given to ShareLife up to $500,000—donate today and double your impact! Click below to chip in.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO SHARELIFE AND DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT

ARCHBISHOP DON BOLEN OF REGINA ON POLITICAL LOVE, THE COMMON GOOD, AND THE SASKATCHEWAN ELECTION

In this extraordinary reflection on political love and the common good, Bishop Don Bolen of the Archdiocese of Regina reflects on the current Saskatchewan election and says:

“I invite all of us to consider that an election is not merely a matter of deciding who to vote for, but a way in which we grow or fail in virtue. A way to build up or tear down our communities.”

Together, Saskatchewan Catholic voters can build up their communities by prayerfully and thoughtfully discerning their own vote, through their own conscience and the wisdom of Catholic social teaching. Watch the full reflection by clicking below.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ARCHBISHOP BOLEN’S FULL REFLECTION

VOLUNTEER DRIVERS ARE NEEDED IN THE GTA

If you have a licence, a vehicle, and are looking for opportunities to volunteer and help others during the pandemic—you are exactly the kind of person most in need right now. Volunteer drivers support myriad organizations by delivering food to vulnerable people, offering rides to seniors, and in many other ways. It’s a particularly crucial role and there’s a shortage of volunteer drivers right now. If you’re willing and able to help, click below to learn more from the GTA volunteer centres how you can raise your hand and sign-up to help.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEER DRIVING IN THE GTA

WATCH OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT FRATELLI TUTTI—THE POPE’S CALL FOR A BETTER POLITICS

It has been our great privilege and pleasure to partner with the Roman Catholic dioceses of Saskatchewan in delivering the Catholic Action campaign for their provincial election. The Pope seemed to perfectly time his latest encyclical, Fratelli tutti—on social friendship and solidarity—for a time when Canadians are thinking about how we can do politics better.

Our team joined a conversation hosted by the diocese of Saskatoon, featuring Myron Rogal, the diocese’s Coordinator of Justice & Peace, and Dr. Brett Salkeld, the Archdiocese of Regina’s theologian-in-residence. Together we discussed the Pope’s idea of political love, politics as the “highest form of charity” and what that means, as well as a path forward for Catholic citizens to respond to the Pope’s call for a better politics.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL CONVERSATION

WATCH SASKATCHEWAN’S POLITICAL PARTIES ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

As part of the Catholic Action campaign in Saskatchewan, and in partnership with the dioceses of Saskatchewan, we interviewed representatives from each of Saskatchewan’s political parties. This wasn’t your ordinary, confrontational election debate, where candidates often spend more time attacking each other than talking about their own ideas. Instead, we interviewed each representative one-on-one, asking a range of questions rooted in Catholic social teaching—covering topics like life and human dignity, care for God’s creation, community and the common good, and so much more.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FULL VIDEO

A PRAYER FOR VOTERS IN SASKATCHEWAN AND BRITISH COLUMBIA

We recently shared this prayer on Facebook—written to help voters in Saskatchewan discern their vote. We share it with you and encourage you to pray for our fellow Canadians in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, who will soon be voting.

Saint Joseph, Patron of Canada, I ask for your blessing and guidance as my fellow Canadians prepare to cast their vote in Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

Help them to reflect prayerfully on each of the parties and candidates and discern in their consciences which of these they believe will best serve the common good of all the people.

As they do so, remind them, Saint Joseph, that it is the highest calling of every Christian to love God and to love our neighbours; and that whatever we do to the least among us, we do to Christ himself.

Saint Joseph, protect and guide all your people—that we may together build a more just, loving, and united community, aimed at the common good of all; and together love our neighbours and build the Kingdom of Heaven, in honour of your foster son and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

For the future of Saskatchewan, I pray, 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦…

Amen.