ninth sunday in ordinary time october 16, 2016 · 10/16/2016 · postage stamps. however, do not...

Entrance #468—Shelter Me, O God

Twenty‐ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time October 16, 2016

Lamb of God Mass of St. Frances Cabrini...K. Keil

Anointing Jesus, Heal Us

Psalm 121 Our help is from the Lord, who made haven and earth.

III Samantha Barsa & Ryan Sopko III Danielle Burke & Nicholas Atkins II Nicole Putrino & Kenneth Hartwell I Hannah Applegarth & Christian Rasmussen I Elizabeth Cathcart & Nicholas Pereces I Caroline Haas & Jack Reitman

LIFE IS CHANGED, NOT ENDED Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord

Rachel Zanin

Susan Davis

Hildegarde Boehm

Thaddeus Kovacs

Text: and music: David Haas, b.1957

© 1988, GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reprinted with permission OneLicense.net A‐72572.

Alleluia Mass of St. Frances Cabrini...K. Keil

Holy Mass of St. Frances Cabrini...K. Keil

We proclaim Your Death Mass of St. Frances Cabrini...K. Keil

Amen Mass of St. Frances Cabrini...K. Keil

Communion Healer of our Every Ill...M. Haugen

Mass of St. Frances Cabrini Text and Music © 2007, 2010, Kevin Keil (ASCAP).

Published by OCP. All rights reserved. Reprinted under LicenSingOnline #602033.

Congratulations and God’s blessings to Danielle & Paul Egnaczyk on the Baptism of their daughter, Joey Lynn; to Nichol & Dane Manning on the Baptism of their son, Benjamin Dane; to Lisa & Adam Pavlovich on the Baptism of their son, Isaac Logan; to Janet & Jeremy Vedda on the Baptism of their son, Jack Edward.

Healer of our ev’ry ill, Light of each tomorrow, Give us peace beyond our fear And hope beyond our sorrow.

Closing #537—O God beyond All Praising

St. Charles Borromeo Church October 16, 2016

On Wednesday, October 26, at 7:00pm (please note, no 7:00pm Mass that evening!) in our church, we will offer Therese, the Story of a

Soul. This is a one person show, slightly more than one hour in length, with an inspiring message. It is appropriate for all ages. No admission fee, but a free will offering is requested. Plan now to attend next week. Fr Ed Janoch and our St Charles Parish Knights of Columbus make this presentation possible. Thank you! St Charles Dismas Ministry cares for those in jail or imprisoned. During the month of October, our Dismas Ministry members are asking for your gifts of greeting cards, especially Christmas and Birthday cards. Just bring them to church with you on the weekend and leave those cards in the bins by the church doors. Dismas Ministry also asks for your gifts of first-class postage stamps. However, DO NOT put stamps in the lobby bins. Please place your gift of stamps in the Sunday offertory or drop stamps off at the Parish Office. Have you completed your 2017 My Fair Share form yet? Fill out the MFS 2017 form in the October 2 or 9 bulletins and return it to the Parish Business Office. Or complete the MFS 2017 form found on-line at the St Charles website. The MFS 2017 Committee asks that you complete and return your form by November 1st. Consider opting for automatic withdrawal or on-line giving, You will find in this bulletin Part Two of the publication from the United States Catholic Conference concerning conscience formation and responsible citizenship. Part One was included in last week’s bulletin. Both are important and worth-while reading as we approach Election Day 2016. Members of the St Charles RENEW Core Committee/Planning Team are reminded of our diocesan meeting, with the other four pilot parishes, on Monday, October 17, 7:00 to 9:00pm, St Paul Parish, 1580 Brown Street in Akron. This is the last week we will ask for Usher/Greeter Volunteers. Please fill out and return the form in this bulletin if you would like to help. Thank you to those who already responded. I’ll get back to you in a week or so. Those attending our Saturday 4:00 and 6:00pm Vigil Masses this weekend are invited to our First Hot Dog Social following Mass. We have offered coffee and donuts on Sunday mornings. Parish Council thought it’s time to socialize with the Saturday crowd. Hot Dog! Some years back, during Lent, we offered a weekly Soup Night. It was a popular activity. There was a simple meal of homemade soup, bread, and a beverage. All parishioners were invited to share that simple meal, in the spirit of Lent; there was no charge, but a free-will offering was given to local hunger centers to help feed the needy. I hope we could again offer Wednesday Lenten Soup Nights in 2017. Would you help? It would involve making several large pots of vegetable soup in the Corrigan Gym kitchen. The parish will pick up the tab for the ingredients. Do you have a special soup recipe you would like to share? I’ll ask some parish groups to help with serving the soup. Please give me a call (440-884-3030) this week (or just stop by the Parish office and leave your name and phone number) if you would be willing to help with Wednesday Lenten Soup Nights in 2017.

This Week’s Liturgy

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Exodus 17:8-13; II Timothy 3:14—4:2; Luke 18:1-8 12:00 PM † Charles Prokop Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30am, 12:00 Noon, 5:30pm MONDAY, OCTOBER 17 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time St. Ignatius of Antioch

Ephesians 2:1‐10; Luke 12:13‐21 7:00 AM † Hines & Skonier Families 8:30 AM † Joe Ozimek 7:00 PM † Fred Fulcher TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18 St. Luke II Timothy 4:10-17b; Luke 10:1-9 7:00 AM † Sister Mary Adrian Foley, C.S.J. 8:30 AM † Patricia Koory 7:00 PM † Joann Bosley WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19 Ss. John de Brébeuf & Isaac Jogues Ephesians 3:2-12; Luke 12:39-48 7:00 AM † Mary Tomcho 8:30 AM † Anna Mae Lipcsik 7:00 PM † Dec'd of Krencisz Family THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20 Ephesians 3:14-21; Luke 12:49-53 7:00 AM Intention of Dolores Footman 8:30 AM † Clara Jojczyk 7:00 PM † Alex & Annie Koler FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21 Ephesians 4:1-6; Luke 12:54-59 7:00 AM † Mary Tyburski 8:30 AM † Pauline Czajka 7:00 PM † Dec'd of the LaScola & Veverka Families SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22 Ephesians 4:7-16; Luke 13:1-9 8:00 AM † Edwin Kopas 12:00 PM Wedding- - - Samantha Barsa & Ryan Sopko 2:00 PM Wedding- - - Danielle Burke & Nicholas Atkins VIGIL MASSES: 4:00 & 6:00 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23 Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18; II Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14 Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30am, 12:00 Noon, 5:30pm

Merici Chapel… October— the month of the Blessed Mother & the Holy Rosary on October 7th. Jesus gave us His own mother to be our mother. Try and make time to go to the Merici Chapel, pray the Rosary and thank Jesus for His love for us and the many graces He has given us.


Any questions, contact: Sr. Denise (440)884-3030 / [email protected] Fr. Ryan (440)884-3030 / [email protected]

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP MINISTRY (Grades 9-12)

Youth‐Focused & Youth‐Led Mass New Days & Times for Events Twice a Month Events for 9th‐12th Graders

Sunday, October 16 10:30am Mass

Thursday, October 27 Borromeo Seminary

6:00pm meet at St. Charles

Return to parking lot by 10:15pm. Open to all high school students! Praise & worship at Borromeo Seminary with teens from across the diocese; small social following. Per-mission forms in Parish Office.

Social to follow in Lower Parish Hall

ST. CHARLES SPORTS BOOSTERS

This event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Sports Booster and we encourage all parishioners to “lend a generous hand” for our parish children with purchasing raffle tickets sent to your home. White raffle tickets are $5 each or the full sheet of 6 tickets for $30 which entitles you to an entry into the seller’s appreciation drawing. If the white sheet is sold, you can purchase additional blue tickets for $2.50 each or $15 for the full sheet which also entitles you to another entry into the seller’s appreciation drawing. Additional ticket sheets can be procured at the Parish Office or donations can be made to the St. Charles Sports Boosters. The Grand Prize Drawing will be held at 5:00pm Sunday, October 16th.

Profits benefit the St. Charles Sports Boosters program as it provides our children the opportunity to grow in character through their participation in CYO sports.

1st Prize $2,500

2nd Prize $1,000

3rd Prize $500

Sunday,

October 16th

Grand Prize Drawing

5:00pm

Corrigan Gym

ST. CHARLES LADIES GUILD LOTTERY Lottery tickets for February 2017 are available in the Parish Office for $5.00 each. The winning 3 digit numbers come in from the 7:30pm drawing on Channel 5 and must be straight. If your ticket is a winner, you will get a check for $100. This is one of our big fund raisers so please help us out. Any questions, please call Jacki (440)884-3030. Thank you!

Next meeting ~ Wednesday morning, October 19th, 9:00-11:15am in the Parish Activity Center. Any questions, call Sr. Denise Marie (440)884-3030.

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTH MINISTRY (7th and 8th graders)

~ Sister Denise Marie, [email protected], 440-884-3030

A great big “THANK YOU” to our 7th and 8th graders who participated in our City Outreach Program project.

Your donations and participation will greatly help those supported by Providence House.

PARISH HOT DOG SOCIAL

Saturday, October 15th

5:00—7:30pm

Corrigan Gym

After the 4:00pm & 6:00pm Masses - or -

Anytime between 5:00 & 7:30pm

Grilled hot dogs, coleslaw, baked beans, chips, cupcakes, lemonade & coffee

Free-Will Offering

AVILA HOLY HOUR The Avilas will meet in prayer on Thursday, October 20th at 8:00am in the church chapel. Let us continue to pray for an increase in religious vocations and for those men and women living in the vowed and ordained way of life. For more information, call Marilyn (440)886-1788.


USHER/GREETER VOLUNTEER FORM

Name(s):_______________________________ Phone:_________________________________ E-mail:________________________________ Mass Time/Day: _________________________

Please return to the Parish Office. Thank you!

ST. CHARLES HOLY NAME SOCIETY

WELCOMES DEACON DANIEL GALLA

“How To Increase Your Faith”

Thursday, October 27th

7:30pm

St. Charles Parish Activity Center (Go up the 2nd floor, turn left to the John Paul II Room)

In the past, Deacon Dan has addressed: “What is the Origin of the Bible,” “Catholics & the Jewish People,” “Voting with a Well-Formed Conscience,” “The Importance of Baptism in Daily Life,” “What Pope Francis is Saying and not Saying,” and “The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic.” Our Deacon, 12 years into his Deaconate, is a Teacher of Theology at St. Ignatius High School. He does an in-depth preparation for these timely presentations and would welcome your attendance.

Doors open at 7:15pm. Meeting is free and open to the public with complimentary beverages, chips, pretzels and pastries. Any questions, call Fred Hollman, President, St. Charles HNS (440)884-6179.

The Holy Name Society began in 1274 by Blessed John Vercelli at the request of Pope Gregory X and the Council of Lyons. Join HNS and receive the many Indulgences afforded by honoring the Sacred Name of Jesus.

St. Charles Borromeo Parish

“My Fair Share 2017”

Please go to our website: stcharlesonline.org for the conven-ience of filling out your family’s 2017 “My Fair Share” form. Your completed form will be securely sent directly to our Parish Business Office. As an alternative, the form is also available in this Sunday’s bulletin if you wish to complete it and return to the Parish Office by November 1st. Thank you!

INTO THE BREACH

Tuesday, October 18th | 7:30pm

Pope John XXIII Rm of the PAC

All men of the Parish are invited to join the St. Charles Catholic Men’s Group and the Knights of Columbus St. Charles Borromeo Council #16137 to a seven week challenge to become better Catholic men, husbands and fathers. We began on Tuesday, October 11, and will continue for six Tuesdays, concluding on

Tuesday, November 22, 2016. We will be diving into the Apostolic Exhortation to Catholic Men from the Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix, entitled: INTO THE BREACH.

Bishop Olmsted asks three questions to the men of his diocese and to all Catholic men: 1. What does it mean to be a Christian man? 2. How does a Catholic man love? 3. Why is fatherhood, fully understood, so crucial for every man? These seven weeks we will explore these questions and help all men to enter INTO THE BREACH.

We will gather in the Parish Activity Center starting at 7:30 p.m. with the Rosary and then “shore up” our quest to be the Catholic men, husbands and fathers that we are called to be. Be strong. Be courageous. Be a MAN.

Thank you!

Offertory Collection $25,579.86

ACH / Online / Credit Card 3,205.00

Total $28,784.86

SUNDAY COLLECTION

October 9, 2016

Basista Furniture

5295 State Rd, Parma

216‐398‐5900

Stop in the Parish Office

for a Discount/ Donation

Voucher!

Need new furniture or accessories for your home? Stop in Basista Furniture on State Rd in Parma and present a special Parish Discount/Donation Voucher upon entering the store. St. Charles parishioners will receive an additional discount from sale prices. Also, a donation will be made to St. Charles Borromeo Parish upon delivery of your order!!


R.C.I.A. The process whereby an individual is transformed by the Holy Trinity into Christ's

body, the Church, and therefore, is Catholic. If you are or someone you know is Catholic, but unconfirmed, or if you or someone you know is not Catholic but would like to fully accept Christ’s invitation to “live in my love,” please contact Fr. Ryan Mann here at the parish or email him at [email protected]. Classes began September 12th and will continue on Mondays through Easter until Pentecost.

SENIORS CITIZENS The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 19th in the Lower Parish Hall with a special presentation by Felicia King, Outreach Specialist & Regional Director-Policy & Public Affairs, Office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine. Ms. King will talk about Senior Scams.

Doors open at 9:00am. A terrific and delicious hot lunch will be served at 11:00am. You might like to become a member of our St. Charles Senior Citizens Club. Think about it and pray about it! New members are welcome. Dues are $5.00 per year. Call Shirley Potoczak (440)281-2586. Thank you!

ST. CHARLES SPORTS BOOSTERS

WINTER SPORTS SIGNUPS

Winter Sports Signups: All day school and PCRF students in grades 1-8 are invited to register for CYO Basketball- Grades 3-8, and CHAMPS Basketball- Grades 1-2 by visiting the Sports Boosters Club website - stcharless-ports.org.

CHAMPS Basketball, Grades 1-2, begins October 22 and con-tinues as 1-1/2 hour clinics / scrimmages on Saturdays through November 26: Cost = $30.

CYO Basketball, Grades 3-8 begins November 1, and continues through February: Cost = $125. Physicals dated AFTER March 1, 2016 are required for both programs. All fees must be turned in to the Parish Office by November 1st. Recent increases in tournament fees, game fees, and rental facility charges necessi-tate the new fee structure. Questions - Kevin Leigh- [email protected], C- 440-488-6982, H- 440-842-6362.

Dismas Ministry: Greeting Card Collection

During October, our Dismas Ministry to the jailed and imprisoned is collecting greeting cards, especially Birthday and Christmas Cards. Please leave your cards in the church lobby bins. Postage stamps are also welcome, but please leave stamps in the Parish Office or the offertory.

mailto:[email protected]�




http://stcharlessports.org/�






Thérèse, The Story of a SoulThérèse, The Story of a SoulThérèse, The Story of a Soul

The moving, live production performed by Actress Audrey Ahern and directed by Patti Defilippis of Saint Luke Productions, will be presented at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Parma on Wednesday, October 26 at 7:00pm The event is sponsored by St. Charles Borromeo Parish & the Knights of Columbus. In this one-woman performance, Thérèse speaks directly to you, the audience, with humor, grace and humility. Her honest, direct spirituality speaks powerfully to our busy culture, with the encour-aging message that anyone can become a saint. The program is filled with all the elements of professional theater, runs 75 minutes, and is suitable for all ages. Admission is a free-will offering. For additional information, contact Fr. Edward Janoch at St. Charles Borromeo Church Office at 440-884-3030 or [email protected]. Watch the trailer & learn more at www.ThereseDrama.com

The Little Flower The Little Flower The Little Flower

is Appearing at St. Charles . . . is Appearing at St. Charles . . . is Appearing at St. Charles . . .

Well, not in a vision, but in a dramatic production presented by St. Luke Productions. St. Charles Borromeo Parish and the St. Charles Borromeo Council #16137 of the Knights of Columbus are sponsoring this presentation. With any parish project, volunteers are needed to help bring this and any event at St. Charles to a successful end. Volunteers are needed to greet and usher those who will attend this event and to help with the collection of the free will offering. There is a need of five able-bodies parishioners to help set-up and take-down the dramatic set. St. Luke Productions will provide a core stage crew. Help make this production a success by helping out, but most importantly to attend this production. Therese: The Story of a Soul will be presented on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, at 7:00 p.m., in the Church. See the parish bulletin for more information in the upcoming weeks. If you can volunteer please leave a message with Fr. Janoch at 440-884-3030.


http://www.theresedrama.com/�


FOOTBALL SWEEPSTAKES FUNDRAISER

It is time for The State of Ohio Knights of Columbus Football Sweepstakes Fundraiser. Each week each player has four teams with a new set of teams each week. A total of $2500.00 in prizes are awarded weekly to the ticket holders with the four teams that score the most - or the least - number of points in that given week of games. The scores from the previous week's games will be used for teams that are not scheduled to play on any given week. It makes no difference whether teams win or lose. Total prizes will be $25,000. Proceeds from the ticket sales will benefit the Knights of Columbus and PTU at Saint Charles Borromeo. Tickets are available for a donation of $20.00 dollars each (one ticket is good for ten weeks) at Parish Office or see a Knight, PTU member or Father Janoch for more information. Last day to turn in and buy tickets is October 16th, 2016. Please pray the Rosary.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

THEOLOGY ON TAP | WEST Every second Wednesday of the month, young adults in their 20’s and 30’s are invited to gather at Beachcliff Tavern (19245 Detroit Ave., Rocky River) at 7PM to hear an engaging speaker reflect on some aspect of the faith while enjoying a pint and some tasty food! Each night kicks off with a social, which includes complementary appetizers and a cash bar, followed by a speaker. Admission is only $5. Our next speaker on Wednesday, October 19 will be Mrs. Lena Mekhael, a wife, mother, and active parishioner at St. Charles Borromeo Parish, who will be offering her reflections on living out the new evangelization in everyday life. Theology on Tap is a great way for young adults to go deeper in their faith and connect with other young Catholics in the area. For more information, please contact Fr. Tim Roth (440.333.2133 | [email protected]).

COME VISIT

ST. CHARLES’

Spooktacular BOOK FAIR!

Scholastic Book Fair will be coming to the St. Charles Lower Parish Hall! Please visit our book fair which helps promote reading and raises money for the St. Charles School Library.

BOOK FAIR DATES: 10/23/2016-10/27/2016

Shopping hours: 8:00a.m.-3:00p.m. Monday through Wednesday

(Closes at noon on Thurs. 10/27/16)

Open on Sunday, Oct. 23rd from 11:30a.m.-1:30p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 25th in the evening from 7:00p.m.-8:30p.m.

here will be candy and a raffle drawing. Clifford will be at the book fair after 10:30a.m. Mass

to greet children and families.

Happy Reading everyone and hope to see you there! Call Kim Tenerowicz at 440-842-8915 if you have

any questions.


St. Charles PTU

31st Annual Craft Fair,

Basket Raffle

and Bake Sale

Saturday, November 5th

9:00am ‐ 3:00pm

Corrigan Gym

Admission is FREE! Crafters or vendors can contact Tracey Callihan at 440-552-0786. Those parishioners interested in lending a hand and baking can contact Jackie (216)650-7952, or drop off your fresh baked items on Friday, November 4th between 5-8pm to the School Meeting Room. We appreciate any and all donations.

Stop in for lunch at the Craft Fair Kitchen!

All proceeds benefit our school children.


SAVE ACME STORE RECEIPTS St. Charles School will, once again, be participating in the Acme Community Cash Back Program from August through January 2017. This is an easy way for our school to earn cash back. Please tell your family and friends to save Acme receipts and drop them off at the Parish Office or School Office. Thank you for your continued support!

NEW PARISH OFFICE HOURS

BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2016

Monday—Friday 8:00am—8:00pm

Saturday & Sunday 8:00am—6:00pm

A Fall Style Show Sunday, October 30th

1:30pm—4:30pm

St. Charles Corrigan Gym

Join us for fashions from Dressbarn & a catered meal!

Menu: stuffed turkey breast with cranberry

sauce, bourbon pork loin,

mashed potatoes & gravy, glazed carrots, salad,

rolls & butter, cheesecake for dessert!!

Tickets are $18 and may be purchased in the Parish Office. Any questions, please call Pamela Bennett (440)888-1469.

The St. Charles Ladies Guild presents

CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

$100 WINNER

Caroline Zadnik

NEW CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE:

Gordmans

...the Shoppes at Parma $25

Visa $50

MARY QUEEN OF PEACE (216‐749‐2323) First concert of our “Great Music in a Great Space” concert series is on Sunday, October 30th , in the church at 3:00pm. Featuring the vocal ensemble VOCES8. This is a free con-cert with a freewill offering.

ST. LEO THE GREAT (216‐661‐1006) The Saint Vincent de Paul Society (St. Columbkille Parish) Warmup America Group needs orlon or acrylic yarn for making afghans for the needy. If you can help, please take yarn to the St. Columbkille or St. Leo Rectory, labeled “Warmup America.” If you would like to join the group or have any questions, please call Donna (216)398-9653.

ST. THOMAS MORE (216‐749‐0414) Women’s Guild will be hosting an Octoberfest Music Bingo Party in Utopia Hall, Tuesday, October 25th. Doors open at 11am. The cost is $10 including lunch (kielbasa, cabbage & noodles, apple sauce, rolls & butter, cake & coffee). Chinese Raffle, Split Raffle & Door Prizes. Tickets are available at the rectory or call Diane (216)749-6332 by October 22nd.


2016 FIRST STEP PROGRAM

Continuing education regarding marriage and divorce in the Catholic Church during the Holy Year, the Jubilee of Mercy

During this Holy Year, the Jubilee of Mercy, we are called to renew our relationship with God and the Church. Attempting to pick up the pieces of one’s life after the tragedy of divorce is an area that can impact a person’s relationship with God and the Church. One of the significant issues that a person faces is their place in the Church. Does the Church still care about me even though I am divorced? Am I allowed to go to Mass? Can I receive communion? How can the Church help me heal? If I decide to marry again, what do I have to do?

The Tribunal of the Diocese of Cleveland, especially during this Jubilee of Mercy, offers its First Step Program to help individuals deal with these questions in order to renew and/or strengthen their relationship with God and the Church. This program is offered to help everyone, especially those who have experienced divorce, learn more about Catholic teaching regarding marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Representatives from the Ministry to the Divorced Office of the Department for Marriage and Family Ministry will also be present to explain the resources they offer to the divorced.

Everyone is welcome to: Deepen knowledge of the Church’s teaching on marriage… Learn about the Church’s ministry to the divorced/separated in the Diocese… Hear about the annulment process and how to submit a case… Discover a path to healing after divorce in order to strengthen and/or renew a relationship with God and the Church

In any endeavor, taking the “first step” is always the most difficult. The First Step Program helps individuals to navigate the path of healing and closure. Please refer to the Tribunal website (www.dioceseofcleveland.org/tribunal) for testimonials about the pro-gram from past participants.

The final general meeting in 2016 is:

Tuesday, 18 October 2016, at St. Ambrose Parish, Brunswick, at 7:00 p.m.

Note that the Diocese of Cleveland no longer requires any fees for this process.

For more information go to: www.dioceseofcleveland.org/tribunal . . Or call the Tribunal: 216-696-6525/800-869-6525, ext. 4000

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/tribunal�

http://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/tribunal�

Part II of II: Making Moral Choices and Applying Our PrinciplesThis brief document is Part II of a summary of the US bishops’ reflection, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, which

complements the teaching of bishops in dioceses and states.

HPart I of the summary of the US bishops’ reflection, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, considered the core prin-ciples that underlie Catholic engagement in the political realm. Part II is a consideration of the process by which these principles are applied to the act of voting and taking positions on policy issues. It begins with the general consideration of the nature of conscience and the role of prudence. The appli-cation of prudential judgment does not mean that all choices are equally valid or that the bishops’ guidance and that of other church leaders is just another political opinion or policy preference among many others. Rather, Catholics are urged to listen carefully to the Church’s teachers when they apply Catholic social teaching to specific proposals and situations.

How Does the Church Help the Catholic Faithful to Speak About Political and Social Questions?

A Well-Formed ConscienceThe Church equips its members to address political questions by helping them develop well-formed consciences. “Con-science is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act. . . . [Every person] is obliged to follow faithfully what he [or she] knows to be just and right” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1778). We Catholics have a lifelong obligation to form our consciences in accord with human reason, enlightened by the teaching of Christ as it comes to us through the Church.

The Virtue of Prudence The Church also encourages Catholics to develop the virtue of prudence, which enables us “to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achiev-ing it” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1806). Prudence shapes and informs our ability to deliberate over available alternatives, to determine what is most fitting to a specific context, and to act. Prudence must be accompanied by cour-age, which calls us to act. As Catholics seek to advance the common good, we must carefully discern which public policies are morally sound. At times, Catholics may choose different ways to respond to social problems, but we cannot differ on our obligation to protect human life and dignity and help build, through moral means, a more just and peaceful world.

Doing Good and Avoiding EvilThere are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor. These intrinsically evil acts must always be rejected and never supported. A preeminent example is the intentional taking of innocent human life, as in abortion. Similarly, human cloning, destructive research on human embryos, and other acts that directly violate the sanctity and dignity of human life including genocide, torture, and the tar-geting of noncombatants in acts of terror or war, can never be justified. Nor can violations of human dignity, such as acts of racism, treating workers as mere means to an end, deliberately subjecting workers to subhuman living conditions, treating the poor as disposable, or redefining marriage to deny its essential meaning, ever be justified.

Opposition to intrinsically evil acts also prompts us to recognize our positive duty to contribute to the common good and act in solidarity with those in need. Both opposing evil and doing good are essential. As St. John Paul II said, “The fact that only the negative commandments oblige always and under all circumstances does not mean that in the moral life prohibitions are more important than the obligation to do good indicated by the positive commandment.”1 The basic right to life implies and is linked to other human rights such as a right to the goods that every person needs to live and thrive—including food, shelter, health care, education, and meaningful work.

Avoiding Two TemptationsTwo temptations in public life can distort the Church’s defense of human life and dignity: The first is a moral equiv-alence that makes no ethical distinctions between different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity. The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed. The second is the misuse of these necessary moral distinc-tions as a way of dismissing or ignoring other serious threats to human life and dignity. Racism and other unjust discrimi-nation, the use of the death penalty, resorting to unjust war, environmental degradation, the use of torture, war crimes, the failure to respond to those who are suffering from hunger or a lack of health care or housing, pornography, human traffick-ing, redefining civil marriage, compromising religious liberty,

The Challenge of Forming Consciencesfor Faithful Citizenship

or unjust immigration policies are all serious moral issues that challenge our consciences and require us to act.

Making Moral ChoicesThe bishops do not tell Catholics how to vote; the responsi-bility to make political choices rests with each person and his or her properly formed conscience, aided by prudence. This exercise of conscience begins with always opposing policies that violate human life or weaken its protection.

When morally flawed laws already exist, prudential judg-ment is needed to determine how to do what is possible to restore justice—even if partially or gradually—without ever abandoning a moral commitment to full protection for all human life from conception to natural death (see St. John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, no. 73).

Prudential judgment is also needed to determine the best way to promote the common good in areas such as housing, health care, and immigration. When church leaders make judgments about how to apply Catholic teaching to specific policies, this may not carry the same binding authority as uni-versal moral principles but cannot be dismissed as one polit-ical opinion among others. These moral applications should inform the consciences and guide the actions of Catholics.

As Catholics we are not single-issue voters. A candidate’s position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a vot-er’s support. Yet a candidate’s position on a single issue that involves an intrinsic evil, such as support for legal abortion or the promotion of racism, may legitimately lead a voter to dis-qualify a candidate from receiving support.1

What Public Policies Should Concern Catholics Most? As Catholics, we are led to raise questions about political life other than those that concentrate on individual, mate-rial well-being. We focus more broadly on what protects or threatens the dignity of every human life. Catholic teaching challenges voters and candidates, citizens and elected officials, to consider the moral and ethical dimensions of public policy issues. In light of ethical principles, we bishops offer the fol-lowing policy goals that we hope will guide Catholics as they form their consciences and reflect on the moral dimensions of their public choices:

• Address the preeminent requirement to protect human life—by restricting and bringing to an end the destruc-tion of unborn children through abortion and provid-ing women in crisis pregnancies with the supports they need. End the following practices: the use of euthanasia and assisted suicide to deal with the burdens of illness and disability; the destruction of human embryos in the name of research; the use of the death penalty to combat crime; and the imprudent resort to war to address interna-tional disputes.

• Protect the fundamental understanding of marriage as the life-long and faithful union of one man and one woman

as the central institution of society; promote the comple-mentarity of the sexes and reject false “gender” ideologies; provide better support for family life morally, socially, and economically, so that our nation helps parents raise their children with respect for life, sound moral values, and an ethic of stewardship and responsibility.

• Achieve comprehensive immigration reform that offers a path to citizenship, treats immigrant workers fairly, pre-vents the separation of families, maintains the integrity of our borders, respects the rule of law, and addresses the factors that compel people to leave their own countries.

• Help families and children overcome poverty and ensure access to and choice in education, as well as decent work at fair, living wages and adequate assistance for the vul-nerable in our nation, while also helping to overcome widespread hunger and poverty around the world, espe-cially in the policy areas of development assistance, debt relief, and international trade.

• Ensure full conscience protection and religious freedom for individuals and groups to meet social needs, and so enable families, community groups, economic structures, and government to work together to overcome poverty, pursue the common good, and care for creation.

• Provide health care while respecting human life, human dignity, and religious freedom in our health care system.

• Continue to oppose policies that reflect racism, hostility toward immigrants, religious bigotry, and other forms of unjust discrimination.

• Establish and comply with moral limits on the use of military force—examining for what purposes it may be used, under what authority, and at what human cost—with a special view to seeking a responsible and effective response for ending the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East and other parts of the world.

• Join with others around the world to pursue peace, pro-tect human rights and religious liberty, and advance eco-nomic justice and care for creation.

Notes1. Veritatis Splendor, no. 52.

Copyright © 2016, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC. All rights reserved.

Quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition, copyright © 2000, Libreria Editrice Vaticana–United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Quote from Veritatis Splendor, copyright © 1993, Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV), Vatican City State. Used with per-mission. All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-60137-546-9Publication No. 7-546

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