Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

Ahead of the upcoming presidential election on November 5, Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori is encouraging Catholics to engage in prayer before voting. As the vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Lori emphasized the importance of "prayerful discernment" in a recent USCCB Catholic Current video.

"This is a matter of prayerful discernment. A lot of times people don’t think about the need to pray, to discern before one votes," he stated. He further noted, "If we Catholics engage in a prayerful, reflective process and we elevate the conversation, we are contributing to the common good of our country."

In an email sent on October 24 to Maryland Catholics, Archbishop Lori urged them to read the USCCB’s document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility” and participate in praying the Novena for Faithful Citizenship. The novena consists of prayers recited over nine days with specific intentions and includes Bible passages and reflection questions.

The document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” outlines Catholic social teaching's relevance to policy issues. It highlights that protecting human life from conception is crucial when voting. The introductory note states, "The threat of abortion remains our pre-eminent priority because it directly attacks our most vulnerable and voiceless brothers and sisters and destroys more than a million lives per year in our country alone." It also addresses other threats such as euthanasia, gun violence, terrorism, and human trafficking.

Additional issues for consideration include marriage redefinition, religious freedom threats, justice for the poor, migrant suffering, global wars and famines, racism, healthcare needs, education access, and environmental care.

Archbishop Lori highlighted Pope Francis’ call for participation in politics: “We need to participate for the common good. Sometimes we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader can govern.”

He also stressed that Catholics should discuss these contentious topics with charity and civility. "Faithful Citizenship helps us look beyond and behind sound bites and partisanship," he said in his email. "It encourages respectful and thoughtful dialogue in the political process."

The Novena for Faithful Citizenship begins each day with a prayer to the Holy Spirit and concludes with a prayer by St. John Paul II to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: “Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world the infinite saving power of redemption: the power of merciful love,” it says.