Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, has addressed the challenges faced by Catholics in engaging with politics and public affairs. In a recent message, Cardinal Tobin emphasized the importance of Catholic social teaching as a guide for making responsible decisions on public policy.

He stated, "None of us has infallible judgment on social issues. What we do have is a clear and consistent guide to faithful decision-making. This guide is, of course, Catholic social teaching based on Sacred Scripture and 2,000 years of informed reflection on issues that are fundamental to living according to God’s plan for individuals and communities."

Cardinal Tobin highlighted the framework provided by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) called “Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship,” which outlines key issues at stake today. He explained that while Catholic social teaching does not instruct voters whom or what to vote for, it provides moral principles that should be applied when evaluating candidates and political parties.

He listed several critical issues identified by the USCCB: human life concerns such as abortion and euthanasia; promoting peace; marriage and family life; religious freedom; care for the poor; health care; migration; Catholic education; justice and violence prevention; combating discrimination; environmental stewardship; communications and culture; and global solidarity. Cardinal Tobin added an emphasis on wars, terror, and violence as threats to human dignity.

He acknowledged that no candidate or party aligns perfectly with all aspects of Catholic teaching but urged Catholics to vote according to their informed consciences. "An informed conscience is one that looks beyond political correctness and the ideologies of the left and the right to find the truth," he said.

Citing Pope Leo XIV’s message at a recent World Meeting on Human Fraternity, Cardinal Tobin reiterated calls for peace over war: "The willingness to face conflict head on, to resolve it and to make it a link in the chain of a new process is the wisest path, the path of the strong." The message also referenced biblical teachings about fraternity transcending ethnic boundaries.

Quoting from Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (#182-184), Cardinal Tobin underscored that religion should not be confined solely to private life but should influence societal matters: "It follows that Christian conversion demands reviewing especially those areas and aspects of life related to the social order and the pursuit of the common good."

Pope Leo XIV’s address further challenged listeners: "Recognizing that the other person is a brother or sister means freeing ourselves from the pretense of believing that we are isolated individuals or from the logic of forming relationships only out of self-interest."

Cardinal Tobin concluded his message with a prayer from Pope Francis’ encyclical Fratelli Tutti, asking for unity among peoples worldwide through justice, dialogue, peace, and shared dreams.