{"id":10371,"date":"2026-10-27T00:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T00:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/?p=10371"},"modified":"2026-10-26T17:56:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T17:56:51","slug":"election-day-looms-voting-responsibly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brendans-island.com\/catholic-citizen\/election-day-looms-voting-responsibly\/","title":{"rendered":"Election Day Looms: Voting Responsibly"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I’ve felt that way, too. \ud83d\ude09 “Wizard of Id”, John Hart Studios. (October 14, 2026)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

America’s national election is happening on Tuesday of next week. I’m not looking forward to it. But voting is a duty for citizens here, so that’s what I’ll be doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Figuring out who and what to vote for \u2014 or against \u2014 is easy, or really, really hard: depending on how I look at the task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Today I’m reposting links \u2014 Conscience and Voting: Ethics Matter, Even in Politics<\/a> \u2014 with two new items (Recent statements: Office of Public Affairs<\/a>). I’ll be back with my regular ‘Saturday’ post on \u2014 well, Saturday. It’ll be about Halloween, and whatever else comes to mind.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Voting, Attitudes, and an Obligation<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Chicago Tribune cartoon, politicos about-facing the day after an election. (1927)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If I took a “trust your feelings, Luke!” attitude, I might skip voting entirely. Then, as assorted experts, pundits, and analysts expounded on what the American Public was ‘really’ feeling, I could sit back with a bucket of popcorn and watch show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or I could seek comparatively intellectual entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like a Three Stooges marathon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But I’m a Catholic. Acting like a good citizen is an obligation. So ignoring the recurrent brouhaha is not an option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my country, responsible citizenship includes having a clue about which jokers are running this time, thinking about what they’ve said and done: or not said and done, and that’s another topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The USCCB (United States Conference of Bishops) provides resources that discuss what’s involved in voting responsibly. They don’t tell me who to vote for: but do<\/strong> discuss the ethical principles involved. These links were valid on the morning of October 26, 2026:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Conscience and Voting: Ethics Matter, Even in Politics<\/h3>\n\n\n
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