Court House Parish to Host Catholic Voting Forum

CAMDEN — A local parish will host one of nine roundtable discussions by the Diocese of Camden aimed at helping Catholics make moral decisions in the voting booth.
A diocesan Roundtable Group will present an evening of information and dialogue focused on the moral choices before voters, the importance of a properly formed conscience, and the duty of Catholics to participate in the political process.
The forums will not tell participants for whom to vote or what political party to support, but will urge them to fully integrate their faith with their civic responsibilities.
The forums are based on the document Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility, which was issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) last year.
In issuing the statement, the bishops said, “In light of Catholic teaching, as bishops we vigorously repeat our call for a renewed politics that focuses on moral principals, the defense of life, the needs of the weak, and the pursuit of the common good. This kind of political participation reflects the social teaching of our Church and the best traditions of our nation.”
The U.S. bishops have issued statements on political responsibility every four years since 1976, focusing not on parties and candidates, but on the moral principals which apply regardless of the parties and candidates in a given election year.
The forums will outline why the Catholic Church teaches about issues affecting public policy and how citizens should view political/social questions from a moral and ethical perspective. Additionally, program facilitators will discuss key themes of Catholic Social Teaching and how to apply that teaching to major issues relative to human life, family life, social justice and global solidarity.
The nine sessions, which are open to Catholics and non-Catholics alike, will be held at various locations throughout the diocese.
Six will be conducted in English and three in Spanish:
• St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral, Camden, (Spanish), Sept. 17
• St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Absecon, Sept. 18
• St. Padre Pio, Vineland, Sept. 18
• Our Lady Star of the Sea, Atlantic City, (Spanish), Sept. 24
• St. Pius X, Cherry Hill, Sept. 25
• St. Bartholomew, Camden, Sept. 30
• St. Joseph, Hammonton, Oct. 1
• Our Lady of Angels, Court House, Oct. 2
• Pope John Paul II Retreat House, Vineland, (Spanish), Oct. 2
All sessions will begin at 7 p.m., end at 9 p.m. with light refreshments provided.
For more information see www.CamdenDiocese.org and click on the Forming Conscience link.