Salt of the Earth & Light of the World
I urge you to take seriously your responsibility as faithful citizens of Wisconsin. Specifically, I would encourage you to pray, educate and advocate. Voting according to your properly formed conscience is a way to bring your Catholic values to the world. May the Holy Spirit guide each of us in living out our call to be faithful citizens! - Bishop David L. Ricken
Independence & Our Dependence on God
Celebrating July 4, 2024, Bishop David Ricken takes a moment to reflect on the gift that this nation is to us as we stand "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Voter Registration
If you aren’t registered to vote or would like to check your voter registration information, please visit https://elections.wi.gov/Register to learn more!
Prayer for Civic Leaders
God our Father, You guide everything in wisdom and love. Accept the prayers we offer for our nation. In your goodness, watch over those in authority so that people everywhere may enjoy freedom, security and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Oración por nuestros Líderes Cívicos
Dios nuestro Padre, Tú lo guías todo con sabiduría y amor. Acepta las oraciones que ofrecemos por nuestra nación. En tu bondad, protege aquellos que tienen autoridad para que personas de todos los pueblos disfruten de libertad, seguridad y paz. Te lo pedimos por Jesucristo, nuestro Señor. Amén.
De la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos.Recommended Resources
- Wisconsin Catholic Conference (WCC) - The Wisconsin Catholic Conference is the public policy voice of the Catholic Church in Wisconsin. The WCC offers decision makers studied positions on legislation and other matters related to the interests and teachings of the Catholic Church. Through policy statements, testimony, and other resources, the WCC informs Catholics statewide and serves to promote dignity, preserve justice, and advance the common good.
- Faithful Citizenship (WCC) - Faithful Citizenship is the mindful consideration of public policy and voting issues through the lens of the Church’s teaching. It is also a call to action to become involved with legislative policy and to exercise the right to vote, so as to protect human life, uphold human dignity, and promote the common good.
- Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship Initiative (USCCB) - The bishops of the United States offer their teaching document on the political responsibility of Catholics – lifting up our dual heritage as both faithful Catholics and American citizens with rights and duties as we participate in the public square through political engagement and civil dialogue. The landing page also features additional resources for prayer, reflection, and action as a faithful citizen.
- Civilize It: A Better Kind of Politics (USCCB) - As Catholics, we take to heart Jesus’ invitation to follow the example of the Good Samaritan, who challenges us to “become neighbors to all” (no. 80). As a Church and a nation, we are polarized and divided. But as Pope Francis writes in Fratelli Tutti, we can seek “a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good” (no. 154). We can jointly come up with creative solutions to the problems that face our world.
- First Freedom Podcast (USCCB) - Conversations about a variety of issues related to religious liberty, including challenges to our first freedom, Catholic social teaching, and more.
Politics, for its part, should always be understood not as an appropriation of power, but as the ‘highest form of charity,’ and thus of service to one’s neighbor within a local or national community.” - Pope Francis