Last week, we discussed a vital role of the Catholic Church: to actively transform society.
As Pope Leo XIV reminds us, "the Church exists in the world as a sign of unity for the human family, participating in the processes by which society grows and offering her contribution to build a more just and fraternal world".
This mission carries profound responsibilities, especially for Catholic politicians. Every single act of legislation and governance must be filtered through the lens of our Catholic faith.
The shifting “will of the people” is never a valid excuse to compromise or deny Church teaching through legislative or executive action. Catholic politicians are called to be primary instruments of societal transformation—helping to recognize and promote whatever safeguards human dignity, strengthens communities, and serves the common good. By being a true champion of justice, peace, and reconciliation, Catholic politicians should act as true agents of God’s sovereign order.
This responsibility extends directly to the faithful, challenging us to vote with a fully formed Catholic conscience. Voting with a fully formed Catholic conscience enables us “to accomplish all things according to the intention of His will, so that we might exist for the praise of His glory”. As such, we are called to support candidates, policies, and initiatives that align with the Truth of Jesus Christ.
In doing so, we vote for a transformed society for the glory of God. We champion integrity, humility, and selfless love, holding fast to the Gospel message that exposes “the leaven” and "hypocrisy" of worldly governments and offers a healing alternative to the brokenness that leads to societal decay.
Because it is through Christ and His Holy Catholic Church that we receive the fullness of truth and salvation, our choices on election day carry eternal and social weight.
Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois put it like this: “I am saying that you need to think and pray very carefully about your vote, because a vote for a candidate who promotes actions or behaviors that are intrinsically evil and gravely sinful makes you morally complicit and places the eternal salvation of your own soul in serious jeopardy.”
That is a powerful statement that also applies to how we vote on amendments and other ballot initiatives.
Fortunately, we have the Church.
We can listen to how leaders of the Church are guiding us in this election cycle. What statements have been issued by Archbishop Rozanski, the Missouri Conference of Bishops, or the United States College of Catholic Bishops? What messaging has been provided by our parish? These are essential resources for forming our consciences so that our votes truly transform society and spread the Kingdom of the Sacred Heart.
Built on the rock by Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church is anchored in divine purpose, marked by hope, guided by truth, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Through the moral courage of Catholic politicians and the votes of the faithful with properly formed consciences, the Church actively transforms society by bringing the values of heaven to bear on the realities of earth.
As we cast our ballots with a clear and faithful conscience, blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
Thanks be to God!
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