U.S. Bishops' President Urges Catholics to Vote in the Midterms: Put Faith Before Politics
WASHINGTON — Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), issued a message on October 14 urging Catholics to vote in the midterm elections on November 3. “For citizens in a representative democracy such as our own, participation in public life, including voting, is both a right and a responsibility,” Coakley said. “In a time of deep political division, the temptation is to be discouraged and to not participate in the election process. But discouragement is not a Christian virtue.”
He asked Catholics “to put their faith before politics,” saying the Church's contribution to public life “is not a political or partisan program; rather, it reflects our commitment to the dignity of every person, who is created in the image and likeness of God.” He also called for free and fair elections, saying citizens should not face unnecessary delays or complications in registering or voting, and encouraged voters to judge candidates by their actions rather than their promises and to reject rhetoric that appeals to fear, resentment or division.
The November midterms will determine control of both chambers of Congress, as well as governorships and state legislatures across the country.
Sources: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops message, October 14; OSV News.
Related: America's Electoral System (4): The Midterms: What Is on the Ballot on November 3, 2026
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 美国天主教主教团主席、俄克拉荷马城总主教保罗·库克利（2026年） / Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (2026). Photo: DHS, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
