Nonpartisan Election Resources for Catholics

2004
ELECTION RESOURCES FOR CATHOLICS

Courtesy
of the Education for
Justice Web Site http://www.educationforjustice.org

MARYKNOLL
OFFICE FOR GLOBAL
CONCERNS  [http://www.maryknollogc.org/]
The Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns: Peace, Social Justice and Integrity
of Creation, is a collaborative ministry of the Maryknoll Sisters, the
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and the Maryknoll Mission Association of the Faithful.
Through theological reflection on, and systemic analysis of, the reality lived
and observed by Maryknoll missioners around the world, the office facilitates
among Maryknollers as Catholics and agents of Christ’s Gospel, a personal and
corporate commitment to peace, social justice and the integrity of creation.

The mission of the Office is carried out through education and
advocacy in cooperation with other Maryknoll departments and entities. The
office also collaborates regularly with other institutions and organizations
working for peace, social justice and the integrity of creation. It brings the
voice and experience of Maryknoll into policy discussions in the United
Nations, the

U.S. and other governments,
international financial institutions and the corporate world.

2004 U.S. Elections: Impact on Peace, Social Justice, and the
Integrity of Creation

[http://www.maryknollogc.org/election.htm]

The
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns has created a downloadable booklet
entitled, “2004 U.S. ELECTIONS: Impact on Peace, Social Justice, and the
Integrity of Creation.” The booklet describes some of the policy decisions that
will be addressed by the next U.S. president and congress—policy decisions with
enormous impact on peace, social and economic justice and the integrity of
creation around the world. Also included are a series of questions for
prompting candidates to speak to these issues.

The issues covered in the booklet include

.                
           Peace
and Security: U.S. unilateralism, the war on terror, weapons proliferation,
military spending, military training, the “war‚” on drugs and specific conflicts

.                
           Economic
Justice: transparency and participation, corporate accountability, debt, trade,
HIV/AIDS and hunger and food sovereignty

.                
           Ecology
– Sustainable Communities of Life: energy policy, water and
biotechnology.

2004
ELECTION RESOURCES FOR CATHOLICS

Courtesy
of the Education for
Justice Web Site http://www.educationforjustice.org

NETWORK EDUCATION PROGRAM
[http://www.networklobby.org/nep]

NETWORK, A
National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, educates, lobbies and organizes to
influence the formation of federal legislation to promote economic and social
justice. 

Through faith-based educational
resources and programs related to public policy, NETWORK Education Program
(NEP) engages people in envisioning and working toward a just and equitable
society. NEP facilitates nonpartisan issues analysis, skills development for
responsible citizenship, and faith reflection on political ministry. NEP’s
vision of a just society is grounded in Gospel values, Catholic Social
Teaching, concern for the integrity of creation and the life experiences of
people who are poor or marginalized.

2004
Election Chart

[http://www.networklobby.org/nep/Election2004/chart.aspx]

NEP has developed a
2004 Election Chart. This chart consists of a series of questions for the
Presidential candidates around seven central issues in the 2004 election. Both
the candidate’s statement and their record on the issue are included. The chart
includes the following issues: Affordable Housing, Budget and Taxes, Global
Peace and Security, Health Care, Immigration, International Trade & Debt
and Social Safety Net.

NEP also has information on how
to register to vote and a collection of “Inspiring Election Bookmarks,” and
Prayer Bookmarks.

[http://www.networklobby.org/nep/Election2004/index.aspx]

2004
ELECTION RESOURCES FOR CATHOLICS

Courtesy
of the Education for
Justice Web Site http://www.educationforjustice.org

UNITED STATES CONFERENCE
OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS

[http://www.usccb.org]

“Faithful
Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility” “Every four years
since 1976, the Administrative Committee of the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops has issued a statement on the responsibilities of Catholics to
society. The purpose of the statement is to communicate the Church’s teaching
that every Catholic is called to active and faith-filled citizenship, based
upon a properly informed conscience, so that each disciple of Christ publicly
witnesses to the Church‚” commitment to human life and dignity with special
preference for the poor and the vulnerable.

Faithful
Citizenship Web Site

[http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/index.htm]

The
Faithful Citizenship Web Site contains the full text of the Bishops’ statement,
“Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility,” and a
wide-range of educational resources. These resources are available in both
Spanish and English and are designed to help you learn, share, and act on
Catholic teaching about how our faith can and should shape our choices and
opportunities as citizens, so that we can build a world more respectful of
human life and dignity and more committed to justice and peace. The resources
available include liturgical and homily ideas, education materials and lesson
plans for various age groups, and information on conducting non-partisan voter
registration and education programs.