CHERRY HILL — In a prayer service for the upcoming national and regional elections, Bishop Dennis Sullivan urged those in attendance here at Saint Thomas More Church and those watching via livestream to “let your light shine … imitate the love, mercy and compassion of Jesus” in all of their actions and decisions, and help to “build up this world as a civilization of love.”
Sponsored by the parish’s Faith and Justice Team, the evening saw Bishop Sullivan and Matthew Davis, director of Life and Justice for the Diocese of Camden, unpack and discuss the U.S. bishops’ document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility.” The text is a guide for citizens to “form their consciences, apply a consistent moral framework to issues facing the nation and the world, and shape their choices in elections in light of Catholic Social Teaching.”
“Our church can’t be on the sidelines,” Bishop Sullivan said, adding that the “light” of the Catholic faith can be used to help address the “darkness” of such problems plaguing the country and world as the COVID-19 pandemic, terrorism, discrimination and racism.
The bishop also decried the “vitriol and attacks” through the public and digital sphere, which have caused “division” in the country.
“We need to enter into meaningful conversations with each other (despite our differences), not enter into a shouting match,” he said.
Other issues which are vital to forming good consciences and must be understood, the two speakers said, included the church’s positions on the environment, immigration, religious education, marriage, family life and respect for life.
It was this last point that Bishop Sullivan said he found the most “fundamental” part of the document.
“Respect for human life is respect for the divine,” he said.
Sister Ann Byrnes, RSM, pastoral associate of Saint Thomas More Parish and a member of its Faith and Justice Team, called the evening an opportunity to not only understand the importance of “forming good consciences,” but also to discern “how we can bring Catholic social teaching to our decision in voting.”
“We did it all in the context of prayer,” she said. “We pray for the candidates, and we pray for the country.”
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