Call to Action: The Call to Holiness in an Election Year

During a recent gathering with young people, Cardinal Cupich was asked how our faith should inform our politics and our voting decisions. Responding with wisdom, Cardinal Cupich invited the group to reflect on Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation, “Gaudete et Exsultate” (“Rejoice and Be Glad”).

He went on to point out that in this magisterial document, especially paragraph 101, the Holy Father urges us to participate in political debate, as opposed to limiting our involvement to the voting booth. There should be no fear of engaging in dialogue with others, especially those who have views different from our own.

He concluded the session with the following advice:

Exercising responsible citizenship requires:

• Social engagement in the political process, particularly with those who have different views,
• An interior freedom that avoids limiting our involvement to party-aligned or litmus-test issues,
• An appreciation of the interrelationship of issues in order to promote a consistent ethic of life, and
• The firm conviction that our political involvement is nothing short of living out our call to holiness, making God’s work of bringing about the kingdom of heaven our own.

For more on this conversation with the young people, click here.