ICC releases Faithful Citizenship flyer
by Iowa Catholic Conference | September 8, 2026
Voting for the mid-term elections in Iowa begins in October and continues through Election Day, Nov. 3. As the U.S. bishops’ document, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” says: “The Church’s obligation to participate in shaping the moral character of society is a requirement of our faith. It is a basic part of the mission we have received from Jesus Christ, who offers a vision of life revealed to us in Sacred Scripture and Tradition.”
The Iowa Catholic Conference offers a flyer in English and Spanish to help in your discernment about how to participate in the political process. Videos from the Iowa bishops will be following soon.
Our role in politics
As Catholics, our cause is the defense of human life and dignity and the protection of the weak and vulnerable.
The defense of human life and dignity must begin with the fundamental right to life from natural conception to natural death. From there it extends to fair access to productive work and fair wages, food and shelter, education and health care, protection from harm and freedom to emigrate if necessary. All people have a right to these, and therefore we have a duty to help protect life and to provide for the common good. Most especially, we have a duty to safeguard the family as the basic unit of society, and to support mediating institutions such as churches and other professional and charitable organizations that help society cope with its biggest challenges.
Civic engagement is a moral obligation and we have a duty to inform ourselves about issues and vote conscientiously. Our choice of how to vote in every instance must follow our best understanding of what is the good for all, following a time of reflection and prayer. Our tradition recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt 25:31-46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
Of course, our commitment to the common good does not end with voting. We can start solving problems at the local level by organizing with others in charitable work to help meet the basic needs of individuals. Another way is to work together on legislation that addresses the structural dimension of problems and their respective solutions.
The message of our Catholic teaching is one of hope, grounded in faith and reason. Making decisions in the light of our faith will not be easy, and it may lead us to a place we don’t want to go. But it is our life-long obligation to say “yes” to God in all things, and listen for His voice sounding in our heart.