Diocese of Metuchen
Office of the Bishop
October 18, 2000
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
For two thousand years, our world has been greatly blessed through Christ and
His Church. As Americans, we thank God for our unique freedom and abundance; the
toil of many prophets and patriots has enabled the principles of our Faith and
the ideals of our nation to endure. As heirs of these gifts, we must secure them
for future generations, especially the promise that all people, from the first
moment of life, will be treated equally and endowed with the right to life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Through the presidential, congressional, and local elections on November 7,
we can stand up for our nation and our Faith, and participate in decisions that
will radically affect our communities, our nation, and our world. Our vote can
help us recommit our nation to the respect for all human life, the support of
marriage and the family, greater prosperity for all, and the restoration of
morality in our private lives and public institutions. Some may 'vote their
pocketbooks,' but I urge you to 'vote your conscience,' since the consequences
of these elections are too important for such a narrow concern. After analyzing
and praying over the issues, vote for the candidates you believe will truly make
the world a better place.
Some may be discouraged by the particular candidates available; others feel
that none adequately represents all of our concerns, especially our commitment
to the right to life from the moment of conception until natural death.
However, by not voting, we cede control of our nation to those who lack
or oppose our moral commitments. Recall the traditional Catholic principle of
choosing the lesser evil; when faced with two options, neither of which is
entirely good, one may choose the lesser evil. This enables us to give morality
a voice and to vote for whoever will best promote our Christian concerns.
As a sign of our dependence on the Lord, I have asked each deanery to host a
pre-election Holy Hour before Christ, the Bread of Life; consult your parish for
specific details. I urge each family to recite a daily Rosary prior to the
elections; we beseech Mary, Immaculately Conceived, the Patroness of our
country, to intercede for us. And I have declared the day before Election
Day, November 6, a Day of Prayer and Fasting. Through intense prayers and acts
of self-denial, I ask all Catholics to witness to all our brothers and sisters
about the profound moral significance of the decisions being made that day.
Thomas Jefferson wrote that "Political interest can never be separated in the
long run from moral right." Jefferson realized what many in our day try to
forget-that moral goodness is not simply a peculiar concern of Christians but,
rather, the only path to lasting national greatness. On this Election Day, I
urge you to combine the best insights of your religious Faith and national hopes
- for life, for families, for social justice, and for America. Please, vote your
consciences.
With prayerful best wishes, I am
Sincerely in Our Lord,
Most Rev. Vincent De Paul Breen
Bishop of Metuchen
