The economic woes of our nation and state continue to grow as unemployment increases along with poverty.
Many Rhode Islanders facing financial insecurity and fiscal instability are primarily concerned with the state’s economy and its lack of promise for them and their families. These serious economic issues have dominated the primary campaign trail across the Ocean State as candidates compete to represent their political party in the November general election. In Rhode Island, many local and state races will be decided at next Tuesday’s primary election as there is no general election opponent in many races for the Rhode Island General Assembly. The Catholic community of Rhode Island is large and diverse. It comprises every race and ethnic background and includes republicans, democrats and independents. It crosses the state from the rural to the urban and includes all socio-economic classes from business executives to the working poor. However, each member of the Catholic community shares the same common commitment to protect human life and dignity, promote the sanctity of marriage between one woman and one man, stand with those who are poor and vulnerable and strive to serve the common good.
The votes of Rhode Island Catholics next Tuesday will no doubt have a huge impact in shaping the type of society, in which we live, work, worship and pray. These votes work to shape laws and determine government policies that affect the unborn, the elderly, the poor, the needy, marriage and family life. On Tuesday as Catholics cast votes for various candidates for national and state office they must be devoid of self-interest and instead embrace the common good — even in this time of economic decline and uncertainty. Catholics must go beyond themselves to support candidates who will safeguard the protection of human life and dignity, support the promotion of marriage and family life, and pursue social justice that ensures a safety net for the poor and vulnerable in our state. On September 11, we urge all citizens of the Ocean State, but most especially Catholics, to vote in the primary and support candidates who share a faith-filled vision of our state that doesn’t displace God from the public square, but rather, truly supports the virtuous inclusion of faith in shaping public policy and the future of our state.
