Faithful Citizenship

Catholic organizations may —and, in fact, are encouraged to— participate in the political process. A Catholic entity is allowed to discuss the importance of civic participation and the impact issues have on the community and the common good, but this must be done within the framework of a 501(c)(3) organization that qualifies for tax-exempt status under the Internal Revenue Code. You can download this brochure for guidelines on appropriate participation in politics.

PDF: 2024 ELECTION YEAR GUIDELINES for Catholic Parishes and Organizations ENGLISH
PDF: DIRECTRICES PARA EL AÑO DE ELECCIONES 2024 para parroquias y organizaciones católicas ESPAÑOL

Individual Catholics, likewise, are encouraged to be involved in their communities, but they are encouraged to do so after study, prayer and reflection. A good place to start is by reading the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, a document with guidance on how to approach politics.

You can find the document here: Faithful Citizenship – Justice Peace and Human Development | USCCB

You may also wish to join Civilize It, an effort to counter polarization in politics today. You can read more and join the effort here: A Better Kind of Politics | Civilize It | USCCB