The Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has produced a Presidential Candidate Comparison document and a document illustrating the stances of candidates for office at the state level in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. They seek to educate the faithful about candidates and their positions on issues of importance to Catholic voters. The information compiled in the following voter guides has been gathered from various sources, including voting history, policies, public statements, official and campaign websites, and other resources to help voters form their consciences before voting in November.
Please click one of the following voter guides to learn more:
– 2024 State Legislative Candidates
– 2024 Presidential Candidates
These documents are also available at archphila.org and CatholicPhilly.com, the official website and the official digital news agency of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, respectively.
It is important to note that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (including the Parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel), inclusive of its related entities, neither endorses nor opposes any candidate for political office. Rather it seeks to assist Catholics as they prepare to vote with well-formed consciences.
In addition, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is once again offering Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. This teaching document focused on civic responsibility in the political arena is available in English and Spanish, with an updated Introductory Note. You may also wish to review this document for a broad array of other voter information resources designed to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth.
Feel free to utilize and share these resources with your family, friends, and others from our community. These materials are the only ones sanctioned for distribution within parishes and other Archdiocesan entities.
Please bear in mind that, like the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, neither the PCC nor the USCCB endorse or oppose any candidate for political office. The information in these materials and resources are being provided in order to educate and inform Catholics about a wide range of issues, and the issues that appear within them do not represent a complete list of issues that may be of importance to Catholics.
In response to requests for a pastoral resource to help navigate an often tense and divisive political landscape with Christian charity and civility, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference has joined forces with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the New Jersey Catholic Conference to host a free webinar on this theme. It will be broadcast live on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at 6:00 PM. The program will begin with an introduction and opening prayer by Archbishop Pérez. The panelists will seek to engender understanding about Catholic teaching on important societal issues and share ways that we can listen to one each other with open hearts while speaking truth with charity. View the flyer here, and those interested in participating should register in advance by clicking here.
In the coming weeks, you may receive information tucked under your windshield wipers from various organizations disseminating election-based materials on parish property. Only materials emanating from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, the PCC, or the USCCB are sanctioned for distribution. OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE ASKED TO REMOVE THEIR INFOMATION AND LEAVE THE OLGC PARKING LOT BY PARISH USHERS IF THEY ARE OBSERVED PUTTING MATERIALS ON OTHER PEOPLES’ CARS.