Growing up in a Midwest, blue-collar family, I knew that we were Democrats. My dad was a “union man,” and being a Democrat was simply an expected choice. Later, as I grew up and Dad saw changes in the national parties, he wavered. We would have long political discussions (sometimes heated) in which my father would say in desperation, “I’m voting the straight moe ticket: Eeny, meeny, miney, moe!” The fact is that political choices are not clear-cut. We often want to ignore the work it takes to assess a political candidate and take the “moe” route. However, as catechists and Catholics we cannot ignore the responsibility to make informed choices as the November elections loom. The issues of economic justice, peace, human rights and a consistent ethic of life must be a part of our curriculum. Without being partisan, the catechist can use the major political parties’ platforms as a springboard to forming a Catholic conscience. I encourage thoughtful debate, open forum and information gathering with a newspaper and material from the Internet in one hand and a catechism in the other. We are called to prepare our students for a faith-filled life when choices are not always easy.

While church and state keep a healthy distance in our culture, at least in theory, we know that it is not enough to just research the political issues as we prepare for the election. Prayer allows us to bring wisdom and discernment into the mix. Teaching our students to invite God into their discernment brings a dimension to political choice that cannot be underestimated. As catechists, we model what prayer is meant to be in our daily lives. Praying for a just election, peace in our time, prosperity in our land, life for the unborn, among other issues, is as powerful as physically working for our cause. Franciscan Rock Travnikar‘s book The Blessing Cup: Prayer-Rituals for Families and Groups is a wonderful resource for teaching this important faith skill. As the voters come to the polls in November, such prayers as “For Peace,” “With Respect for the Earth” or “For a Civic Holiday” set the pace for original prayer in the classroom. Teachers and students can create their own versions of blessing cup ritual prayer. The blessing cup can become a sign of solidarity—oneness in prayer and blessing. These simple prayer rituals incorporate a blessing cup that speaks silently of the unity we need to remember as we continue to proclaim: “one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

As another election approaches, Catholics are challenged to discern which candidates most closely support the values upheld by the life and teachings of Christ and the Church. From presidential to local elections, we must vote as well-informed citizens and people of faith.

In most parishes, it seems, you can count on one thing when you propose a new study series, book club or other opportunity for spiritual growth: Most of your participants will be women. Now St. Anthony Messenger Press is publishing a new series designed precisely for the women in your faith community—Called to Holiness: Spirituality for Catholic Women.