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WCC issues new election year guidelines stressing voter education

By Wisconsin Catholic Conference

	Guidelines available The Guidelines are on the WCC Web site at www.wisconsincatholic.org or may be obtained by phoning 608-257-0004

As the 2006 elections near, the Wisconsin Catholic Conference has again provided dioceses and parishes in the state with its Guidelines for Church Involvement in Electoral Politics.

The Guidelines both encourage active citizenship and clarify the activities and efforts that are appropriate for church officials and agencies during a campaign for elected office.

WCC staff and the diocesan newspaper editors first developed the Guidelines in 1983. WCC revised the Guidelines in 1990, and held another review after the 2000 elections to address Internet technology. The Guidelines were revised again this year to offer additional direction on issue-based, voter education resources.

Like the three previous editions, the revised document emphasizes the importance of civic involvement by Catholics.

"Underlying these guidelines is the Catholic view that 'every believer is called to faithful citizenship, to become an informed, active and responsible participant in the political process,'" the document states.

The Guidelines also affirm that "the church has both a duty and a right to call attention to the moral and religious dimensions of public issues. As it does this, it applies Gospel values as a norm against which social policies and political activities are measured. It also shares its vision of how our call as believing Christians compels us to work for the transformation of society in ways that make it more just."

The Guidelines recommend issue-based education and advocacy activities for church related groups. They also spell out which activities are prohibited, such as endorsing or opposing candidates for public office.

The document invites Catholics who encourage faithful citizenship at election time to turn to the Wisconsin Catholic Conference for advice and approval of various educational materials, such as candidate surveys or scorecards.

"Elections provide great teachable moments within the faith community, said John Huebscher, WCC executive director.

"The WCC wants church based voter education efforts to flourish, but these efforts should conform to what is appropriate both theologically and legally within the church community."