“‘Family values’ isn’t simply a buzzword on the campaign trail. As Catholic women and mothers, we follow the presidential election not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Catholics committed to our faith, our families and the common good.”
Nebraska bishops firmly behind anti-death penalty referendum
By Deacon Randy Grosse, Crux
Nebraska’s bishops have cited the danger of executing an innocent person, racial bias, the suffering of victims’ families, inadequate defense and the costs of capital punishment as reasons for calling for support of a referendum to repeal the state’s death penalty statute.
Clergy group calls for progressive agenda as early voting begins
By Allan Turner, Houston Chronicle
Charging that the run-up to the 2016 presidential election resembles the darkest days of pre-civil rights America, leaders of a new progressive association of religious leaders Monday called on Houston voters to reject candidates whose campaigns have been marked by the “rhetoric of hate and violence.”
Russell Moore: Religious Right must change or die
By Bob Allen, Baptist News Global
If the Religious Right is to survive, it must embrace a “gospel-centered” evangelicalism that articulates why and how Christianity matters rather than using religion as a means toward a political end, the Southern Baptist Convention’s top spokesman for public policy concerns said in a prestigious lecture Oct. 24.
North Carolina churches sending ‘Souls to the Polls’
By Julienne Gage, Al Jazeera
Black churches continue to play a role in the US state’s civil rights movement, marching together to voting centres.
Liberty University Students Want to Be Christians—Not Republicans
By Emma Green, The Atlantic
That’s why it was such a big deal when, two weeks ago, a group of Liberty students put out a letter explaining why they’re standing against the Republican presidential nominee. Jerry Falwell Jr., who has run the school since his father died in 2007, announced his support for Donald Trump back in January, and he has since spoken on the candidate’s behalf in interviews and at events.
10 predictions for the days after Nov. 8
By David Gushee, Religion News Service
Let’s say that the majority of the polls are right, and Hillary Clinton wins the presidency rather comfortably on Nov. 8. Let’s further posit that the Democrats take the Senate narrowly and the Republicans retain the House. What happens next? Getting out my crystal ball, here are 10 things that I predict will happen:
Immigration has to be part of a ‘Consistent Ethic of Life’
By Charles C. Camosy, Crux
Pope Francis has labored to draw attention to issues involving immigrants in the United States, though obviously in a very different way from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, highlighting why immigration reform has to be considered part of a “consistent ethic of life.”
Meet The Muslim Woman Running For State Legislature In Minnesota
By Carol Kuruvilla, Huffington Post
Ilhan Omar is a former refugee, a Somali-American activist, and a proud Democrat. On November 8, the 33-year-old is poised to become one of the few Muslim women ever elected to a state legislature in the country.
Cardinal Dolan confesses: Charity dinner with Trump and Clinton was tough
By David Gibson, Religion News Service
The fallout from last week’s Al Smith Dinner is continuing, and not just for Donald Trump, whose cringe-worthy comedy at the traditional Catholic charity roast earned him the first boos in the history of the glitzy gala.
America, divided on values, seeks authoritarian leader
By Thomas Reese, National Catholic Reporter
The 2016 election has revealed divisions in the American public, but it has taken a poll to show just how deep and dangerous those divisions are. The survey reveals a divided nation with many people disillusioned with the American political system and desirous of a leader who is not afraid to break the rules to get things done.
Deep Dive of the Week
Daniel Cox, Ph.D., Robert P. Jones, Ph.D., Public Religion Research Institute
American voters’presidential preferences are sharply divided along religious lines. As has been true of past presidential contests, Republican Donald Trump receives strong support among white Christian voters while his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, is performing equally well, if not better, among non-Christian, religiously unaffiliated, and non-white Christian voters.1 However, at this stage of the campaign, Trump is underperforming among white mainline Protestants and white Catholics compared to Romney in 2012.
