Elections 2020 – #VotePax – Pax Christi USA

The Latest…

Read our post-election statement at this link following the election results projecting the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, including a quote from our National Council Chair Isaac Chandler.
Read Bishop John Stowe’s post-Election Day message to Pax Christi USA members and our extended community.

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For communities like ours at Pax Christi USA, elections present us with the opportunity to inject the values of peace with justice into the national conversation. The centerpiece of our resources for prayer, study and action during this election is our Statement of Principles. On this page, you’ll find resources built around this articulation of the principles we hold and the issues they impact within the context of the 2020 elections. This is our opportunity to pray, study and act, to #VotePax, and to move our nation closer to that beloved community which is at the heart of our mission as the peace of Christ in the world today.

Pax Christi USA Statement of Principles for the 2020 Elections

PSAs (i.e. Pray-Study-Act alerts)

Safeguarding the election and preparing for nonviolent action afterward, Oct. 22
Election 2020 – #VotePax, Oct. 12

PRAYER

Download and use this prayer card, Prayer for this Election Season, by our Deputy Director Sr. Dianna Ortiz, OSU. For a print-ready version (4 prayer cards to one 8.5 x 11 sheet) suitable for printing multiple copies and sharing, click here for the front of the card and here for the back. Additionally, a group of people within Pax Christi USA have committed to praying this prayer daily from now through the end of Election Day. All within the Pax Christi USA community are invited to pray it daily at 12pm ET (11am CT, 10am MT, 9am PT).
Prayer for Leadership, by Pax Christi USA Teacher of Peace Joan Chittister, osb
Revealing God’s Love in the Midst of Uncertainty, from the Society of the Sacred Heart, USC Province
Watch Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv, join with the Poor People’s Campaign to offer a prayer and reflection for A M.O.R.E. Prophetic Vote

STUDY

Pax Christi USA Statement of Principles for the 2020 Elections
Watch the video of the 2020 Elections Virtual Teach-in, “Working for Peace with Justice” for deeper dives into racial justice, (im)migration, the climate crisis, nuclear disarmament and militarism
Watch the video, “Confronting Institutionalized Violence with Gospel Nonviolence” for a deeper discussion of militarism, racism and economic injustice
Watch the video, “On (Im)migration and the U.S. elections” for a deeper discussion of the root causes of (im)migration and their relation to this year’s election
Listen in with Pax Christi USA Communications Director Roxana Bendezú on the Global Catholic Climate Movement’s podcast episode, “Voting Catholic”
On racial justice: Leslye Colvin, “Voting with a heavy heart”
On LGBTQ equality: Francis DeBernardo, “LGBTQ equality is not primarily about sexual ethics; it is fundamentally about social justice”
On militarism/nuclear disarmament: Marie Dennis, “The U.S. needs a fundamentally new understanding of strength and security”
On labor: Joseph Fahey, “The 2020 election and Catholic support for labor unions”
On the climate crisis: Heather Navarro, “Injustice, inequity are at the heart of U.S. failures to engage on climate change”
On racial justice: Vicki Lott, “Racial equity begins with telling the true stories of our pre-slavery African history”
On Palestine: Abigail Abysalh-Metzger, “In this election, your vote can advocate for a just-peace in Israel and Palestine”
On militarism: Veronica Fellerath-Lowell, “Greater security begins with practical steps to defund the military”
On gun violence: Johnny Zokovitch, “Whatever Trump may think, the Catholic Church stands against gun violence”
“Fratelli Tutti has a message for the U.S. on the eve of an election,” by Rev. Joe Nangle, ofm
Excellent election briefs from our sister organization, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

ACTION

Use or share our #VotePax – Elections 2020 Toolkit to either make your own plan for voting or to support, encourage and protect other’s plans to vote
An election season message for our brother priests: Action opportunity for bishops, priests and pastors
Take the Voter’s Covenant being shared via Faithful Democracy
Write letters to the editor with tips from NETWORK
Come up with a Voter Plan using these resources from Faithful Democracy
Make sure you’re ready to vote with BallotReady

ON SAFEGUARDING THE ELECTION PROCESS

Pax Christi USA is committed to supporting fair and transparent elections, assuring the integrity of the democratic process, and that all parties honor the results. Below are resources for defending democracy in the lead-up to the election, on Election Day, and afterward.