Prayers for elections

Prayer that elections will reflect the will of God

Leader: Let us pray that the forthcoming national and local elections may truly reflect the will of the Lord who guides the destinies of nations.

For every petition, let us pray together:

Response: Deliver us, Lord.

From coercion, intimidation, violence and terrorism…

From dishonesty, lies and all distortion of truth…

From bribery, graft and all conspiracy for fraud…

From gullibility to the deceptive and blindness of perspective…

From threats, intimidation and perverse language…

Leader: Let us pray together: Response: Hear us, Lord

That conscience may always be our ultimate norm…

That the common good may always be our highest goal…

That human dignity may be respected all the time…

That the poor and the weak may always have the priority…

That care for creation may never be ignored…

That solidarity may guide the path of peace and development…

That genuine fear of God and love of neighbors may guide those who seek public office…

Leader: Let us pray.

Altogether: Shepherd of souls and Savior of the nations, politics is your gift to us, a call to serve others and grow in holiness. Guide our politics as you guide our lives. May our political engagement for voters and candidates bring glory to your loving name and help us grow in holiness, forever and ever. Amen.

Source: CBCP

Prayer before an election

Lord God, as the election approaches,

we seek to better understand the issues and concerns that confront our city/state/country,

and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community.

We ask for eyes that are free from blindness

so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters,

one and equal in dignity,

especially those who are victims of abuse and violence, deceit and poverty.

We ask for ears that will hear the cries of children unborn and those abandoned,

Men and women oppressed because of race or creed, religion or gender.

We ask for minds and hearts that are open to hearing the voice of leaders who will bring us closer to your Kingdom.

We pray for discernment

so that we may choose leaders who hear your Word,

live your love,

and keep in the ways of your truth

as they follow in the steps of Jesus and his Apostles

and guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace.

We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Source: USCCB

Is it moral to broadcast the sins of a candidate for public office?

The Catholic Encyclopedia teaches that you can broadcast “the official shortcomings of public men.” And you can “present whatever information about the life or character of a candidate for public office is necessary to show his unfitness for the station he seeks.”

The Catechism itself even says that private information that negatively affects someone may be divulged if there is "a grave and proportionate reason."  

Here is the full text of the Catechism: "Professional secrets - for example, those of political office holders, soldiers, physicians, and lawyers - or confidential information given under the seal of secrecy must be kept, save in exceptional cases where keeping the secret is bound to cause very grave harm to the one who confided it, to the one who received it or to a third party, and where the very grave harm can be avoided only by divulging the truth. Even if not confided under the seal of secrecy, private information prejudicial to another is not to be divulged without a grave and proportionate reason."

Still it also emphasizes that the content of communication should "be true and--within the limits set by justice and charity--complete. Moreover, it should be communicated honestly and properly. This means that in the gathering and in the publication of news, the moral law and the legitimate rights and dignity of man should be upheld." 

In summary, you can talk about the faults of a candidate for public office as long as you do so with truth, justice, charity, propriety, and in the service of the common good.