MISSION

About Us

CatholicVote.org is a lay-led movement of committed Catholics who are passionate about living out the truths proclaimed by Christ and His Church in the modern world. We are joined in this mission by many individuals of other faith traditions (and no faith tradition) because the common good we seek is universal to all men and women of good will.

CatholicVote.org is a community of patriotic Americans who believe our nation’s founding principles are good and true, and worth fighting for. Most of all, we believe in the dignity of the human person from conception until natural death, marriage between one man and one woman, and in religious freedom for all people. We aspire to better apply the principle of subsidiarity in addressing the needs of our fellow citizens. We believe that an authentic Catholic approach to helping those in need is best achieved by encouraging private charitable initiatives, stronger marriages and families, and the flourishing of joyful religion expression.

CatholicVote.org believes in communicating our message with creativity. We have pioneered innovative approaches to Internet activism, employing a broad spectrum of multimedia (high-quality Internet videos) and social media (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter) initiatives.

Timeless principles + 21st century outreach = the CatholicVote.org approach.

We understand that we are living in challenging times. Far too many Catholics in the public square reject Catholic principles instead of embracing them. We believe Americans deserve better, because we all stand to benefit greatly from committed Catholics who are active in our cities, in our state houses, and in Washington, DC.

How do I take part?

The first step to joining our mission and and movement is to become a member of CatholicVote.org and to pray regularly for our country and our Church. The next step is to learn more about the critical issues of our day. The last step is to mobilize and become an agent of evangelization and positive change by championing the true good of the human person with the help of CatholicVote.org.

Last but not least, invite others to do the same. Together, we will make a difference. Together, we are the Catholic vote.

What We Believe

Every human life is a great gift with unlimited potential. Life is our greatest treasure and possession. We are for life, without exception. And we need to promote a culture that celebrates life.

Motherhood is a gift, and authentic femininity is under attack. We believe motherhood is beautiful and should be honored. We need to offer all women, and especially mothers, the respect, resources, and protection they deserve. We need to promote a culture that celebrates motherhood. Science and medicine must always focus on the good of each human person. From natural conception until natural death, human beings must never be treated as means to an end but instead as unique goods.

In the same vein, we believe science becomes truly human when it respects human dignity, and seeks to serve each human being as a person, not as a burden or an opportunity for bettering the lives of others.

Marriage is between one man and one woman, for life. Marriage is the fundamental building block of society. We all see the attacks on marriage in our culture. If we weaken the institution of marriage and erode the support of those who are married, we disadvantage our children, weaken the bonds of a just and loving society, and imperil the possibility of a brighter future.

The death penalty is an unnecessary legal penalty in the developed world. We are called to love everyone, especially our enemies. This is what Jesus taught us. A great witness to the love and mercy of Jesus in our own time is to oppose the death penalty, especially in a developed country like ours.

Everyone, without exception, has the responsibility to defend the “weakest among us.” We are all called to help the poor, especially those nearest to us. And the poor are best cared for by those around them, by families, local charities, churches and communities. If we create a culture of charity, we can begin to emerge from a culture of dependency.

The environment is God’s gift, to care for the environment is to care for humanity We are all called to practice responsible stewardship of the Earth. This means we must never exploit the earth, but instead seek innovative ways to live sustainably. Christian tradition believes that human beings are nature’s greatest gift, and so we advocate a person-centered ecology. All threats to the human being – physical, moral and environmental – merit our concern and creative solutions.

Do you believe what CatholicVote.org believes? Then become a member and put your faith in action!

Frequently Asked Questions about CatholicVote.org

Is CatholicVote.org just for Catholics?

No! Tens of thousands of other Christians, people of faith (and some of no particular faith) have joined CatholicVote.org because they believe the mission and vision is compelling and true. While a majority of our membership is Catholic, we welcome all people of good will who believe in the fundamental human goods of life, family and in America’s founding principles as we do.

Is CatholicVote.org run by or funded by the Catholic Bishops?

No. CatholicVote.org is a layperson-led effort of Americans who fully support the teachings of the Catholic Church. We are not funded or administered by the Catholic Bishops, and 100% of our funding comes from private donations from our members. We proudly profess our agreement with the Magesterium of the Church and value a fruitful relationship with the shepherds of the Church, and strive to be their energetic co-workers.

Are you liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat?

CatholicVote.org is Catholic. As Catholics we know our home is in heaven, not in a party platform. Being non-partisan allows us to approach issues and candidates with an open mind, and with a clear conscience formed by the principles of our faith. At the same time, being non-partisan preserves Catholics from being “owned” by any party or movement. With this freedom we will be able to more effectively pursue the common and creative solutions. However, we do believe in “taking sides” if one candidate or issue is decidedly against the principles we hold dear. And we welcome the opportunity to fully support every individual, issue or movement that is committed to the same clear principles which, when followed, promote the common good.

Do you endorse candidates for political office?

CatholicVote.org is organized as a 501(c)4 grassroots lobbying organization with a connected political action committee, called CatholicVote.org Political Action Committee. This gives CatholicVote.org the ability to use our growing membership to lobby Congress in favor (or against) legislation. CatholicVote.org Political Action Committee can also endorse (or oppose) candidates for elective office. We believe in showcasing good examples of men and women who proudly put their beliefs and values into action on behalf of those who elected them.

Who Runs Catholic Vote?

CatholicVote.org is managed by a core full-time staff which works in collaboration with a select group of allies, media and web agencies, and volunteers. CatholicVote.org recently welcomed its first intern staff and has plans to continue to grow. If you are interested in working at CatholicVote.org as a full or part time staff member or intern, or wish to contribute your services in another way, please send a short note with some background on yourself to [email protected]

The Structure of CatholicVote.org

The mission of CatholicVote.org is pursued through three organizations:

CatholicVote.org, a project of Fidelis, is a 501(c)4 membership organization formed to mobilize hundreds of thousands of faithful citizens dedicated to the renewal of American culture through grassroots civic action. We aspire to be the voice of millions of Catholics and all people of good will in fighting for the foundational issues of life, faith, and family, while applying the insights of the Catholic Church to current political debates, including the principles of subsidiarity and solidarity in addressing issues such as health care, immigration, the environment, economic justice, and national security.

CatholicVote.org Political Action Committee is a connected non-partisan political action committee dedicated to helping elect qualified candidates to office. All candidates endorsed by the CatholicVote.org PAC are required to complete an extensive questionnaire and are carefully screened. The goal of our political action committee is to provide qualified candidates with direct financial support while working independently to mobilize voters to elect candidates whom we believe will be faithful stewards of Catholic social teaching and the common good.

CatholicVote.org Education Fund is our 501(c)3 tax-deductible program and is divided into two primary areas: the CatholicVote.org Education Fund and the CatholicVote.org Legal Action Fund. Our popular online videos, such as our Life: Imagine the Potential campaign, are produced by the CatholicVote.org Education Fund. The CatholicVote.org Legal Action Fund provides critical funding in select legal cases that impact life, faith, and family. Contributions to both the CatholicVote.org Education Fund or the CatholicVote.org Legal Action Fund are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. Both the CatholicVote.org Education Fund and the CatholicVote.org Legal Fund are projects of the Fidelis Center for Law and Policy.