The importance of civic engagement

The CSB+SJU Votes Coalition is part of the Eugene McCarthy Center for Public Policy and has the mission of getting students out to vote during election years. The goal of the Votes Coalition is to develop a campus initiative that will provide a pragmatic approach to foster the overall importance of civic engagement among students, no matter what their voter eligibility or status is. The Coalition works to ensure that students know and understand the resources available on-campus and in their home state to help them register, educate themselves on candidates and get out and vote.

As the Civic Engagement Coordinator for the CSB+SJU Votes Coalition, I plan to achieve these goals by building a large coalition with different clubs, activities and departments on campus. Partnering with the libraries, student Senates, College Republicans and Democrats, athletics, housing and more, the Coalition wants to get as many different students involved as possible. By hosting voter registration and information drives, candidate forums and other informational events, I hope to reach and inform all Bennies and Johnnies. You can also find more information on the McCarthy Center website or myCSBSJU.

As a sister at the Monastery, I am invited to be part of the Votes Coalition. Like Cecilia, I am working with the sisters to be alert to this mid-term election and be informed voters. As both the Senate and House of Representatives of Minnesota are almost equally divided in terms of political parties, it is difficult to accomplish work that is good for. Minnesota. The same is true on the national level. Here also there is tension and mutual blame for programs and policies failing to move forward for the good of the nation.

At the Monastery, as well as at the St. Scholastica Convent where our sisters retire, we are reflecting on Catholic Social Teaching as the basis for political decisions. Drawn from the gospel and papal encyclicals, principles such as human dignity, stewardship of creation, the rights of workers or promotion of peace are foundational when we consider the issues that are being raised by candidates. Another source of reflection is the American Bishops’ call to political responsibility in their “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.”

Sisters have received a one-page summary of candidates running for some of the major offices. Each summary looks at their background and positions on priority issues as stated on their website. Like Cecilia and the Votes Coalition, we are verifying voter registration for sisters who have changed residence and will take advantage of early voting for our elderly sisters. As in the college, the communication about the election is nonpartisan.

Because we believe each election is important and because we are a divided state and country in many ways, we are participating in a program from NETWORK, Associates for Justice, inspired by Catholic Sisters. It is a national organization to promote faithful citizenship. We are doing a SEE. LOVE. VOTE. program. As people of faith, we are contacting other people of faith across the country encouraging them to be involved and vote. On a postcard we write one thing we see happening in our country, why it is a concern or what action we are taking in relation to it, and ask the recipient to vote. NETWORK provides the postcards and the addresses of people of faith. It is an action we can do at the Monastery and with our retired sisters.

As a former social studies teacher, I can say it is all about being responsible citizens who are informed, thoughtful and bringing values and principles to the public arena. As Benedictine women we continue to this and model for the students who are learning this one aspect of adulthood. And, of course, we pray throughout it all for the security of our democracy with fair and honest elections accomplished with respect and peace.