Do your part! By Maria V. Gallagher I would hazard a guess I was the only member of my kindergarten class focused on an upcoming election for Governor. I went to my mother, imploring her to allow my baby sister and me to carry signs promoting my candidate as we would march back and forth behind our apartment building. Thinking that our neighbors would believe that my mother was behind the politicking, she deftly created signs lobbying for ice cream and lollipops. I was a bit disappointed — I didn’t think they were part of my candidate’s platform — but I gamely grabbed a sign and marched on. Politicking Two years later, I tried my hand at one-on-one politicking. That year, a Presidential race was under way. I knew my sister would be voting in her school election. I sat down at the kitchen table and proceeded to give all the reasons why she should vote for the candidate I had selected. She ended up voting for his opponent, citing the fact that she was voting the way Daddy did. When it came to politics, I obviously could not keep up with my father, who was an astute observer of the game. My father was also a faithful Catholic who believed strongly in his responsibility to engage in the political process. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one’s country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community (#2239). Responsibility as citizens Among our responsibilities as citizens, in all but exceptional circumstances, is to be sure to exercise our right to 24 Marian Helper • Fall 2024 • Marian.org Election 2024
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