I’m Precious Blood, and I vote!
by Maureen Lahiff, Alameda, California Companion
When I was in high school, I was very active in
deate and extemporaneous speaking. I had a lively
interest in U.S. politics and international affairs.
I was really looking forward to being old enough
to vote. But instead, I have found voting mostly a
chore and a burden. It has felt like a responsibility.
Most years, I have felt neither optimistic nor
hopeful. It has been hard to convince myself that my
participation matters. I have found over the years that it has been
very helpful to talk with people who share my core
values, even if we do not share the same priorities.
I also find this extremely helpful in making some
sense out of the myriad of propositions we are asked
to vote on here in California. Sometimes I feel that
we have to deal with these propositions because our
legislators in Sacramento aren’t capable enough or
cooperative enough to get anything done.
I was encouraged some years ago when the
U.S. Bishops Conference issued a document called
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, which
has been updated several times. The latest version,
from late 2015, can be found online at http://www.us-
ccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship—along
with some podcasts, bulletin inserts, bulletin an-
nouncements that are still useful with some updating,
and liturgy suggestions. There are some great ques-
tions for reflection and discussion and suggestions
for small faith sharing groups that could be adapted
for Companion gatherings. Our province’s corporate stances on the death
penalty, gun violence, and immigration reform are
also signposts for me in discerning my choices. This
fall, my prayer is that our Precious Blood values
of compassion and inclusion will guide our vot-
ing in this complex time of structural change on so
many fronts. As the daughter of an immigrant and
a descendent of those who were essentially refugees
from the Great Hunger in Ireland in the mid-19 th
century, I am grateful for the opportunities the
U.S. provides. To me, this gratitude means opening
doors and making room for migrants and refugees
today. I will be voting accordingly, and then I am
committed to continuing to take part in the work,
no matter how the elections turn out.
The bishops had a conversation about again
updating this document at their meeting last June,
and decided not to. To me, there didn’t seem to be
any energy for doing this, and there were questions
about the usefulness and effectiveness of these sorts
of documents. So, for this fall’s elections, we’re
on our own to read the signs of the times as we
consider candidates and propositions. I don’t have
any easy fixes or shortcuts, but I do think it’s worth
planning to spend some quality time gathering
information, having conversations that matter,
and praying. For me, that includes praying about
my decisions, praying for my fellow citizens, and
praying for the candidates.
I tend to rely on the websites of our local npr
station and major newspapers for interviews with
candidates. There, I can compare positions across
candidates on issues. I’ve found candidate forums
and town hall meetings to be frustrating, because
seldom do the candidates answer the questions they
are asked. Rather, they tend to launch into a spiel
that is tangentially related to the question.
This fall, we all face national and local issues.
Our corporate stance on the death penalty has
implications at the state level. Working against
gun violence at both the local and national
level is extremely difficult, due to very broad
interpretations of the Second Amendment. (I
think Marjorie Stoneman Douglas would be very
proud of the leadership of the students at the high
school in Florida that bears her name.) Historically,
refugees have been defined as those fleeing religious
persecution or severe consequences of political
activity. Today, we need to expand that definition
to include people who are fleeing gang violence and
domestic abuse.
Environmental justice is a major issue for me;
I take it into account when I vote on all levels.
For me, the epa is a health agency. The health of
everyone in our communities is intimately linked
continued on page 16
October 2018 • The New Wine Press • 15