News - Election Materials & Guidelines

The FCCB has developed a comparison between the positions of candidates for Florida governor, Ron DeSantis (Republican) and Charlie Crist (Democrat), on a range of issues important to Catholics. The positions of the candidates have been compiled directly from policies, public statements, official or campaign websites, and other sources, as of September 13, 2022.

WASHINGTON – Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles and president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued the following statement on the 2020 presidential election:

The FCCB has invited all U.S. Congressional and Florida Legislative candidates to share their positions on ten public policy proposals that may come before lawmakers in the coming term. Candidates are offered the opportunity to state their positions as well as provide optional comments on each question. Candidate positions on issues are gathered for informational purposes only and are not used for endorsement of any candidate or political party.

To help inform voters before casting their ballots, the positions of the presidential candidates on a range of issues have been compiled from policies, public statements, official and campaign websites, and other resources. This document is but one tool to help Catholics prepare for the election and is not a substitute for individual research and study. The issues that appear do not represent a complete list of issues that may be of importance to Catholics.

Floridians have the opportunity to vote this November on an amendment to the state Constitution that would increase the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour effective September 30, 2021. Each September 30 thereafter, the minimum wage would increase by $1.00 per hour until it reaches $15.00 per hour in 2026. From that point forward, the minimum wage shall be adjusted annually for inflation.

We have a dual heritage as both faithful Catholics and American citizens. As Catholics, our baptismal commitment to bear public witness to the values of Jesus Christ requires our active participation in the democratic life of our nation. As Americans, we have a serious moral obligation to vote.

Two new episodes of the FCCB's podcast, Catholics Across the Aisle: Commentary on Public Policy and Civic Life, focus on our responsibilities at the intersection of faith and politics. In the first episode, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, and Michele Taylor, associate director for communications, delve into the U.S. bishops' document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. In a second election-related podcast, the Candidate Questionnaire Project is covered in detail.

Approved by the bishops of Florida, the Election & Political Activities Guide is intended to encourage Catholic clergy and laity to facilitate the involvement of their faith communities in appropriate election-related activities. These efforts are designed to increase parishioners' interest in the policy issues that will characterize election-year debates, focus their attention on candidate positions, and encourage them to exercise their right to vote. The document includes guidelines for parish involvement in political activities and identifies approved and prohibited activities for parishes and ministries.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has released five new videos to inspire prayer and action in political life and to help Catholics apply the Church's teaching as handed down by Pope Francis. The scripts for the videos were approved by the full body of bishops at their November General Assembly in Baltimore. The videos complement Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the bishops' teaching document for the faithful on the political responsibility of Catholics, and they seek to help the faithful participate in public life, prioritize faith over partisan politics, engage with civility, and respond to pressing issues of our day. Each video ends with a prayer.

As Catholics, we have a long tradition of engagement in the political process as a means of putting our faith into action. We are called to bring the best of ourselves and our faith to the public square -- and yet today, many shy away from such involvement because our national and local conversations are filled with vitriol and harsh language, often directed at individuals. When personal attacks replace honest debate, no one wins. This kind of attack, no matter the reason, only serves to further divide our communities. As Catholics, we must bear witness to a better way. 

In keeping with its mission to educate and inform Catholics and assist the faithful with their responsibility to participate in political life, the FCCB has released its 2016 presidential voter guide, "Know the Positions of the Presidential Candidates."

To assist voters prior to casting their August 30 primary election ballots, the FCCB has released parish bulletin inserts and candidate responses to the Candidate Questionnaire Project (CQP). Candidates were asked whether they support or oppose eight proposals that lawmakers may have the opportunity to act on in the coming term.