In keeping with its mission, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC) aims to educate and inform Catholics about a wide range of issues.
To that end, we have compiled a series of resources to help to educate you about some of the issues and topics of import to Catholics. The PCC neither supports nor opposes any candidate for public office.
As you review these resources, please also consider excerpt from the bishops’ Living the Gospel of Life:
“Any politics of human dignity must seriously address issues of racism, poverty, hunger, employment, education, housing, and health care. Therefore, Catholics should eagerly involve themselves as advocates for the weak and marginalized in all these areas…But being ‘right’ in such matters can never excuse a wrong choice regarding direct attacks on innocent human life. Indeed, the failure to protect and defend life in its most vulnerable stages renders suspect any claims to the ‘rightness’ of positions in other matters affecting the poorest and least powerful of the human community. If we understand the human person as the ‘temple of the Holy Spirit’ — the living house of God — then these latter issues fall logically into place as the crossbeams and walls of that house. All direct attacks on innocent human life, such as abortion and euthanasia, strike at the house’s foundation. These directly and immediately violate the human person’s most fundamental right – the right to life.” From Living the Gospel of Life, No. 22 with original emphasis (Pastoral Statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1998).
Another resource to help Catholics prepare for the upcoming election is Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship, and its companion summary bulletin inserts.
Presidential Candidates
Know the Positions of the 2016 Presidential Candidates
Know the Positions of the Presidential Candidates (Spanish)
Pennsylvania Statewide Candidates
Survey of Pennsylvania Statewide Candidates
Know the Positions of the U.S. Senate Candidates
Complete Survey Responses of Senator Toomey (Candidate McGinty did not respond to the PCC survey)
General Assembly and U.S. Congressional Candidates
As they become available, this section will be updated with responses from General Assembly and U.S. Congressional candidates. You can also check with your diocesan website for these results.
