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New website will inform Catholics about their �?rich heritage’

CatholicVote.com, a new educational website targeting Catholic voters, has been launched by the Catholic-inspired group Fidelis. The site provides information on voter registration, candidate positions, documents from Catholic bishops, and an invitation to prayer, reports Catholic News Agency.

The web site, which does not endorse any candidate, includes a three-and-a-half minute documentary on Catholic contributions to public life, examining Catholics’ advocacy of civil rights, human dignity, and the family throughout American history.

Brian Burch, director of CatholicVote.com, explained in a press release the motives for the web site:

“The U.S. Bishops have stated that �?responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. We launched CatholicVote.com to provide Catholics and all people of good will with the tools to both educate and inspire their fellow citizens as they prepare to vote in November.”

Burch said the web site is a complement to voter guides, statements, and resources developed by other organizations.

“Our hope is to not only win over the minds of voters, but also the hearts of American Catholics and Christians,” Burch explained.

“There’s no reason Catholics should be silent about the wonderful contribution Catholics have made to American life,” he continued. “Catholics have a rich heritage of fighting injustice and helping the poor and the defenseless. As Archbishop Chaput says so wonderfully in his new book Render Unto Casear, we serve the nation when we live our Catholic beliefs in political life.”

Burch said that the 67 million Catholic voters are critical to American elections, claiming that Catholics vote in higher numbers than the rest of the population and are influential in the swing states of Michigan, Ohio, and Florida.

“We encourage all Catholics to take a look at CatholicVote.com,” Burch remarked. “At the site, you can register to vote and join other Catholics in prayer. You can also read up on the issues, and most importantly, send the video to your friends. There is plenty of evangelization to be done when it comes to voting.”

[09/14/2008]

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