In a message for the 2026 election, the president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops described voting as a right and responsibility, called for “free and fair” elections, and asked “all Catholics to put their faith before politics.”
“The Church’s contribution to the public life of a nation is not a political or partisan program; rather, it reflects our commitment to the dignity of every person, who is created in the image and likeness of God,” Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City said in his October 14 statement. “We must reject rhetoric that appeals to fear, resentment, or division, and listen instead, to the Gospel call to love God and all our neighbors.”