For Immediate Release: November 4, 2020
Contact: Lee Morrow, [email protected], 202-601-7871

Catholic Lobby: Every Vote Counts, Count Every Vote

Sr. Simone: “In a secular democracy, voting is the closest thing we have to a sacrament, and we will protect this sacrament.”

Over 420 Nuns and Allies in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin Send Letters to Secretaries of State Urging A Full and Fair Count

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the votes continue to be counted across the country, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice supports the right of every American to have their vote be counted. In a secular democracy, voting is the closest thing we have to a sacrament, and this sacrament must be protected. Regardless of the voting method, NETWORK expects election officials in every state to honor every vote.

Sister Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice issued the following statement:

“Every vote counts, and we will count every vote. Donald Trump’s reckless attempts to disenfranchise millions of people across the country struggling during this pandemic is shameful and will not be tolerated. In a secular democracy, voting is the closest thing we have to a sacrament, and we will do everything we can to protect this sacrament. Over 420 sisters and their allies in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania have made it clear to their secretaries of state that this is a moral obligation. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, a full count is the only way to achieve a valid result for our democracy.

“It may be frustrating that we do not know immediately who won our 2020 Presidential election. Nonetheless, democracy is worth the hard work and the wait. We must insist that our democracy can and does work. We will give the vote counting the time needed to ensure that we count every vote.

“The United States has weathered political uncertainty before, and we are confident in our nation’s ability to endure this brief period of waiting. Our democracy is strong enough to insist that every vote be counted. And We the People are committed enough to wait. “

On Monday, NETWORK and Nuns and Nones organized over 500 Catholic Sisters and their allies in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin to send letters to their secretaries of state urging a fair election and full count of the votes.

In August, NETWORK encouraged its members to vote against President Trump, telling members in a statement: “Catholics cannot be true to their faith and vote for Donald Trump in November.” The group also announced the release of its Equally Sacred Scorecard for Catholic voters. This scorecard compares President Trump’s and Vice President Biden’s positions on the issues that Pope Francis names as “equally sacred” to the defense of the unborn, including caring for immigrants and ending economic inequality.

From September through October, NETWORK’s Nuns on the Bus: Who We Elect Matters tour took this message on the virtual road, hosting 63 events in communities across the country in states where the Catholic vote was critical to the defeat of Donald Trump.

Throughout the election, NETWORK’s Pope Francis Voter campaign ran digital ads in English and Spanish that were seen over 8 million times by almost 2.5 million Catholic swing voters in battleground states.

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NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice – advocates for justice inspired by Catholic Sisters – educates, organizes, and lobbies for economic and social transformation. They have a nearly 50-year track record of lobbying for critical federal programs that support those at the margins and prioritize the common good. www.networklobby.org