St. Olaf Catholic Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin shared a message from Rev. James Kurzynski about preparing for the election season. 

The topics of the dignity of work and the preferential option for the poor are important topics that require a proper understanding. 

“In regard to the dignity of work, we see that, in order for families to fulfill their vocation of being the domestic church, the human person has basic needs that must be met,” Rev. Kurzynski wrote. “A family needs a stable living environment, thus pointing to the Church’s emphasis on the right to own private property.” 

Just wage is needed to ensure that parents are able to provide for the needs of their families and the rights to unionize and worker’s rights are needed to ensure that our voices are heard. 

This leads us to the question of what we should do about individuals with low income, homeless or who have no employment. 

“Regardless of what popular punditry may pontificate, there will always be poor and homeless in our world. The preferential option for the poor reminds us that those of us with means have a moral obligation to assist those who suffer from the effects of poverty," Rev. Kurzynski wrote. 

While some claims that Catholic Social Teaching is close to socialism, this is not the case. The Catholic Church does not allow for socialism and in fact condemns it, he wrote.

What the Church does call for, however, is for charity and the face of Christ in our neighbor, in particular those who are marginalized. 

We are our brother’s keeper and this is important when it comes to living out our faith. 

In the instance of COVID-19, the passage of the Paycheck Protection Program fulfilled an important work. Since the government shut down the economy, the government had to protect the needs of those people until they could work once more. 

“Let us pray that the political tensions subside and our public servants remember their promise to have the economy serve the citizens of our country,” Rev. Kurzynski wrote.