Strong Statement On Religious Liberty To Be Read In Diocese of Gallup At Masses Before Election Day

This is a very good statement that will be read in all Masses this weekend before the election in the Diocese of Gallup. I think this very forceful and needed to be said.

This weekend, November 3 & 4, the following letter will be read at the Masses in all of the parishes and missions in the Diocese of Gallup. Please pray for our country and the men and women who will help to shape the future of the United States of America as they cast their votes.


Mary Immaculate, Patroness of our country, pray for us.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

May God’s grace and peace be with you during this Year of Faith.

On Tuesday, November 6th many of you will have the privilege of participating in our nation’s electoral process. This is an opportunity that none of us take lightly. We will participate in a decision making process that will help to form policies that will shape the future of our country and the future of the Catholic Church in America. As your Bishop it is my role to help all of the faithful of the Diocese of Gallup to form their consciences according to authentic Catholic moral teaching.


In the United States of America, we continue to see an erosion of religious freedom. This loss of religious freedom has accelerated over the last few years. This is especially evident in the recent Health and Human Services Mandate, enacted by the present administration, which attempts to force Catholics to act against their consciences by cooperating with intrinsically evil acts. These acts include abortion, contraception (including abortion causing drugs) and sterilization. The Church calls these actions “intrinsically evil acts” because they are never permitted under any circumstances.

The grave danger of these unprecedented attacks on religious freedom by the current administration must cause us to think deeply about our vote in this coming election. Unfortunately some candidates and political parties support intrinsically evil actions and, ever more, are seeking to impose their beliefs on all citizens including Catholics. These positions include being in favor of abortion, contraception (including abortion inducing drugs), homosexual marriage and the destruction of human embryos for research. No Catholic can, in good conscience support these positions, nor can any Catholic vote for candidates or political programs that support them.

As each of you prepares to participate in the upcoming election I urge you to research all of the candidates and determine their positions on these issues. I then encourage you to vote as a Catholic, in full support of Catholic issues and for the freedom of Catholics to follow their consciences and the teachings of the Church.

The time is now for all Catholics to join together in solidarity and protect our God given rights to live as Our Lord Jesus Christ calls us.

With the assurance of my prayers and best wishes, I am

Yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend James S. Wall

Bishop of Gallup