God will look at you and say not, ‘Did you succeed?’ but ‘Did you try?’

Dear Friend of CatholicVote.com,

 

At the airport in Detroit, after spending a week in our country, Pope John Paul the Great urged: "America, Defend Life!"

 

He stated boldly: "America, your deepest identity and truest character as a nation is revealed in the position you take towards the human person. The ultimate test of your greatness in the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless ones."

 

Let us remember those words as we go to the polls tomorrow to elect a new President and Congress, as well as to vote on ballot measures that will impact the future of life and marriage in many states.

 

We have worked diligently over the past 8 weeks to inform consciences and inspire hearts with the message of life, faith and family.

 

Catholics and other Christians have a duty to vote.  Catholics have a duty to form their conscience in the light of the truth of Church teaching.

 

How we vote has tremendous consequences not just on our civic life here and now, but also for the next generation.  Several bishops have also reminded us that our vote also has consequences for our eternal souls. 

 

Last November, I woke to the news of the death of Illinois Rep. Henry Hyde.  Hyde was a champion of the unborn, and I had the honor several days later of attending his funeral.  On a cold overcast day at a Catholic Church outside Chicago, I watched political leaders from both parties file into the Church to honor the life of the “gentleman of the House.”

 

Printed on the back of the pamphlet handed to each person who attended the funeral was one of Hyde’s most famous quotes.  We could not think of anything more fitting for our message today than to reprint the famous words of Rep. Hyde:

 

When the time comes as it surely will, when we face that awesome moment, the final judgment, I’ve often thought, as Fulton Sheen wrote, that it is a terrible moment of loneliness. You have no advocates, you are there alone standing before God - and a terror will rip through your soul like nothing you can imagine. But I really think that those in the pro-life movement will not be alone. I think there will be a chorus of voices that have never been heard in this world but are heard beautifully and clearly in the next world - and they will plead for everyone who has been in this movement. They will say to God, ‘Spare him because he loved us,’ - and God will look at you and say not, ‘Did you succeed?’ but ‘Did you try?’

Tomorrow: Pray for the unborn. Fast for the unborn. VOTE for the unborn.

Sincerely,

- Brian Burch, President

P.S.  Standing in line at the polls might take several hours. But it’s among the smallest sacrifices that you can make for unborn children. You are their advocate. If you haven’t yet participated in early voting or absentee, make sure you VOTE tomorrow!  Our country is depending on you.

Joy here. I am fasting today and encourage those of you who are able to join me to do so too.

Thanks for reading.