“Why is it important to vote?” or, more to the point, do we have a duty as Christians to vote?

As citizens, it’s important to vote because our participation in the democratic process of electing people to positions of authority has a significant bearing on the common good. Obviously, if non-virtuous politicians are elected to positions of power, they can cause significant harm to individuals and society. On the other hand, virtuous politicians can do a lot to support and promote the human person and the flourishing of the human community.

Our goal in voting is to elect officials whose principles and political proposals fall most in line with the natural moral law, Divine Law, and authentic goodness. In other words, how closely do the proposals of the politicians we vote for harmonize with the goodness of God and his will for human flourishing? We want to elect leaders who will protect human life, lend support to human dignity, marriage, the family, and the common good.

Objective: In this course, students will learn exactly why voting is important. Students will learn about how to correctly prioritize moral issues and how to vote with virtue. This course will cover some frequently asked questions when it comes to voting, like can a Catholic choose not to vote, and we will address the top voting concerns in America.

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Course curriculum

  • 01

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 1 - Why Voting Is Important

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 1 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 1 - Why Voting Is Important - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 1 - Why Voting Is Important - VIDEO

    • Lesson 1 - Why Voting Is Important - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 1 - Why Voting Is Important Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (2/10/21)
  • 02

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 2 - The Importance of Properly Forming the Conscience

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 2 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 2 - The Importance of Properly Forming the Conscience - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 2 - The Importance of Properly Forming the Conscience - VIDEO

    • Lesson 2 - The Importance of Properly Forming the Conscience - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 2 - The Importance of Properly Forming the Conscience Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (2/11/21)
  • 03

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 3 - Correctly Prioritizing Moral Issues

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 3 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 3 - Correctly Prioritizing Moral Issues - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 3 - Correctly Prioritizing Moral Issues - VIDEO

    • Lesson 3 - Correctly Prioritizing Moral Issues - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 3 - Correctly Prioritizing Moral Issues Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (2/12/21)
  • 04

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 4 - Intrinsic Evils vs Matters of Prudential Judgment

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 4 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 4 - Intrinsic Evils vs Matters of Prudential Judgment - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 4 - Intrinsic Evils vs Matters of Prudential Judgment - VIDEO

    • Lesson 4 - Intrinsic Evils vs Matters of Prudential Judgment - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 4 - Intrinsic Evils vs Matters of Prudential Judgment Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (2/16/21)
  • 05

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 5 - Abortion The Preeminent Moral Issue In America

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 5 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 5 - Abortion The Preeminent Moral Issue In America - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 5 - Abortion The Preeminent Moral Issue In America - VIDEO

    • Lesson 5 - Abortion The Preeminent Moral Issue In America - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 5 - Abortion The Preeminent Moral Issue In America Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (2/17/21)
  • 06

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 6 - Voting With a Coherent Ethic of Life Approach

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 6 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 6 - Voting With a Coherent Ethic of Life Approach - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 6 - Voting With a Coherent Ethic of Life Approach - VIDEO

    • Lesson 6 - Voting With a Coherent Ethic of Life Approach - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 6 - Voting With a Coherent Ethic of Life Approach Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (2/18/21)
  • 07

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 7 - A Practical Example of Pro-Life vs Anti-Life

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 7 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 7 - A Practical Example of Pro-Life vs Anti-Life - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 7 - A Practical Example of Pro-Life vs Anti-Life - VIDEO

    • Lesson 7 - A Practical Example of Pro-Life vs Anti-Life - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 7 - A Practical Example of Pro-Life vs Anti-Life Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (2/19/21)
  • 08

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 8 - Choosing The Candidate Who Will Do The Least Damage to Human Life, Dignity, and The Common Good

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 8 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 8 - Choosing The Candidate Who Will Do The Least Damage to Human Life, Dignity, and The Common Good - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 8 - Choosing The Candidate Who Will Do The Least Damage to Human Life, Dignity, and The Common Good - VIDEO

    • Lesson 8 - Choosing The Candidate Who Will Do The Least Damage to Human Life, Dignity, and The Common Good - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 8 - Choosing The Candidate Who Will Do The Least Damage to Human Life, Dignity, and The Common Good Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (2/23/21)
  • 09

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 9 - Can A Catholic Choose Not To Vote?

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 9 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 9 - Can A Catholic Choose Not To Vote? - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 9 - Can A Catholic Choose Not To Vote? - VIDEO

    • Lesson 9 - Can A Catholic Choose Not To Vote? - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 9 - Can A Catholic Choose Not To Vote? Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (2/24/21)
  • 10

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 10 - Voting for An Anti-Life Politician Can Place Your Soul At Risk

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 10 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 10 - Voting for An Anti-Life Politician Can Place Your Soul At Risk - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 10 - Voting for An Anti-Life Politician Can Place Your Soul At Risk - VIDEO

    • Lesson 10 - Voting for An Anti-Life Politician Can Place Your Soul At Risk - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 10 - Voting for An Anti-Life Politician Can Place Your Soul At Risk Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (2/25/21)
  • 11

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 11 - Addressing Some Common Misunderstandings

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 11 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 11 - Addressing Some Common Misunderstandings - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 11 - Addressing Some Common Misunderstandings - VIDEO

    • Lesson 11 - Addressing Some Common Misunderstandings - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 11 - Addressing Some Common Misunderstandings Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (2/26/21)
  • 12

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 12 - Frequently Asked Questions

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 12 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 12 - Frequently Asked Questions - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 12 - Frequently Asked Questions - VIDEO

    • Lesson 12 - Frequently Asked Questions - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as Catholic - Lesson 12 - Frequently Asked Questions - Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (3/2/21)
  • 13

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 13 - Voting With Virtue

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 13 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 13 - Voting With Virtue - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 13 - Voting With Virtue - VIDEO

    • Lesson 13 - Voting With Virtue - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 13 - Voting With Virtue Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (3/3/21)
  • 14

    Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 14 - The Top Three Voting Concerns In America Today

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 14 - Introduction

    • Resources for Students, Parents, and Teachers

    • Lesson 14 - The Top Three Voting Concerns In America Today - LESSON PLAN / STUDY GUIDE

    • Lesson 14 - The Top Three Voting Concerns In America Today - VIDEO

    • Lesson 14 - The Top Three Voting Concerns In America Today - QUIZ

    • Live Lesson Opening Prayer

    • Voting as a Catholic - Lesson 14 - The Top Three Voting Concerns In America Today Live Lesson Recording with Deacon Frederick Bartels (3/4/21)

What others are saying about this course:

Don Martino

5 star rating

“Excellent course prior to voting”

“Excellent course prior to voting”

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Dragoljub Radovic

5 star rating

“The best info for Catholics”

“The best info for Catholics”

→Read Less

Florence Rosato

5 star rating

“I found it very rewarding. Thank you deacon. ”

“I found it very rewarding. Thank you deacon. ”

→Read Less

Instructor(s)

Instructor Bio:

Deacon Frederick Bartels is a member of the Catholic clergy who serves the Church in the diocese of Pueblo, CO. He received an MA in Theology and Educational Ministry from Catholic Distance University, where he is currently employed as an adjunct professor of theology. He is founder and editor of Joy In Truth (joyintruth.com), an online magazine dedicated to the New Evangelization. As a Catholic educator, public speaker and evangelist, Deacon Bartels strives to infuse culture with the saving principles of the gospel. He lives in Colorado with his wife, Shelly, and the youngest two of their six children. Professor Bartels is Chairman of the Theology Department.

Deacon Frederick Bartels

Professor of Theology, Department Chair