US Bishops Ask Priests to Put Faith Before Politics as Midterms Approach

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has released a formation guide to help priests and deacons teach Catholics how to apply their faith to public life ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The document provides practical materials for dioceses to explain faithful citizenship, which the bishops describe as living the Gospel through the responsibilities of public life rather than an activity performed only during election cycles.

The guide does not endorse specific candidates, political parties, or electoral choices. Instead, it offers Catholic social teaching as a framework to help people make moral decisions before they vote. The materials include outlines for one hour or three to five hour formation sessions, preaching resources, and a video featuring several bishops.

The bishops developed these resources after some requested more guidance on how to discuss political participation with their congregations. The upcoming November 2026 elections will determine control of the Senate and the House of Representatives.