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The United States and the world are in trouble! We need to take it seriously. And we need to elect candidates who will take it seriously.
Continuing to largely ignore the grave problems facing humanity and the planet we all live on is both perilous and immoral.
Concern for the earth
The earth is continuing to dangerously heat up. Tons upon tons of global warming greenhouse gases being irresponsibly poured into the atmosphere — mainly by burning fossil fuels of gas, coal, and oil — is causing accelerated flooding, droughts, heat waves, forest fires, increased threats of animal and plant extinctions, and more intense hurricanes.
According to a report just issued by the United Nations, unless drastic changes are made within the next 12 years, a climate catastrophe will unfold.
Human life
Human life begins at conception. This is a scientific fact. And it is also a scientific fact that every abortion kills a human being.
Throughout the world, approximately 56 million abortions are performed every year. Annually in the U.S., about 900,000 unborn babies die from this heinous legal practice.
There are over 700 million people on earth who suffer in extreme poverty. Over 800 million fellow human beings suffer debilitating hunger. Approximately 8,000 children under age five die every day from hunger and hunger related diseases. In the U.S., about 12 million children may not know where they will get their next meal.
In the U.S. there are at least 550,000 homeless people.
Displaced people
An unprecedented 68.5 million people around the world have been forced from their homes — 24 million are refugees, over half of whom are under 18-years-old. And 85 percent of the world’s displaced people are being hosted in developing countries.
This should shame rich nations like the U.S. which did not come close to meeting its historic low of accepting 45,000 refugees for fiscal year 2018.
For many refugees who make it to the U.S. to seek asylum from persecution, instead of a warm welcome, they are placed in detention in immigration prisons. On any given day approximately 30,000 asylum seekers are locked up.
Armed conflicts
Then there are the wars. More than 40 armed conflicts throughout the world are causing death, injury, and destruction, many of which are being fueled with weapons from lucrative U.S., Russian, French, German, Chinese, British, and Israeli corporations.
The list of troubles in our suffering world goes on and on.
Vote on November 6
As the U.S. midterm elections approach on November 6, it is very important that Catholics vote, and vote for candidates who have a heart! Far too many appear heartless.
Very often voters choose candidates who promise to look out for their interests. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Catholic social teaching call us to look out for the poor and vulnerable, to be peacemakers, and to take care of God’s creation.
Find candidates who most closely reflect God’s platform, and vote for them!
Tony Magliano is an internationally syndicated social justice and peace columnist. He is available to speak at diocesan or parish gatherings. He can be reached at tmag@zoominternet.net