Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, today issued a statement on the results of yesterday's presidential election, which saw Republican nominee Donald Trump winning the electoral college vote.
Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton won the popular vote.
Coming Together as Faithful Citizens for the Common Good
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
WASHINGTON, November 9, 2016 – The American people have made their decision on the next President of the United States, members of Congress as well as state and local officials. I congratulate Mr. Trump and everyone elected yesterday. Now is the moment to move toward the responsibility of governing for the common good of all citizens. Let us not see each other in the divisive light of Democrat or Republican or any other political party, but rather, let us see the face of Christ in our neighbors, especially the suffering or those with whom we may disagree.
We, as citizens and our elected representatives, would do well to remember the words of Pope Francis when he addressed the United States Congress last year, “all political activity must serve and promote the good of the human person and be based on respect for his or her dignity.” Yesterday, millions of Americans who are struggling to find economic opportunity for their families voted to be heard. Our response should be simple: we hear you. The responsibility to help strengthen families belongs to each of us.
The Bishops Conference looks forward to working with President-elect Trump to protect human life from its most vulnerable beginning to its natural end. We will advocate for policies that offer opportunity to all people, of all faiths, in all walks of life. We are firm in our resolve that our brothers and sisters who are migrants and refugees can be humanely welcomed without sacrificing our security. We will call attention to the violent persecution threatening our fellow Christians and people of other faiths around the world, especially in the Middle East. And we will look for the new administration’s commitment to domestic religious liberty, ensuring people of faith remain free to proclaim and shape our lives around the truth about man and woman, and the unique bond of marriage that they can form.
Every election brings a new beginning. Some may wonder whether the country can reconcile, work together and fulfill the promise of a more perfect union. Through the hope Christ offers, I believe God will give us the strength to heal and unite.
Let us pray for leaders in public life that they may rise to the responsibilities entrusted to them with grace and courage. And may all of us as Catholics help each other be faithful and joyful witnesses to the healing love of Jesus.
#####
Statement of Archbishop Blase J. Cupich on the November 2016 U.S. Elections
November 9, 2016
The American people have spoken. I pledge my prayers for those elected and I ask the Lord to enlighten and sustain them in their service to all the people of our country. I also pray for those who held opposing positions, that they continue to participate in our democracy as we strive to work together in respectful harmony for the common good. We are all keepers of the American ideals of justice for all, equality and brotherhood and peace among nations. We must never tire of living our tradition of service to the needy, to those at society’s margins. Our common goals must be to demonstrate our commitment to those ideals, to recover our solidarity as a nation and to stand as a beacon of hope and compassion in a world sorely in need of both.
#####
Results of Illinois elections
Illinois House Republicans won a few seats from Democratic incumbents, shaving the House Democrats' supermajority to a simple majority, from 71 to 67. The Republicans now tally 51 members in the House.
Illinois Senate Republicans won two seats, but Senate Democrats still maintain a supermajority of 37 members, compared to 22 Republicans.
Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza, a Democrat, defeated current state comptroller Leslie Munger, a Republican, to serve out the remaining two years of the late Judy Baar Topinka's term. Topinka died on Dec. 10, 2014, just a few short weeks after winning her second term as Illinois comptroller. Gov. Bruce Rauner appointed Munger to fill out Topinka's term until the next statewide election.
Mendoza will be sworn into her new role as comptroller on Dec. 5.