Colorado Bishops Congratulate Officials, Urge Common Good
After polls closed Nov. 3, they prayed for wisdom for officeholders, stressed religious liberty and the vulnerable, and messaged Governor-elect Weiser.
On Tuesday evening, Nov. 3, as election returns came in after the polls closed, the four Catholic bishops serving the state congratulated all newly elected and re-elected officials.
In a statement released through the Colorado Catholic Conference, the united voice of the state’s bishops, they wrote: “We, the Catholic bishops of Colorado, extend our sincere congratulations to all newly elected and re-elected officials chosen to serve our state.” They added: “We pray that you are granted the wisdom and fortitude necessary for public service.”
Dignity, Liberty, and the Vulnerable
The bishops called on officeholders to protect the dignity of every person, defend religious liberty, and pursue policies that serve the common good, especially for those most at risk. “We call upon our elected leaders to implement policies that defend and uplift the most vulnerable members of our human family,” the statement said. “We also urge you to firmly protect the religious liberty of all individuals and faith-based organizations, safeguarding their right to serve the community according to their convictions.”
After Phil Weiser was projected as Colorado’s next governor, the Conference issued a separate message. “The Colorado Catholic Conference congratulates Governor-elect Phil Weiser on his election to serve as the next Governor of the State of Colorado.”
The Conference noted it had already worked with Weiser in his role as outgoing attorney general. “We appreciated working with Governor-elect Weiser as Attorney General on a variety of issues and look forward to establishing a constructive, collaborative relationship with the new administration to promote the common good.” It said it is “eager to engage in fruitful conversations to build a state where every human life is valued, families can thrive and the dignity of all Coloradans is respected.”
Ballot Measures Under Watch
The Conference said it is monitoring several state offices and ballot propositions, including Proposition 133, the “Children Are Not for Sale Act”; Proposition 134, the “Protect Girls’ Sports Act”; and Proposition 135, the “Protect Kids from Irreversible Sex-Rejecting Surgeries Act,” measures it supports.
Vote counts were not yet final Tuesday night as tallies continued. The bishops’ appeal frames public office as service ordered to the common good, the protection of life and family, and the freedom of believers and faith-based works to act according to conscience—priorities long at the heart of the Church’s social teaching in civic life.