Colorado Catholic Bishops Urge Elected Officials to Protect Dignity and Religious Liberty

Election Night results began arriving moments after polls closed in Colorado on Tuesday evening. With some closely watched races called early by the Associated Press, the state’s Catholic bishops congratulated newly elected officials, offered their prayers and called on them to govern with wisdom, defend human dignity and serve the common good.

In a statement released by the Colorado Catholic Conference, which it described as the united voice of the Catholic bishops of Colorado, the four bishops serving in the state said: “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: “As you assume the responsibilities of governance, we pray that you are granted the wisdom and fortitude necessary for public service.”

As those officials prepare to take office in the coming months, the bishops noted their call to protect the dignity of every person, defend religious liberty and pursue policies that serve the common good, especially for the most vulnerable. “We call upon our elected leaders to implement policies that defend and uplift the most vulnerable members of our human family,” the bishops said. They also urged officials “to firmly protect the religious liberty of all individuals and faith-based organizations, safeguarding their right to serve the community according to their convictions.” Their statement closed with a hope for “a steadfast commitment to justice, peace and the flourishing of our entire state.” Speaking up for those who cannot easily speak for themselves is the lesson in this call (Proverbs 31:8-9).

Following the announcement of Phil Weiser’s projected election as Colorado’s next governor, the Colorado Catholic Conference issued a separate statement congratulating him. The conference said it “congratulates Governor-elect Phil Weiser on his election to serve as the next Governor of the State of Colorado.”

Noting its previous working relationship with Weiser while he was Attorney General, the conference expressed hope for future collaboration to ensure the dignity of every Coloradan. “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,” the statement said. It added that the conference 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,” and assured Weiser, his family and his administration of its prayers.

Beyond these early calls, the conference is monitoring several state offices and ballot propositions. Among them are 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.” The conference lists all three among the measures it supports.

The Denver Catholic report is described as a developing story and will be updated as more information, including vote counts, is released.

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