By Br. Al Vu SDB, Province Coordinator for Education and Schools
(Los Angeles, California) – In conversations with Salesian educators, lay ministers, Salesian confreres, and others in the Salesian Family, many have expressed conflicted feelings about the choices for president and other state and local candidates in this upcoming election. The positions of the major political parties often do not fully align with Catholic Social Teaching or the values held by people of faith. However, as Salesian educators, we do have choices. This moment calls for serious study of Church teachings and deep personal reflection to make informed decisions.
When confronted with choosing the lesser of two evils, we can sort through our choices given the richness of our Salesian charism and Catholic Social Teaching. As followers of St. John Bosco, our mission calls us to stand firm in hope and seek the common good, even when the world around us feels polarized and divided.
Our political climate has created a sense of disillusionment for many, with values like unity, decency, and the common good seeming more fragile than ever. But it is precisely in these times that we, as Salesian educators, are called to model the dialogue and respect often absent from public discourse. As St. Paul encourages us, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6). Our role is to become a source of wisdom and peace amid division.
The Church does not endorse candidates for office, nor is it its role to do so. Instead, it respects each person’s right and responsibility to consider the issues thoughtfully and make conscience-driven decisions. This can be especially challenging in elections where no single candidate or party aligns fully with the Church’s holistic view of what it means to be pro-life. Pope Francis articulates the fullness of this call, emphasizing the dignity of human life at all stages:
“The defense of the unborn…needs to be clear, firm, and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of human life… Equally sacred, however, are the lives of the poor, the destitute, the abandoned, and the underprivileged…the victims of human trafficking, new forms of slavery, and every form of rejection.”1
We remember Christ’s words, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).
To be truly pro-life means to advocate for the dignity of all—from the unborn to the elderly, the impoverished to the refugee. This view calls us to take up many causes, from fighting racism to seeking the end of weapons of mass destruction to caring for our common home. In a Salesian context, this includes nurturing young people to be critical thinkers and compassionate leaders who advocate for justice.
A Salesian perspective enriches our understanding of these responsibilities. Salesian education is rooted in love, respect, and community, honoring the dignity of each individual. Inspired by the SDB Constitutions, we are called “to evangelize and to form the young, especially the poorest, according to the principles of the Gospel.” 2 This mission highlights our duty as educators to cultivate young minds and hearts committed to social responsibility and justice.
As Fr. Pascual Chavez, the 10th successor of St. John Bosco, reminded us, “the preventive system is rooted in the respect for human rights, dignity, and freedom.” 3 This truth resonates with Scripture’s affirmation that “God created humankind in God’s own image” (Genesis 1:27). Recognizing the inherent worth of each person reminds us to encourage our young people to engage in thoughtful, meaningful political participation, grounded in the Gospel message of love and respect for every individual.
Dialogue, especially around political matters, is at the heart of our Salesian charism. In a society marked by division, we are called to be peacemakers. Jesus’ words in the Beatitudes ring true for us: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). By fostering respectful discourse and understanding, we live out our mission as Salesian educators.
It is also our role to help young people understand the importance of looking beyond single issues in the electoral process. St. Paul tells us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Our choices should reflect a commitment to the common good, rooted in the teachings of Christ.
As educators within the Salesian tradition, we are called to shape young people into thoughtful, socially responsible citizens who advocate for the vulnerable. As those who educate and evangelize the young together with the SDBs, we each share in the vocation “… to be an educator who encourages the young to discover their own vocation and to act with social responsibility.”4 Voting is more than casting a ballot; it’s about embracing our faith and engaging in society with a deep commitment to love and justice. The USCCB’s document, Faithful Citizenship, reminds us to prioritize human dignity and the common good, echoing Christ’s teaching to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39).
As a Salesian Family, our shared vocation is to guide the young to discover their own calling to serve and act with social responsibility. As we approach the election, let us engage with a renewed purpose rooted in our Salesian ethos. We are invited to live as “missionary disciples” (Mark 16:15), bringing the Gospel to life in every aspect of our lives, including our civic duties. By nurturing compassionate, just leaders, we answer the call to be the transformative presence our world needs.
- Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, Apostolic Exhortation, 2013, no. 21.
↩︎ - Constitutions of the Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesians of Don Bosco), Article 6 ↩︎
- Fr. Pascual Chavez, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco (2002-2014), Concluding Talk at GC27, March 2014. ↩︎
- Salesian Society, Constitutions of the Salesian Society, Article 2. ↩︎
(Editor: Judy Alvarez)