Lenten campaign 2026
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Archbishop William Lori released a pastoral letter in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence – a letter that does not encourage directionless nostalgia, but calls strongly for responsibility, virtue, and unity in our current political climate.
With In Charity and Truth, Toward a Renewed Political Culture, the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, the oldest diocese in the United States, asks Catholics to not only remember our country’s history, but to act:
Authentic remembrance always orients us toward renewal; it calls us to consider not only who we have been, and who we are becoming – but, by God’s grace, who we are called to be.
He recognizes the “deep polarization” in the U.S., noting, “Political discourse has become more vitriolic than usual. Political violence and threats of such violence have erupted.”
This state of the nation is a true and present concern, resulting in “an epidemic of loneliness and isolation – an aching sense of being unmoored, misunderstood, or unheard.”
“Pope Francis,” he writes, “warned that a culture of indifference and division slowly erodes the human heart.”
But Archbishop Lori doesn’t stop with his critique; he asks Catholics to step up, in imitation of St. Thomas More, activating a “patriotism that loves one’s nation enough to speak the truth and help it become its best self.”
So what does this patriotism look like?
1 Synodality
“A synodal spirit offers a kind of wisdom for civic life,” Lori writes; “it reminds us that no political goal is worth the cost of a fractured people, and no disagreement justifies forgetting our shared humanity."
He calls for:
- "A renewed willingness to listen, especially to those with whom we disagree.
- A refusal to demonize, recognizing the dignity of every person.
- A commitment to discernment, refusing the seduction of easy answers of ideological rigidity.
- A shared journey, resisting the fragmentation that leaves so many behind."
2A new kind of politics
Archbishop Lori encourages us to:
- “Resist the idolatry of ideology.
- Honor the inherent dignity of every human life from conception to natural death.
- Protect the vulnerable and the marginalized.
- Engage in dialogue rather than accusation.
- Place the common good above partisan loyalty.”
3Unity
“It is harmony in diversity. It is the recognition that we belong to one another, even when we see the world differently.”
4Reclaiming a Culture of Encounter
Archbishop Lordi writes that this involves:
- “Stepping outside our ideological comfort zones.
- Seeking out conversations with those on the margins or those with differing points of view.
- Healing the wounds that divide us.
- Committing ourselves to forgiveness.”
5Cultivation of Virtue
These virtues include:
- Prudence: “seeing clearly and choosing wisely.”
- Justice: “respecting rights and responsiblities.”
- Fortitude: “strengthens us to pursue what is right despite fear, intimidation or difficulty.”
- Temperance: “moderates our impulses and helps us resist the allure of excess.”
6Countercultural Civic Friendship
Archbishop Lori teaches that is is by acting together in virtue that we will heal our nation. He says to do this, we must:
- “See political opponents as brothers and sisters.
- Build bridges where there are walls.
- Foster trust in a time of suspicion.
- Cultivate hope amid fear.”
The path forward
Archbishop Lori emphasizes that a Catholic vision of politics “transcends party lines.” Being present in politics as a Catholic means defending human life, advocating for the poor, insisting on racial and social justice, promoting peace, and seeking religious freedom for everyone.
He offers a number of action steps that everyone can take during this year and beyond, including prayer, civil dialogue, volunteering, forming one’s conscience and more.
The letter can be found in its entirety here. In sum, he advocates for a Catholic presence in political life wherein the faithful “witness to a different way to live.”
