Now the vote.

All through this autumn, writers for the this paper have tried to educate Catholic voters about their responsibility to use their Catholic values in the public square to help inform themselves and others about which moral issues should be emphasized and pointed out as essential human values that all candidates, regardless of party, should embrace.

Most of our readers appreciated those efforts, but a small minority did not. For them, we were shills of a particular party, flouting our tax exempt status and inserting ourselves in political places where we didn’t belong. Those not happy with our efforts, let us know with views both rough and angry. They forgot the role and obligation Church authorities have to help lead and guide the people in the formation of a Catholic conscience.

Yes, there are some non-negotiables for Catholics when it comes to values. If candidates espouse support for abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, embryonic stem cell research, or cloning, Catholics need to be especially vigilant in opposing those folks.

Long ago in the late 1980s, the bishops of our country said loudly and clearly that you could not be pro-choice and Catholic. It’s a matter of integrity, not politics. It’s a matter of values, not party platforms.

In our history, there are times when one party rises above another in espousing Catholic values. I especially think of the early 20th century rise of labor unions in which Catholics and the Church played a major role espousing dignity for workers. The Church definitely looked supportive of the Democrat party, but it was not. It was supportive of its values.

Over time, there are political changes, so the Church stays out of endorsing particular candidates; it does endorse values which may or may not be in play during any political season.

What does this mean? It means that Catholic voters have a responsibility to form their consciences in accordance with Catholic teachings and Catholic values and to support positions that don’t go against the above non-negotiables. Being against abortion or euthanasia or cloning isn’t being for Republicans or Democrats, but it is being for human rights.

Those who do not like what the Church has said this autumn think we are elevating one party over another. It is true that this year the values are much more crystal clear than usual, and not all candidates or parties support the Catholic church’s views. Flooding the airwaves with commercials that revel in abortion rights is not the way to win the support of the Catholic Church.

The Church is part of the public square. With the attacks on religious liberty this year, we have made a collective decision not to go gently or quietly into the night. We will fight for religious liberty, for our right to speak publicly. We will fight for our values, and we will seek allies in whatever party will help us. Making people aware of what is at stake in this election is part of the Church’s duty.

So go vote on Nov. 6. But don’t simply vote your conscience. Vote with your well-formed Catholic conscience.