A Message From Bishop Stephen J. Berg Regarding 2026 Colorado Catholic Voting

Dear clergy, staff and parishioners of the Diocese of Pueblo:

The Second Vatican Council, in Gaudium et Spes, teaches that “all citizens…should be mindful of the right and also the duty to use their free vote to further the common good.” This teaching is further explained by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, that it is an essential part of the Church’s mission to participate in matters related to politics, whenever the fundamental rights of persons or the salvation of souls requires it. I wish to present to you the following recommendations about three Propositions on the Colorado November Ballot. The Colorado Catholic Conference of Bishops has carefully considered these concerns as urgent for those very fundamental rights and dignity of children, individuals,

communities and the common good of our state.

The Top Catholic Issues are Propositions 133, 134, and 135. I urge you to vote “YES” on all three propositions. Allow me a brief explanation of each.

Proposition 133, will impose strict Penalties for Human Trafficking of a Minor: the “Children are Not for Sale Act.” This Proposition will impose life imprisonment without parole on those convicted of trafficking children in Colorado. Please vote “Yes”

Proposition 134, is “The Protect Girls’ Sports Act” which will require all Colorado school athletic teams to be designated as male, female or co-ed according to biological sex, according to the athlete’s birth certificate. Please vote “Yes”

Proposition 135, is the “Protect Kids from Irreversible Sex-Rejecting (or Sex-Changing) Surgeries Act,” which will prohibit Colorado healthcare providers from performing these irreversible surgeries on minors under the age of 18. Please vote “Yes”

The changes in perception of the value and dignity of the human person, and the health and

wholeness of the God-given blessings of our unique gender identities, have dramatically decreased in our state over the past years. Research shows that this downward spiral can be halted, and healing can take place. Mindful of our mutual responsibility to the health and wholeness of all God’s children, we gratefully recognize that our vote makes a difference. The voter materials provided by the Colorado Catholic Conference are available on the diocesan website, and at the back of your church.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the Colorado Catholic Conference, they are the united voice of the bishops of Colorado. They are the liaison to state government on matters of concern to the Catholic Church and have produced the 2026 voter materials available on the diocesan website, and at the back of your church.

Again, I urge you. Vote “Yes” on Propositions 133, 134, and 135.

Thank you for your kind attention. May Our Lord bless you, your families, and all God’s children.

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