Welcome to Thursday. Faith leaders are working to make sure everyone's vote counts and for a peaceful outcome after a contentious election. In Nigeria, the Catholic Church is on the front lines in protests against police brutality. An NCR columnist says that women may be in a toxic relationship with the Catholic Church.

Faith leaders working to ensure that every vote counts and encourage nonviolence after election

At a time when some voters are waiting more than 10 hours to cast their ballots, poll workers are being warned of far-right militia groups inciting violence to suppress or intimidate voters, and President Donald Trump has repeatedly refused to say whether he'll accept election results if they don't go in his favor, more than 1,000 faith leaders have signed an open letter calling for a "fair and free election."

"America is only as strong as its people's commitment to our democracy and the freedoms and rights it ensures," states the letter, signed by a range of clergy leaders, religious activists and scholars, including Catholics.

The letter enumerates four areas of concern: ensuring free and fair elections for all Americans; the counting of every valid vote before the election is decided; a commitment of leaders to share relevant information to avoid spreading misinformation; and a peaceful transition of power.

You can read more about the letter here. 

Nigeria's Catholic Church on the front line in protests against police brutality

The Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos, Nigeria's financial center and the most populated city across Africa, has been the site of demonstrations for weeks, as part of a national movement to demand an end to a notoriously violent police unit.

But on Oct. 18, the area was also the venue for an outdoor Catholic Mass. Although Catholic officials were careful to say the celebration itself was not a sign of support for the protests, bishops here have openly supported peaceful protesters and called on the government to address a range of human rights issues.

The stakes are high. Just 48 hours after the Mass, Lagos authorities declared a 24-hour curfew to stop the growing protests. In the evening that same day, soldiers stormed the venue and opened fire on the peaceful protesters, most of whom were sitting down and singing the national anthem.

"I am not sure we have had a day that is as bad as that in our country, that soldiers will see people without arms and then shoot at them," Lagos Archbishop Alfred Martins, who has been one of the strongest voices in the ongoing campaign, told NCR.

You can read more of the story here.

More headlines

• NCR columnist Phyllis Zagano wonders if women are involved in a toxic relationship with the Catholic Church.
   
• St. Joseph Sr. Christine Schenk writes in her column about how powerful prayer can be during tough times, such as an exploding pandemic and inefficient president.
   
• At Global Sisters Report, two agencies take a holistic approach to homelessness in Ireland.


• ICYMI: The 83-year-old Jesuit Fr. Stan Swamy has been imprisoned in India on accusations of terrorism, but church and human rights leaders say he has been targeted because of his defense of indigenous people.


• ICYMI: Former Vice President Joe Biden, in a statement to NCR, joined the chorus of voices hailing Pope Francis' historic decision to make Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Washington a cardinal.

Final thoughts

You can watch a recording of the Facebook Live event of NCR national correspondent Christopher White, Network executive director Social Service Sr. Simone Campbell and lay minister and immigration attorney Yuneun Trujillo talking about the Catholic and Latino vote in the upcoming election. Follow us on Facebook to stay up-to-date with all of our latest events.

Until next week,

Stephanie Yeagle
NCR Production/Online Editor
[email protected]
Twitter: @ncrSLY

P.S. This is the final week of our Fall Member Drive. If you know someone who you think would like to be a member, please forward and share this email with them. Or, if you are not yet a member and are enjoying this newsletter, join the NCR family today.

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