Chris Crawford is a Catholic writer and activist with experience working on issues of human dignity and democracy.
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Francis, the Pope for Everyone
Pope Francis waves as he arrives to lead the general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican August 26, 2015. REUTERS/Max Rossi
The pope’s final months have felt to me like the times when my grandparents were at the end of their lives. We waited for updates from the doctors. We waited with dread for the phone call — or in this case, breaking news emails and social media posts — to bring the final news. There were moments of hope, including Pope Francis emerging from the hospital and appearing in St. Peter’s Square. But we knew that at some point, we’d be facing the loss of someone we loved.
Becoming a Poll Worker Is One Way To Show Hospitality
Photo by Gary Hershorn / Getty Images
POLL WORKERS ARE everyday people, who are well trained in the process, who step up and serve their communities. Poll workers and election officials at all different polling locations have very strict guidelines on how to handle the equipment and the ballots. You can see these people, in real time, handling these things effectively and following the rules.
Both as a democracy advocate and as a Christian, I put a big value on honesty and on the truth. A democracy needs well-informed people who understand what the truth is, and we need leaders who make decisions based on the truth.