SEATTLE — Ahead of the Nov. 5 election, Seattle Archbishop Paul D. Etienne published a letter to all people, calling for unity and love in a challenging time.

“I invite each one of us to defeat divisiveness with understanding, rancor with amicability, hatred with compassion, mistrust with greater willingness to listen,” Archbishop Etienne wrote. “Let us counter the downward spiral with renewed efforts to respect the diversity and dignity of each of our neighbors.”

He reminds people that they can “make decisions to recognize the good in people” and “remember that we are all brothers and sisters.” 

And even though we might disagree with those brothers and sisters, he said, a better future hinges on each person living out the Gospel values.

“It starts with each of us,” Archbishop Etienne wrote. “Every day we can make choices that bring more love, more joy, more patience, more understanding and more tolerance in our world.”

He encourages people “to break out of our silos, get to know one another, recognize the good in each other and see how we are interconnected. This is how we unite and begin to shape the future.”

On Election Day, he said, everyone has a choice.

“I pray to our Father that we will choose love and help spread the love of our Lord in the world. God has only one family — the human family — and each of us has a role to play in strengthening these bonds to build a better society.”

Read the complete letter from Archbishop Etienne here.