From the good folks at Merriam-Webster, today’s Word of the Day is psephology. It was not a word with which I was familiar, but on this day when we cast our votes it is an appropriate word. Psephology is the scientific study of elections.
The word comes from the Greek word “psēphos,” meaning “pebble” because pebbles were used by the ancient Greeks in voting. Today’s Word might have been “ballot” – an equally fine choice given it comes from ballotta, an Italian word meaning “little ball,” and Italians once voted by placing such balls in a container.
I think it is of note that one relative of psephology is “psephomancy”, meaning “divination by pebbles.” Maybe that should be our new moniker for the pre-election work of polling.
Today has an 
It is a common refrain: the “Vatican” and “bishops” are out of touch with the people of the United States. It rises to the surface whenever the bishops, in their role as teachers of the faith, offer moral guidance – and every four years in our presidential election cycle. Such proclamations often include some veiled reference to Catholics being required to have slavish adherence to every pronouncement. Actually the Church’s position is quite surprising to the “experts” and Catholic alike. I believe the Church’s position on the formation of a moral conscience is one of the better kept secrets of Catholic life. 
friarmusings 