Seventy Catholic women, including the presidents of two leading Catholic organisations, expressed concern for the "toxic politics of fear" that has dominated this year's presidential campaign.

Saying that "elections should be a national examination of conscience," the signers of the statement called for civil debate in the final weeks of the campaign leading to Election Day November 8.

Signers included Dominican Sister Donna Markham, president of Catholic Charities USA, and Sister Carol Keehan, a Daughter of Charity, who is president and CEO of Catholic Health Association.