The Challenge of Forming The Challenge of Forming ConsciencesConsciences

for Faithful Citizenshipfor Faithful Citizenship

The United States bishops reflection on The United States bishops reflection on the Forming Consciences for Faithful the Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship in dioceses and states.Citizenship in dioceses and states.

ContentsContents

•• Why does the church teach about issues Why does the church teach about issues affecting public policyaffecting public policy

•• Who in the church should participate in political Who in the church should participate in political life?life?

•• How does the church help Catholics to address How does the church help Catholics to address political and social questions?political and social questions?

•• What does the church say about Catholic Social What does the church say about Catholic Social Teaching in the public square?Teaching in the public square?

•• ConclusionConclusion

WHY DOES THE CHURCH WHY DOES THE CHURCH TEACH ABOUT ISSUES TEACH ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING PUBLIC AFFECTING PUBLIC POLICY?POLICY?

•• The ChurchThe Church’’s obligation to s obligation to participate in shaping the moral participate in shaping the moral character of society is a requirement character of society is a requirement of our faith, a part of the mission of our faith, a part of the mission given to us by Jesus Christ.given to us by Jesus Christ.

•• Faith helps us see more clearly the Faith helps us see more clearly the truth about human life and dignity truth about human life and dignity that we also understand through that we also understand through human reason.human reason.

•• As people of both faith and reason, As people of both faith and reason, Catholics are called to bring truth to Catholics are called to bring truth to political life and to practice Christpolitical life and to practice Christ’’s s commandment to commandment to ““love one anotherlove one another””

((JnJn 13:34). 13:34).

Respect

our

faith

•• According to Pope Benedict XVI, According to Pope Benedict XVI, ““charity must animate the entire lives charity must animate the entire lives of the lay faithful and therefore also of the lay faithful and therefore also their political activity, lived as their political activity, lived as ‘‘social social charitycharity’”’” ((Deus Caritas Deus Caritas EstEst, no. 29)., no. 29).

•• The United States Constitution The United States Constitution protects the right of individual protects the right of individual believers and religious bodies to believers and religious bodies to participate and speak out without participate and speak out without government interference, favoritism, government interference, favoritism, or discrimination.or discrimination.

•• Civil law should recognize and protect Civil law should recognize and protect the Churchthe Church’’s right and responsibility s right and responsibility to participate in society without to participate in society without abandoning our central moral abandoning our central moral convictions.convictions.

•• Our nationOur nation’’s tradition of pluralism is s tradition of pluralism is enhanced, not threatened, when enhanced, not threatened, when religious groups and people of faith religious groups and people of faith bring their convictions into public life.bring their convictions into public life.

•• The Catholic community brings to the The Catholic community brings to the political dialogue a consistent moral political dialogue a consistent moral framework and broad experience framework and broad experience serving those in need.serving those in need.

WHO IN THE CHURCH WHO IN THE CHURCH SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN SHOULD PARTICIPATE IN POLITICAL LIFE?POLITICAL LIFE?

•• In the Catholic Tradition, responsible In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation. political life is a moral obligation.

•• As Catholics, we should be guided As Catholics, we should be guided more by our moral convictions than more by our moral convictions than by our attachment to a political party by our attachment to a political party or interest group.or interest group.

•• In todayIn today’’s environment, Catholics s environment, Catholics may feel politically disenfranchised, may feel politically disenfranchised, sensing that no party and few sensing that no party and few candidates fully share our candidates fully share our comprehensive commitment to comprehensive commitment to human life and dignity.human life and dignity.

•• Catholic lay women and men need to Catholic lay women and men need to act on the Churchact on the Church’’s moral principles s moral principles and become more involved: running and become more involved: running for office, working within political for office, working within political parties, and communicating concerns parties, and communicating concerns to elected officials.to elected officials.

•• Even those who cannot vote should Even those who cannot vote should raise their voices on matters that raise their voices on matters that affect their lives and the common affect their lives and the common good.good.

HOW DOES THE CHURCH HOW DOES THE CHURCH HELP CATHOLICS TO HELP CATHOLICS TO ADDRESS POLITICAL AND ADDRESS POLITICAL AND SOCIALSOCIAL QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

•• The Virtue of PrudenceThe Virtue of PrudenceThe Church also encourages Catholics The Church also encourages Catholics to develop the virtue of prudence, to develop the virtue of prudence, which enables us which enables us ““to discern our true to discern our true good in every circumstance and to good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving choose the right means of achieving itit”” ((Catechism of the Catholic Church, Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1806).no. 1806).

Prudence shapes and informs our Prudence shapes and informs our ability to deliberate over available ability to deliberate over available alternatives, to determine what is alternatives, to determine what is most fitting to a specific context, and most fitting to a specific context, and to act.to act.

Prudence must be accompanied by Prudence must be accompanied by courage which calls us to act. As courage which calls us to act. As Catholics seek to advance the Catholics seek to advance the common good, we must carefully common good, we must carefully discern which public policies are discern which public policies are morally sound.morally sound.

A good end does not justify an A good end does not justify an immoral means. immoral means. At times Catholics may choose At times Catholics may choose different ways to respond to social different ways to respond to social problems, but we cannot differ on our problems, but we cannot differ on our obligation to protect human life and obligation to protect human life and dignity and help build through moral dignity and help build through moral means a more just and peaceful means a more just and peaceful world.world.

•• Doing Good and Avoiding EvilDoing Good and Avoiding Evil

There are some things we must never There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighborwith love of God and neighbor. .

These intrinsically evil acts must These intrinsically evil acts must always be rejected and never always be rejected and never supported. supported.

A preeminent example is the A preeminent example is the intentional taking of human life intentional taking of human life through abortion.through abortion.

It is always morally wrong to destroy It is always morally wrong to destroy innocent human beings. innocent human beings.

A legal system that allows the right to A legal system that allows the right to life to be violated on the grounds of life to be violated on the grounds of choice is fundamentally flawed.choice is fundamentally flawed.

Similarly, direct threats to the dignity Similarly, direct threats to the dignity of human life such as euthanasia, of human life such as euthanasia, human cloning, and destructive human cloning, and destructive research on human embryos are also research on human embryos are also intrinsically evil and must be opposed.intrinsically evil and must be opposed.

Other assaults on human life and Other assaults on human life and dignity, such as genocide, torture, dignity, such as genocide, torture, racism, and the targeting of racism, and the targeting of noncombatants in acts of terror or noncombatants in acts of terror or war, can never be justified. war, can never be justified.

Disrespect for any human life Disrespect for any human life diminishes respect for all human life.diminishes respect for all human life.

As Catholics we are not singleAs Catholics we are not single--issue issue voters. voters.

A candidateA candidate’’s position on a single s position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a issue is not sufficient to guarantee a votervoter’’s support. s support.

Yet a candidateYet a candidate’’s position on a single issue s position on a single issue that involves an intrinsic evil, such as that involves an intrinsic evil, such as support for legal abortion or the support for legal abortion or the promotion of racism, may legitimately lead promotion of racism, may legitimately lead a voter to disqualify a candidate from a voter to disqualify a candidate from receiving support.receiving support.11

11 For more on the moral challenge of voting, see For more on the moral challenge of voting, see Forming Forming Consciences for Faithful CitizenshipConsciences for Faithful Citizenship, nos. 34, nos. 34--39. Visit 39. Visit www.faithfulcitizenship.orgwww.faithfulcitizenship.org..

Opposition to intrinsically evil acts Opposition to intrinsically evil acts also prompts us to recognize our also prompts us to recognize our positive duty to contribute to the positive duty to contribute to the common good and act in solidarity common good and act in solidarity with those in need.with those in need.

Both opposing evil Both opposing evil and and doing good are doing good are essential. essential.

As Pope John Paul II said, As Pope John Paul II said, ““the fact that the fact that only the negative commandments oblige only the negative commandments oblige always and under all circumstances does always and under all circumstances does not mean that in the moral life not mean that in the moral life prohibitions are more important than the prohibitions are more important than the obligation to do good indicated by the obligation to do good indicated by the positive commandmentpositive commandment””((VeritatisVeritatis SplendorSplendor, no. 52)., no. 52).

The basic right to life implies and is The basic right to life implies and is linked to other human rights to the linked to other human rights to the goods that every person needs to live goods that every person needs to live and thriveand thrive——including food, shelter, including food, shelter, health care, education, and health care, education, and meaningful work. meaningful work.

The use of the death penalty, hunger, The use of the death penalty, hunger, lack of health care or housing, human lack of health care or housing, human trafficking, the human and moral trafficking, the human and moral costs of war, and unjust immigration costs of war, and unjust immigration policies are some of the serious moral policies are some of the serious moral issues that challenge our consciences issues that challenge our consciences and require us to act.and require us to act.

•• Making Moral ChoicesMaking Moral Choices

Difficult political decisions require the Difficult political decisions require the exercise of a wellexercise of a well--formed conscience formed conscience aided by prudence.aided by prudence.

This exercise of conscience begins This exercise of conscience begins with always opposing policies that with always opposing policies that violate human life or weaken its violate human life or weaken its protection. protection.

““Those who formulate law therefore Those who formulate law therefore have an obligation in conscience to have an obligation in conscience to work toward correcting morally work toward correcting morally defective laws, lest they be guilty of defective laws, lest they be guilty of cooperating in evil and in sinning cooperating in evil and in sinning against the common goodagainst the common good””((Catholics in Political LifeCatholics in Political Life, 2004). , 2004).

When morally flawed laws already When morally flawed laws already exist, prudential judgment is needed exist, prudential judgment is needed to determine how to do what is to determine how to do what is possible to restore justicepossible to restore justice——even if even if partially or graduallypartially or gradually——without ever without ever abandoning a moral commitment to abandoning a moral commitment to full protection for all human life from full protection for all human life from conception to natural death conception to natural death (see (see EvangeliumEvangelium VitaeVitae, no. 73)., no. 73).

Prudential judgment is also needed Prudential judgment is also needed to determine the best way to to determine the best way to promote the common good in areas promote the common good in areas such as housing, health care, and such as housing, health care, and immigration. immigration.

When Church leaders make When Church leaders make judgments about how to apply judgments about how to apply Catholic teaching to specific policies, Catholic teaching to specific policies, this may not carry the same binding this may not carry the same binding authority as universal moral principles authority as universal moral principles but cannot be dismissed as one but cannot be dismissed as one political opinion among others. political opinion among others.

These moral applications should These moral applications should inform the consciences and guide the inform the consciences and guide the actions of Catholics.actions of Catholics.

WHAT DOES THE CHURCH WHAT DOES THE CHURCH SAY ABOUT CATHOLIC SAY ABOUT CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGSOCIAL TEACHING IN THE IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE?PUBLIC SQUARE?

A consistent ethic of life should guide A consistent ethic of life should guide all Catholic engagement in political all Catholic engagement in political life.life.

This Catholic ethic neither treats all This Catholic ethic neither treats all issues as morally equivalent nor issues as morally equivalent nor reduces Catholic teaching to one or reduces Catholic teaching to one or two issues.two issues.

It anchors the Catholic commitment It anchors the Catholic commitment to defend human life and other to defend human life and other human rights, from conception until human rights, from conception until natural death, in the fundamental natural death, in the fundamental obligation to respect the dignity of obligation to respect the dignity of every human being as a child of God.every human being as a child of God.

•• Catholic voters should use Catholic Catholic voters should use Catholic teaching to examine candidatesteaching to examine candidates’’ positions on issues and should positions on issues and should consider candidatesconsider candidates’’ integrity, integrity, philosophy, and performance.philosophy, and performance.

•• It is important for all citizens It is important for all citizens ““to see to see beyond party politics, to analyze beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically, and to campaign rhetoric critically, and to choose their political leaders choose their political leaders according to principle, not party according to principle, not party affiliation or mere selfaffiliation or mere self--interestinterest””((Living the Gospel of Life, Living the Gospel of Life, no. 33).no. 33).

•• The following themes of Catholic The following themes of Catholic social teaching provide a moral social teaching provide a moral framework for decisions in public life.framework for decisions in public life.22

22These themes are drawn from a rich These themes are drawn from a rich tradition more fully described in the tradition more fully described in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Churchthe Church from the Pontifical Council from the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (Washington, for Justice and Peace (Washington, DC: United States Conference of DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005). Catholic Bishops, 2005).

For more information on these seven For more information on these seven themes, see themes, see www.faithfulcitizenship.orgwww.faithfulcitizenship.org. For . For information on how we bishops of the information on how we bishops of the United States have applied Catholic United States have applied Catholic social teaching to policy issues, see social teaching to policy issues, see www.faithfulcitizenship.orgwww.faithfulcitizenship.org..

•• The Right to Life and the Dignity The Right to Life and the Dignity of the Human Personof the Human Person

Human life is sacred. Direct attacks on Human life is sacred. Direct attacks on innocent human beings are never innocent human beings are never morally acceptable. morally acceptable.

Within our society, life is under direct Within our society, life is under direct attack from abortion, euthanasia, attack from abortion, euthanasia, human cloning, and destruction of human cloning, and destruction of human embryos for research. human embryos for research.

These intrinsic evils must always be These intrinsic evils must always be opposed.opposed.

This teaching also compels us as This teaching also compels us as Catholics to oppose genocide, torture, Catholics to oppose genocide, torture, unjust war, and the use of the death unjust war, and the use of the death penalty, as well as to pursue peace penalty, as well as to pursue peace and help overcome poverty, racism, and help overcome poverty, racism, and other conditions that demean and other conditions that demean human life.human life.

•• Call to Family, Community, Call to Family, Community, and Participationand Participation

The family, based on marriage The family, based on marriage between a man and a woman, is the between a man and a woman, is the fundamental unit of society. This fundamental unit of society. This sanctuary for the creation and sanctuary for the creation and nurturing of children must not be nurturing of children must not be redefined, undermined, or neglected. redefined, undermined, or neglected.

Supporting families should be a Supporting families should be a priority for economic and social priority for economic and social policies.policies.How our society is organizedHow our society is organized——in in economics and politics, in law and economics and politics, in law and public policypublic policy——affects the wellaffects the well--being being of individuals and of society.of individuals and of society.Every person and association has a Every person and association has a right and a duty to participate in right and a duty to participate in shaping society to promote the wellshaping society to promote the well-- being of individuals and the common being of individuals and the common good.good.

•• Rights and ResponsibilitiesRights and Responsibilities

Every human being has a right to life, Every human being has a right to life, the fundamental right that makes all the fundamental right that makes all other rights possible.other rights possible.

•• Each of us has a right to religious Each of us has a right to religious freedom, which enables us to live and freedom, which enables us to live and act in accord with our Godact in accord with our God--given given dignity, as well as a right to access to dignity, as well as a right to access to those things required for human those things required for human decencydecency——food and shelter, education food and shelter, education and employment, health care and and employment, health care and housing. housing.

•• Corresponding to these rights are Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilitiesduties and responsibilities——to one to one another, to our families, and to the another, to our families, and to the larger society.larger society.

•• Option for the Poor and Option for the Poor and VulnerableVulnerable

While the common good embraces While the common good embraces all, those who are in greatest need all, those who are in greatest need deserve preferential concern.deserve preferential concern.

A moral test for society is how we A moral test for society is how we treat the weakest among ustreat the weakest among us——the the unborn, those dealing with disabilities unborn, those dealing with disabilities or terminal illness, the poor and or terminal illness, the poor and marginalized.marginalized.

•• Dignity of Work and the Rights of Dignity of Work and the Rights of WorkersWorkers

The economy must serve people, not The economy must serve people, not the other way around. the other way around.

A moral test for society is how we A moral test for society is how we treat the weakest among ustreat the weakest among us——the the unborn, those dealing with disabilities unborn, those dealing with disabilities or terminal illness, the poor and or terminal illness, the poor and marginalized.marginalized.

•• SolidaritySolidarity

We are one human family, whatever We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.and ideological differences.

Our Catholic commitment to solidarity Our Catholic commitment to solidarity requires that we pursue justice, requires that we pursue justice, eliminate racism, end human eliminate racism, end human trafficking, protect human rights, trafficking, protect human rights, seek peace, and avoid the use of seek peace, and avoid the use of force except as a necessary last force except as a necessary last resort. resort.

•• Caring for GodCaring for God’’s Creations Creation

Care for the earth is a duty of our Care for the earth is a duty of our Catholic faith. Catholic faith. We all are called to be careful We all are called to be careful stewards of Godstewards of God’’s creation and to s creation and to ensure a safe and hospitable ensure a safe and hospitable environment for vulnerable human environment for vulnerable human beings now and in the future.beings now and in the future.

••CONCLUSION CONCLUSION

In light of Catholic teaching, as In light of Catholic teaching, as bishops we vigorously repeat our call bishops we vigorously repeat our call for a renewed politics that focuses on for a renewed politics that focuses on moral principles, the defense of life, moral principles, the defense of life, the needs of the weak, and the the needs of the weak, and the pursuit of the common good.pursuit of the common good.

•• This kind of political participation This kind of political participation reflects the social teaching of our reflects the social teaching of our Church and the best traditions of our Church and the best traditions of our nation.nation.

•• ReferencesReferences

Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.) (Washington, Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.) (Washington, DC: United States Conference of DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops [USCCB]), 2000. Catholic Bishops [USCCB]), 2000. Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas EstEst (God Is Love) (God Is Love) (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2006). (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2006). Pope John Paul II, Pope John Paul II, EvangeliumEvangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life) Vitae (The Gospel of Life) (Washington, DC: USCCB, 1995); (Washington, DC: USCCB, 1995); VeritatisVeritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth) (Washington, Splendor (The Splendor of Truth) (Washington, DC: USCCB, 1993). DC: USCCB, 1993). USCCB, Catholics in Political Life (Washington, DC: USCCB, Catholics in Political Life (Washington, DC: USCCB, 2004); Living the Gospel of Life (Washington, USCCB, 2004); Living the Gospel of Life (Washington, DC: USCCB, 1998).DC: USCCB, 1998).