Faithful Citizenship

“Our redemption has a social dimension because “God, in Christ, redeems not only the individual person, but also . . . social relations.” To believe that the Holy Spirit is at work in everyone means realizing that he seeks to penetrate every human situation and all social bonds. . . . Accepting the first proclamation, which invites us to receive God’s love and to love him in return with the very love which is his gift, brings forth in our lives and actions a primary and fundamental response: to desire, seek and protect the good of others.” –(Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, no. 178)

The bishops of the United States share Catholic Teaching on social and political life. Every four years they issue statements on “faithful citizenship”. The excerpt below is from their latest document: Forming Consciences for faithful Citizenship Part 1

“The Church’s obligation to participate in shaping the moral character of society is a requirement of our faith. It is a basic part of the mission we have received from Jesus Christ, who offers a vision of life revealed to us in Sacred Scripture and Tradition. To echo the teaching of the Second Vatican Council: Christ, the Word made flesh, in showing us the Father’s love, also shows us what it truly means to be human (see Gaudium et Spes, no. 22). Christ’s love for us lets us see our human dignity in full clarity and compels us to love our neighbors as he has loved us. Christ, the Teacher, shows us what is true and good, that is, what is in accord with our human nature as free, intelligent beings created in God’s image and likeness and endowed by the Creator with dignity and rights as well as duties.

“The role of the Church in the formation of conscience and the corresponding moral responsibility of each Catholic to hear, receive, and act upon the Church’s teaching in the lifelong task of forming his or her own conscience. Foremost amongst those teachings are the four basic principles of Catholic social doctrine: the dignity of the human person, the common good, subsidiarity, and solidarity (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, no. 160). With this foundation, Catholics are better able to evaluate policy positions, party platforms, and candidates’ promises and actions in light of the Gospel and the moral and social teaching of the Church in order to help build a better world.”

Additional Resources:

• THE U.S. BISHOPS’ REFLECTION ON CATHOLIC TEACHING AND POLITICAL LIFE
• One Life, One Love: Catholic Social Teaching and the Mystery of the Human Person – Archbishop Gomez looks to humanity to overcome polarization
• Forming Consciences for faithful Citizenship
• An Agenda for Moderates: The Policy Implications of “Love your Neighbor”
• Catholic Participate in Public Life
• Resources for Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
• Guide to Catholic Voting
• The Church Does Not Tell Us Who We Can and Can’t Vote For and Here’s Why
• Faithful Citizenship Handout