Faithful Citizenship for Catholics

It is time once again to get out and vote. Thank God we have the right to vote. We should use this privilege wisely and well.

The Bishops of the Catholic Church in the USA have a spectacular website that can aid us in evaluating and discerning our political options. This year, as more mud than light is thrown about political choices, this website stands as a beacon in the clouds. Read excerpts below or click here (http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org) and get the whole deal. Peace, Fr. Rick

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From Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility
from the Catholic Bishops of the United States.

13. In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation
in political life is a moral obligation. This obligation is rooted in our baptismal
commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do. As
the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “It is necessary that all participate,
each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This
obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person. . . . As far as possible
citizens should take an active part in public life” (nos. 1913-1915).

14. Unfortunately, politics in our country often can be a contest of powerful
interests, partisan attacks, sound bites, and media hype. The Church calls for a
different kind of political engagement: one shaped by the moral convictions of
well-formed consciences and focused on the dignity of every human being, the
pursuit of the common good, and the protection of the weak and the vulnerable.
The Catholic call to faithful citizenship affirms the importance of political
participation and insists that public service is a worthy vocation. As Catholics,
we should be guided more by our moral convictions than by our attachment to a
political party or interest group. When necessary, our participation should help
transform the party to which we belong; we should not let the party transform us
in such a way that we neglect or deny fundamental moral truths. We are called to
bring together our principles and our political choices, our values and our votes, to
help build a better world.

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27. Two temptations in public life can distort the Church’s defense of human life
and dignity:

28. The first is a moral equivalence that makes no ethical distinctions between
different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity. The direct and
intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception
until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must
always be opposed.

29. The second is the misuse of these necessary moral distinctions as a way of
dismissing or ignoring other serious threats to human life and dignity. Racism and
other unjust discrimination, the use of the death penalty, resorting to unjust war,
the use of torture, war crimes, the failure to respond to those who are suffering
from hunger or a lack of health care, or an unjust immigration policy are all serious
moral issues that challenge our consciences and require us to act. These are not
optional concerns which can be dismissed. Catholics are urged to seriously consider
Church teaching on these issues. Although choices about how best to respond
to these and other compelling threats to human life and dignity are matters for
principled debate and decision, this does not make them optional concerns or
permit Catholics to dismiss or ignore Church teaching on these important issues.
Clearly not every Catholic can be actively involved on each of these concerns,
but we need to support one another as our community of faith defends human life
and dignity wherever it is threatened. We are not factions, but one family of faith
fulfilling the mission of Jesus Christ.

Congratulations and a little humor

Whoever you are voting for, realize what a tremendous cultural and social achievement a functioning democracy actually is.

Realize all those who have sacrificed so we could choose change.

Realize all those who worked so hard to make the USA a beacon of hope for the World.

What Catholic Bishops Teach About Voting

What Catholic Bishops Teach About Voting

It is a mistake to think that the Catholic Church tells people how to vote. Catholic Bishops tell people they need to form their consciences and vote accordingly.

The Bishops’ provocative and prophetic statement “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” (found on the Bishops’ website ( http://www.faithfulcitizenship.org/ ) clearly articulates the Catholic position much better than supposedly Catholic websites like catholicvote.com.

It is exceedingly curious that the authors of catholicvote.com refuse to identify themselves on their website, although something called the "Fidelis Center for Law and Policy" (again no names identifying who runs the organization) will take your money. I always wonder about those who write and publish their opinions, yet refuse to sign their names. And I am very suspicious of those who ask for money but refuse to reveal their identities. Who are the people behind catholicvote.com?

The U.S. Catholic Bishops take responsibility for what they publish in the public forum. Let the Bishops’ words speak for themselves. Here are some pertinent quotes (One can see the whole statement at http://www.usccb.org/faithfulcitizenship/FCStatement.pdf

“In this statement, we bishops do not intend to tell Catholics for whom or against whom to vote. Our purpose is to help Catholics form their consciences in accordance with God’s truth. We recognize that the responsibility to make choices in political life rests with each individual in light of a properly formed conscience....” (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” 2008, p. 2).

“There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor. Such actions are so deeply flawed that they are always opposed to the authentic good of persons. These are called “intrinsically evil” actions. They must always be rejected and opposed and must never be supported or condoned. A prime example is the intentional taking of innocent human life, as in abortion and euthanasia” (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” 2008, p. 8).

“Two temptations in public life can distort the Church’s defense of human life and dignity: The first is a moral equivalence that makes no ethical distinctions between different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity. The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed. The second is the misuse of these necessary moral distinctions as a way of dismissing or ignoring other serious threats to human life and dignity. Racism and other unjust discrimination, the use of the death penalty, resorting to unjust war, the use of torture, war crimes, the failure to respond to those who are suffering from hunger or a lack of health care, or an unjust immigration policy are all serious moral issues that challenge our consciences and require us to act. These are not optional concerns which can be dismissed. Catholics are urged to seriously consider Church teaching on these issues. Although choices about how best to respond to these and other compelling threats to human life and dignity are matters for principled debate and decision, this does not make them optional concerns or permit Catholics to dismiss or ignore Church teaching on these important issues. Clearly not every Catholic can be actively involved on each of these concerns, but we need to support one another as our community of faith defends human life and dignity wherever it is threatened. We are not factions, but one family of faith fulfilling the mission of Jesus Christ” (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” 2008, p. 9).