Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States

with New Introductory Note

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States

with New Introductory Note

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Washington, DC

T he document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States was developed by the chairmen, in consultation with the membership, of the Committees on Catholic Education, Communications, Cultural Diversity in the Church, Doctrine, Domestic Justice and Human Development, Evangelization and Catechesis, International Justice and Peace, Migration, and Pro-Life Activities; the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage; and the Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). It was approved by the full body of bishops at its November 2015 Plenary Assembly.

A new Introductory Note from the Catholic Bishops of the United States for Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship was developed by the chairmen, in consultation with the membership, of the Committees on Catholic Education, Communications, Doctrine, Domestic Justice and Human Development, International Justice and Peace, Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, Migration, Pro-Life Activities, and Religious Liberty, and the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism. The Introductory Note was approved by the full body of bishops at its November 2023 Plenary Assembly.

Both documents have been directed for publication by the undersigned.

Rev. Michael J. K. Fuller, S.Th.D. General Secretary, USCCB

Excerpts from the English translation of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church copyright ? 2004, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith's Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life copyright ? 2002, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from Pope Paul VI's World Day of Peace Message (1970) copyright ? Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from Pope John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (1987) and Evangelium Vitae (1995), copyright ? Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate (2009), Deus Caritas Est (2005), Sacramentum Caritatis (2007), and Address, Jan. 19, 2013, copyright ? Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from Pope Francis, Homily, June 30, 2014; Evangelii Gaudium (2013); Laudato Si' (2015); Fratelli Tutti (2020); Homily, Feb. 17, 2015; Message, April 20, 2015; General Audience, April 15, 2015; Address, Nov. 17, 2014; and Address, Dec. 12, 2013, copyright ? Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City State. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from Living the Gospel of Life copyright ? 1998, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from Gaudium et Spes and Dignitatis Humanae are taken from the Vatican website and copyright ? 1965, Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV), Vatican City State. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, copyright ? 2000, Libreria Editrice Vaticana?United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture excerpts used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, Revised Edition, ? 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Used with permission. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Copyright ? 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

contents

Introductor y Note. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

Part I: Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: The US Bishops' Reflection on Catholic Teaching and Political Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Why Does the Church Teach About Issues Affecting Public Policy?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Who in the Church Should Participate in Political Life?. . . . . . . . . . . . 7 How Does the Church Help the Catholic Faithful to Speak About Political and Social Questions?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 A Well-Formed Conscience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Virtue of Prudence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Doing Good and Avoiding Evil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Making Moral Choices.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

What Does the Church Say About Catholic Social Teaching in the Public Square?--Four Principles of Catholic Social Teaching. . . 17 The Dignity of the Human Person. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Subsidiarity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 The Common Good. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Solidarity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Part II: Applying Catholic Teaching to Major Issues: A Summar y of Policy Positions of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Human Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Promoting Peace.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Marriage and Family Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Religious Freedom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Preferential Option for the Poor and Economic Justice. . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Health Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

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