Citizenship
Catholic social teaching compels us to be faithful citizens. This informs how we vote for candidates and issues, as well as paying our taxes and otherwise participating in society for the good of all.
Politics can be a very divisive issue, but it is clearly informed by our faith. We have selected resources and organizations for this page that we feel contribute to understanding faith-based citizenship, but this does not mean we officially support them.
Politics can be a very divisive issue, but it is clearly informed by our faith. We have selected resources and organizations for this page that we feel contribute to understanding faith-based citizenship, but this does not mean we officially support them.
Key Insights
Responsibility from Social Teaching
As disciples, we have a responsibility to others in our society. The principles of the common good, association, solidarity, participation and others from Catholic social teaching compel us to work together with others for a better neighborhood, city, county, country, and world. |
Separation of Church and State
Many misunderstand the concept of "separation of church and state" in the United States. It refers to limits the Constitution and First Amendment put on the government establishing religion or restricting religious practices. It does not have anything to do with people informing their voting by their faith or church's being part of public political debates. |
Promoting Community
Faithful citizenship also means promoting community and Gospel values at more local levels, over individualism, consumerism, and secularism. Our neighborhoods used to be more closely connected, but now many do not even know their closest neighbors. Everything from community gardens and walking school buses to block parties and neighborhood watch programs can promote the common good. Our faith gives us particular insight and motivation to work together with our neighbors. |
Quotations
A vast field for the apostolate has opened up on the national and international levels where the laity especially assist with their Christian wisdom. In loyalty to their country and in faithful fulfillment of their civic obligations, Catholics should feel themselves obliged to promote the true common good. Thus they should make the weight of their opinion felt in order that the civil authority may act with justice and that legislation may conform to moral precepts and the common good. Catholics skilled in public affairs and adequately enlightened in faith and Christian doctrine should not refuse to administer pubic affairs since by doing this in a worthy manner they can both further the common good and at the same time prepare the way for the Gospel. |
In times of war, of global insecurity and economic uncertainty, of disrespect for human life and human dignity, we need to return to basic moral principles. Politics . . . should be about fundamental moral choices. How do we protect human life and dignity? How do we fairly share the blessings and burdens of the challenges we face? What kind of nation do we want to be? What kind of world do we want to shape? USCCB Administrative Committee,
Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation. All believers are called to faithful citizenship, to become informed, active, and responsible participants in the political process. USCCB Administrative Committee,
Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility |
Books
Catholic Update Guide to Faithful Citizenship
by Mary Carol Kendzia With this handy guide, Catholic voters will come to understand their role in this, and every, election and will know how to form and use a Gospel-based conscience to discern major decisions. Drawing on the trusted and popular Catholic Update newsletter, the Catholic Update Guide to Faithful Citizenship helps committed Catholic voters participate fully in the political process by addressing some of the issues Catholics should consider before casting their votes—issues such as euthanasia, abortion, stem-cell research, social justice, immigration, capital punishment, same-sex marriage, ecological concerns, and health care. (Amazon) God's Politics: Why the Right Gets it Wrong and the Left Doesn't Get It
Jim Wallis New York Times bestseller God's Politics struck a chord with Americans disenchanted with how the Right had co-opted all talk about integrating religious values into our politics, and with the Left, who were mute on the subject. Jim Wallis argues that America's separation of church and state does not require banishing moral and religious values from the public square. God's Politics offers a vision for how to convert spiritual values into real social change and has started a grassroots movement to hold our political leaders accountable by incorporating our deepest convictions about war, poverty, racism, abortion, capital punishment, and other moral issues into our nation's public life. Who can change the political wind? Only we can. (Amazon) One Electorate Under God? A Dialogue on Religion & American Politics
E.J. Dionne Jr, et al, eds. The United States has been described as a nation with the soul of a church. Religion is discussed more explicitly and more urgently in American politics than in the public debates of any other wealthy democracy. Yet debates over religion and politics are often narrow and highly partisan, although the questions at hand demand a broader and more civil discussion. One Electorate under God? widens the dialogue by bringing together in one volume some of the most influential voices in American intellectual and political life. (Amazon) |
On God's Side: What Religion Forgets and Politics Hasn't Learned about Serving the Common Good
Jim Wallis "My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side."--Abraham Lincoln Lincoln led America through one of the most tumultuous times in our nation's history. Reading his words today, it is clear we still have much to learn concerning what it means to be on God's side. Bestselling author, public theologian, and leading Christian activist Jim Wallis speaks directly into our current context, revealing the spiritual compass we need to effect lasting change in our society. He explains how the good news of Jesus transforms not only our individual lives but also our public lives. Jesus's gospel of the kingdom of God helps us recover a personal and social commitment to the common good and shows us--in concrete ways--how to be both personally responsible and socially just. Working together, we can reshape our churches, society, politics, and economy. In the midst of contentious national debates on gun control, immigration, budget deficits, and more, this book moves the conversations beyond current media and political warfare to bring together a divided country. Wallis explores how Jesus's agenda can serve the common good, what it takes to sustain a lifelong commitment to social justice, and how reading the Bible as well as the culture can shape our lives for genuine transformation. (Amazon) |
Articles
- Politics and Parish (Vincent J. Miller, America Magazine)
- Walking a Fine Line Between Faithful Witness and Partisan Politics (Scott Alessi, U.S. Catholic)
- What's the Catholic View On Church and State? (Jim Dinn, U.S. Catholic)
- My Conscience, My Vote (David R. Obey, America Magazine)
- Save Voting Rights (America Magazine)
- Vote Your Values: Character Matters in Picking Politicians (David Paul Eich, U.S. Catholic)
- In Defense of Social Justice (Megan Sweas, U.S. Catholic)
- Getting Something Done in Washington and the Church (Megan Sweas, U.S. Catholic)
- The Values Vote (John F. Cavanaugh, America Magazine, 2004)
- A Moral Vote? (John F. Cavanaugh, America Magazine, 2004)
Organizations & Websites
- Faithful Citizenship - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops - Documents and other resources for U.S. Catholics regarding voting and citizenship.
- Catholic Campaign For Human Development - The domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the U.S. Catholic bishops. Its mission is to address the root causes of poverty in America through promotion and support of community-controlled, self-help organizations and through transformative education.
- Pax Christi - "Pax Christi USA strives to create a world that reflects the Peace of Christ by exploring, articulating, and witnessing to the call of Christian nonviolence. This work begins in personal life and extends to communities of reflection and action to transform structures of society. Pax Christi USA rejects war, preparations for war, and every form of violence and domination. It advocates primacy of conscience, economic and social justice, and respect for creation. Pax Christi USA works toward a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world."
- NETWORK - "A Catholic leader in the global movement for justice and peace, NETWORK educates, lobbies, and organizes for economic and social transformation. NETWORK is a progressive voice within the Catholic community that has been influencing Congress in favor of peace and justice for more than 40 years. Through lobbying and legislative advocacy, we strive to close the gap between rich and poor and to dismantle policies rooted in racism, greed and violence."
- Catholics In Alliance For the Common Good - "CACG promotes public policies and effective programs that enhance the inherent dignity of all, especially the poor and most vulnerable. Our work is inspired by Gospel values and the rich history of Catholic social teaching as they inform pressing moral issues of our time. We accomplish our goals through public policy analysis and advocacy, strategic media outreach, and engaging citizens in the service of the common good."
Related To
Our call to faithful citizenship is based in and informed by Catholic social teaching.
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Header photo by ragesoss (Creative Commons License).