Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

Transcription

1 Gd News/Bad News Frming Cnsciences fr Dr. Stephen Clecchi April 2008 Greater interest in scial issues as electins draw near. Greater interest in what the Church has t say But There are dangers in a highly plarized and partisan envirnment. T many Cathlics start with partisan r idelgical views, nt Church teaching. Twin Dangers fr Pastral Ministers Linking faith t issues runs the risk f appearing partisan, alienating parishiners. Failing t link faith t the majr issues f ur day makes faith seem irrelevant. Pastral Cnstitutin n the Church in the Mdern Wrld "One f the gravest errrs f ur time is the dichtmy between the faith which many prfess and the practice f their daily lives." (#43) "At all times the Church carries the respnsibility f reading the signs f the time and f interpreting them in the light f the Gspel, if it is t carry ut its task." (#4) "By its nature and missin the Church is universal in that it is nt cmmitted t any ne culture r t any plitical, ecnmic r scial system." (#42) The Church in the Wrld Three Tasks: Explre the rle f the Church in the plitical prcess. Articulate the principles f the Church s scial teaching and briefly examine specific issues f cncern. Suggest apprpriate ways fr parishes t encurage faithful citizenship. 1

2 is NOT: A New Idea Partisan Plitics The UCSA A Religius Vting Blc Isaiah 10:1-3 We t yu wh enact unjust statutes and wh write ppressive decrees, Depriving the needy f judgment and rbbing my peple's pr f their rights, Making widws their plunder, and rphans their prey! Luke 4: "The Spirit f the Lrd is upn me, because he has aninted me t bring glad tidings t the pr. He has sent me t prclaim liberty t captives and recvery f sight t the blind, t let the ppressed g free, and t prclaim a year acceptable t the Lrd." Cmpendium f the Scial Dctrine f the Church In man s s inner dimensin are rted, in the final analysis, the cmmitment t justice and slidarity, t the building up f a scial, ecnmic and plitical life that crrespnds t Gd s s plan N. 40 Deus Caritas Est charity must animate the entire lives f the lay faithful and therefre als their plitical activity, lived as scial charity. N. 29 Catechism f the Cathlic Church it is necessary that all participate, each accrding t his psitin and rle, in prmting the cmmn gd. This bligatin is inherent in the dignity f the human persn. As far as pssible citizens shuld take an active part in public life. Ns

3 In the Cathlic Traditin, respnsible citizenship is a virtue, and participatin in the plitical prcess is a mral bligatin. N. 13 Funding Dcuments that they are endwed by their Creatr with certain unalienable rights, that amng these are life, liberty, and the pursuit f happiness. Declaratin f Independence, July 4, 1776 is NOT: A New Idea Partisan Plitics The UCSA A Religius Vting Blc Deus Caritas Est The Church cannt and must nt take upn herself the plitical battle t bring abut the mst just sciety pssible. She cannt and must nt replace the State. Yet at the same time she cannt and must nt remain n the sidelines in the fight fr justice [T]he Church wishes t help frm cnsciences in plitical life and t stimulate greater insight int the authentic requirements f justice as well as greater readiness t act accrdingly N. 28 In this statement, we bishps d nt intend t tell Cathlics fr whm r against whm t vte. Our purpse is t help Cathlics frm their cnsciences in accrdance with Gd s truth. We recgnize that the respnsibility t make chices in plitical life rests with each individual in light f a prperly frmed cnscience, and that participatin ges well beynd casting a vte in a particular electin. N. 7 As Cathlics, we shuld be guided mre by ur mral cnvictins than by ur attachment t a plitical party r interest grup. When necessary, ur participatin shuld help transfrm the party t which we belng; we shuld nt let the party transfrm us in such a way that we neglect r deny fundamental mral truths. (N. 14) 3

4 is NOT: A New Idea Partisan Plitics The UCSA A Religius Vting Blc Separatin f Church and State Unfrtunate phrase. U.S. Cnstitutin: Prhibits Prhibits establishing a religin. Guarantees the free exercise f religin. Dctrinal Nte [The Church] des nt wish t exercise plitical pwer r eliminate the freedm f pinin f Cathlics regarding cntingent questins. Instead, it intends-- --as is its prper functin-- --t instruct and illuminate the cnsciences f the faithful, particularly thse invlved in plitical life, s that their actins may always serve the integral prmtin f the human persn and the cmmn gd. N. 6 Ppe Jhn Paul II Speech f December 18, 1987 When the church calls the state t task, it des nt want t intrduce a Christian state. It simply wants t prmte a human state. is NOT: A New Idea Partisan Plitics The UCSA A Religius Vting Blc Althugh chices abut hw best t respnd t these and ther cmpelling threats t human life and dignity are matters fr principled debate and decisin, this des nt make them ptinal cncerns r permit Cathlics t dismiss r ignre Church teaching n these imprtant issues. N. 29 4

5 IS: Sharing Cathlic Scial Teaching Basic Themes Aviding Evil and Ding Gd Engaging in Frming Cnsciences Encuraging Vting Learning and acting n Issues in light f Cathlic Scial Teaching Cathlic Scial Teaching Life and Dignity f the Human Persn Call t Family, Cmmunity, & Participatin Rights and Respnsibilities Preferential Optin fr the Pr and Dignity f Wrk & Rights f Wrkers Slidarity Care fr Gd s s creatin Cathlic Scial Teaching Cathlic Scial Teaching Life and Dignity f the Human Persn Call t Family, Cmmunity, & Participatin Rights and Respnsibilities Preferential Optin fr the Pr and Dignity f Wrk & Rights f Wrkers Slidarity Care fr Gd s s creatin Life and Dignity f the Human Persn Call t Family, Cmmunity, & Participatin Rights and Respnsibilities Preferential Optin fr the Pr and Dignity f Wrk & Rights f Wrkers Slidarity Care fr Gd s s creatin Cathlic Scial Teaching Cathlic Scial Teaching Life and Dignity f the Human Persn Call t Family, Cmmunity, & Participatin Rights and Respnsibilities Preferential Optin fr the Pr and Dignity f Wrk & Rights f Wrkers Slidarity Care fr Gd s s creatin Life and Dignity f the Human Persn Call t Family, Cmmunity, & Participatin Rights and Respnsibilities Preferential Optin fr the Pr and Dignity f Wrk & Rights f Wrkers Slidarity Care fr Gd s s creatin 5

6 Cathlic Scial Teaching Cathlic Scial Teaching Life and Dignity f the Human Persn Call t Family, Cmmunity, & Participatin Rights and Respnsibilities Preferential Optin fr the Pr and Dignity f Wrk & Rights f Wrkers Slidarity Care fr Gd s s creatin Life and Dignity f the Human Persn Call t Family, Cmmunity, & Participatin Rights and Respnsibilities Preferential Optin fr the Pr and Dignity f Wrk & Rights f Wrkers Slidarity Care fr Gd s s creatin IS: Sharing Cathlic Scial Teaching Basic Themes Aviding Evil and Ding Gd Engaging in Frming Cnsciences Encuraging Vting Learning and acting n Issues in light f Cathlic Scial Teaching There are sme things we must never d, as individuals r as a sciety, because they are always incmpatible with lve f Gd and neighbr. These intrinsically evil acts must always be rejected and never supprted (N. 22). Oppsitin t intrinsically evil acts als prmpts us t recgnize ur psitive duty t cntribute t the cmmn gd and act in slidarity with thse in need. Bth ppsing evil and ding gd are essential (N. 24). Veritatis Splendr the fact that nly the negative cmmandments blige always and under all circumstances des nt mean that in the mral life prhibitins are mre imprtant than the bligatin t d gd indicated by the psitive cmmandments. N. 52 Living the Gspel f Life We live the Gspel f life when we live in slidarity with the pr f the wrld, standing up fr their lives and dignity. Yet abrtin and euthanasia have becme preeminent threats t human dignity because they directly attack life itself, the mst fundamental human gd and the cnditin fr all thers Direct abrtin is never a mrally tlerable ptin. It is always a grave act f vilence against a wman and her unbrn child. Ns. 5, 21 6

7 Tw Temptatins Mral equivalence that makes n ethical distinctins between different kinds f issues Misuse necessary mral distinctins t dismiss r ignre ther serius threats t human life and dignity Ns IS: Sharing Cathlic Scial Teaching Basic Themes Aviding Evil and Ding Gd Engaging in Frming Cnsciences Encuraging Vting Learning and acting n Issues in light f Cathlic Scial Teaching Deus Caritas Est The Church wishes t help frm cnsciences in plitical life and t stimulate greater insight int the authentic requirements f justice as well as greater readiness t act accrdingly, even when this might invlve cnflict with situatins f persnal interest. N. 28 this begins with a willingness and penness t seek the truth and what is right by studying Sacred Scripture and the teaching f the Church as cntained in the Catechism f the Cathlic Church. It is als imprtant t examine the facts and backgrund infrmatin abut varius chices. Finally, prayerful reflectin is essential t discern the will f Gd (N. 18). Prudence Prudence enables us t discern ur true gd in every circumstance and t chse the right means f achieving it (Catechism f the Cathlic Church,, n. 1806). Prudence shapes and infrms ur ability t deliberate ver available alternatives, t determine what is mst fitting t a specific cntext, and t act decisively. N. 19 Difficult Chices A Cathlic cannt vte fr a candidate wh takes a psitin in favr f an intrinsic evil, such as abrtin r racism, if the vter s intent is t supprt that psitin. N. 34 There may be times when a Cathlic wh rejects a candidate s unacceptable psitin may decide t vte fr that candidate fr ther mrally grave reasns. N. 35 7

8 Prudential Judgment These decisins shuld take int accunt a candidate s s cmmitments, character, integrity, and ability t influence a given issue. In the end, this is a decisin t be made by each Cathlic guided by a cnscience frmed by Cathlic mral teaching. N. 37 Nt Single Issue As Cathlics we are nt single-issue issue vters. A candidate s s psitin n a single issue is nt sufficient t guarantee a vter s supprt. Yet a candidate s s psitin n a single issue that invlves an intrinsic evil, such as supprt fr legal abrtin r the prmtin f racism, may legitimately lead a vter t disqualify a candidate frm receiving supprt. N. 42 IS: Sharing Cathlic Scial Teaching Basic Themes Aviding Evil and Ding Gd Engaging in Frming Cnsciences Encuraging Vting Learning and acting n Issues in light f Cathlic Scial Teaching Human Life Abrtin, euthanasia, clning, destructin f human embrys Gencide, trture, direct targeting f nncmbatants in war and terrrist attacks War and peace (preventive use f military frce) Nuclear, chemical, bilgical weapns War in Iraq Use f the death penalty Family Life Marriage Family wages Right t chse educatin f children Prtecting children and families frm harmful media Scial Justice Just wages, right t wrk, right t rganize Ecnmic freedm and initiative Reducing pverty Rightful rle f faith-based institutins Scial Security Affrdable health care and husing Sustainable agriculture and fd security Immigratin Envirnment and climate change 8

9 Glbal Slidarity U.S. leadership Glbal pverty and underdevelpment Humanize glbalizatin Religius Liberty and human rights United Natins Refugees Reginal Cnflicts Israel-Palestine Iraq and Afghanistan T Learn Abut Issues Visit the Website f the Unites States Cnference f Cathlic Bishps: Pr-life Justice, Peace & Human Develpment Educatin Migratin Suggestins and Resurces fr Parishes Hmily Suggestins Ideas fr Liturgists and Prayer Leaders Ideas fr Scial Cncerns and Respect Life Cmmittees Educatinal materials fr yuth and adults DOs and DON Ts And Mre D s s and Dn ts DO: Address the mral and human dimensins f public issues. Share church teaching n human life, human rights, and justice and peace. Apply Cathlic values t legislatin and public issues. Cnduct a nn-partisan vter registratin drive n church prperty. Distribute unbiased candidate questinnaires cvering issues f human life, justice, and peace that have been reviewed and apprved by yur dicesan attrney. Check with yur dicesan attrney if yu have any questins abut what is apprpriate. D s s and Dn ts DON T: Endrse r ppse candidates fr plitical ffice. Distribute partisan campaign literature under church auspices. Arrange fr grups t wrk fr a candidate fr public ffice. Invite nly selected candidates t address yur church- spnsred grup. Cnduct vter registratin slanted tward ne party. Distribute a biased candidate survey. Nn-Partisan Vter Educatin Excerpts frm Cathlic Scial Teaching (CST) in bulletins Distribute cards with seven themes f CST Hst discussin grups n CST using the vide, In the Ftsteps f Jesus Spnsr an adult educatin sessin using the vide, Frming Cnsciences fr Faithful Citizenship 9

10 Nn-Partisan Vter Educatin Distribute the brchure versin f Faithful Citizenship. Encurage small faith sharing grups t use adult educatin materials n CST and. Encurage yuth t visit the yuth sectin f Prtect the Parish s Nn-Partisanship Dn t t distribute materials frm utside grups. Bulletin Ntice: We strngly urge all parishiners t register, t becme infrmed f key issues, and t vte. The Church des nt supprt r ppse any candidate, but seeks t fcus attentin n the mral and human dimensin f issues. We d nt authrize the distributin f partisan plitical materials n parish prperty. Suggestins fr Liturgies Intrductry cmments Chice f preface General intercessins Selectin f music Hmily Annuncements after cmmunin Bulletin qutes frm Suggestins fr Hmilists Highlight the traditin Cnnect t real life experiences Prmte participatin in public life Ask questins rather than prviding answers Avid selective rthdxy Avid partisanship Tell peple t vte, nt hw t vte Specific Hmily Suggestins The Church in the Wrld July 6, 2008 Furth f July weekend September 21, 2008 As summer ends and vters fcus n the campaign Octber 26, 2008 Tw weeks befre the electin 10

11 The Rle f the Church Fstering a renewed kind f plitics: Fcused mre n mral principles than n the latest plls Fcused mre n the needs f the weak than n benefits fr the strng Fcused mre n the pursuit f the cmmn gd than n the demands f narrw interests Gd, therefre, makes the chice t align himself in defense f the weak, the victims we, t, must knw which side t chse that f the humble, the least, the pr and weak. Ppe Benedict XVI December 7,