Peace & Justice

This is the blog of the Commission on Peace and Justice for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, New York.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Building Faithful Citizenship

Building Faithful Citizenship is a brief, weekly bulletin reflection on the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Document, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.

For Sunday Bulletins on June 8
“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” With these words, our Lord challenges both us and our culture to adopt a stance that reaches out to the sinner, inviting each person to come to know Christ’s love and healing forgiveness. If Christ seeks mercy, shouldn’t we as well? The U.S. bishops model this when they write, for example, “An ethic of responsibility, rehabilitation, and restoration should be a foundation for the reform of our broken criminal justice system. A remedial, rather than a strictly punitive, approach to offenders should be developed.” (#85, Faithful Citizenship)

Reflection question: When I look at the political options before me, do I seek propositions and people who speak of mercy more than punishment, of reconciliation more than retribution?