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 August 10
Hearing and acting on the voice of God requires a certain discipline. We need to find quiet time to listen for God’s voice of love. We need to understand the teachings of our faith and how they relate to the world.

The US Bishops remind us in Faithful Citizenship that “conscience is not something that allows us to justify doing whatever we want, not is it a mere “feeling” about what we should do or should not do. Rather conscience is the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us and calling us to do what is good while shunning evil. Conscience always requires serious attempts to make sound moral judgments based on the truth of our faith.”

Reflection: Are we preparing for the upcoming election by
studying the teachings of our Church on the moral issues such as
abortion, war, euthanasia, economic injustice and capital
punishment? Are we praying for courage to insist that our leaders
recognize the dignity of all human beings?

For Sunday Bulletins on August 17
In our reading from Isaiah today we hear: “Thus says the Lord: Observe what is right, do what is just.” Our bishops remind us that, as members of a community of faith, we have resources and assets for sorting out what is “right and just” in the political arena.

“The Catholic community brings important assets to the political dialogue about our nation’s future. We bring a consistent moral framework—drawn from basic human reason that is illuminated by Scripture and the teaching of the Church… We also bring broad experience in serving those in need…” (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, #12).

Reflection: How does your experience of serving those in need
help you to make political choices that are “right and just”? Are you
seeking a consistent moral framework that is informed by Scripture
and the teaching of the Church?