Teaching on Conscience and Prudence In Political Responsibility Statement

Details: 07 September 2012

According to at least some of the political pundits and "talking heads" the national conventions of the political parties represent the unofficial start of the official campaign season.

Or is it the official start of the unofficial campaign season? Regardless; now more than ever it’s game on, heading toward Nov. 6.

Of course, the "pre-season" has already been long and contentious. Those who grumble about how turned off they are by the process and the styles and excesses of campaigning have a point. Most of us feel it: the frustration, the nuisance, the disdain.

But perhaps completion of the conventions can artificially signal a fresh start; be the source of an attitude adjustment; reinvigorate our psyches. Why? Because what takes place over the next couple of months is vitally important. After all, we are deciding about those who make and carry out public policy; who make critical decisions about the political, social, economic and global lives of our nation and state.

One excellent, conscientious effort for Catholic citizens to make—highly recommended if not critically necessary—is visiting this website: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizesnship. It provides access to "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility with Introductory Note," a rich and valuable teaching statement from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The website includes numerous resources to use in conjunction with the statement.

In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue and participation in political life is a moral obligation. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that "it is necessary that all participate, each according to his/her position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person… As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life" (nos. 1913-1915).

This does not mean that we all have an obligation to run for public office. For most of us that’s not possible. But it surely does mean that we make a conscientious effort to engage in the political process as citizens and voters.

The statement from the Bishops’ Conference is not an endorsement for any candidate. It does not tell anyone for whom to vote. It is a guide and tool to assess and weigh issues and the positions expressed by candidates. It provides substance to think about, thereby enabling Catholic citizens to be more conscientious in making election decisions than blind partisanship allows.

As its title implies, the statement emphasizes the formation of conscience and the importance of doing so. Paragraph 17 of the statement teaches as follows:

"The Church equips her members to address political and social questions by helping them to develop a well-formed conscience. Catholics have a serious and lifelong obligation to form their consciences in accord with human reason and the teaching of the Church. Conscience is not something that allows us to justify doing whatever we want, nor is it a mere ‘feeling’ about what we should 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 what is evil. Conscience always requires serious attempts to make sound more judgments based on the truths of our faith…."

Through their statement, the Bishops cite a number of issues about which we should form our consciences. Some of these are: continuing killing of unborn children through abortion and other threats to the lives and dignity of the vulnerable, sick or unwanted; renewed efforts to force Catholic ministries to violate their religious and moral values or stop their services; efforts to redefine marriage and to enact measures that undermine marriage as between one man and one woman and an institution essential to the common good; an economic crisis that has devastated lives and livelihoods, increasing unemployment, poverty, hunger, deficits and debt, and the duty to respond in ways that protect the poor and future generations.

The Church fosters well-formed consciences not only by teaching moral truth, but also by encouraging development and application of the virtue of prudence. The Catechism describes prudence as enabling us "to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it." Paragraph 19 of the statement says that prudence "shapes and informs our ability to deliberate over available alternatives, to determine what is most fitting to a specific context and to act decisively."

Making practical judgments and choices in the political arena is aided by the virtue of prudence in the exercise of well-formed consciences. Learn more about this, and about actions that must never be condoned because they are "intrinsically evil" in "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility."

Again, that website is: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship.

In future columns, we hope to examine other aspects of the Faithful Citizenship program. In addition, Catholic Nebraskans might anticipate a mid-October publication of the traditional Nebraska Catholic Conference candidate survey. It is a voter-information project, through which candidates for Congress and the State Legislature are able to share their views on a range of issues.