Faithful Citizenship
“Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly." (Deuteronomy 16:18)
“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 Faithful Citizenship Statement, p. 8)
What is Faithful Citizenship?
Faithful Citizenship is the Church’s program on participation in the public life in the United States. It is a program designed to instruct and guide every Catholic faithful on the teachings of the Church concerning political participation – what are we called to do? What can or even must do and what we cannot do? What can and what cannot the Church as an institution do? Faithful Citizenship is also the very brochure statement published by the USCCB every four years (in every presidential election year) that contains most of these guidelines and instructions.
Why is Faithful Citizenship important?
A closer look at scriptures in the Old Testament, for example, will shows us how God is often working the salvation of His people through the social and political structures of their time: the establishment of Judges and later kings are examples of this. God is also often challenging their social structures as He calls for the political ideals and values that best reflect his commandments, usually through His prophets, so the political structures could work for the common good and not only for the good of a few. Jesus, as a member of his people, inherited these traditions and continued the salvific work through his ministry challenging and instructing his disciples also on social, and therefore political matters, finally consolidating the possibility of its achievement in his self-sacrifice on the cross. He challenged the abuse of political power and the accumulation of wealth in detriment of the poor; he challenged the structures of oppression and the use of religion to cover it up.
Faithful Citizenship is important because, following in these traditions, helps to guide and instruct us on how to apply scripture’s teachings in our political life today. In fact, the document says that “By our baptism, Catholics are committed to following Jesus Christ and to be "salt for the earth, light for the nations." As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, "It is necessary that all participate, according to his or her position and role, in promoting the common good. This is inherent in the dignity of the human person and as far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life." (nos. 1913-1915).
How to engage in the work of Faithful Citizenship?
The living out of our faith in the social, political realm - which is the work of Faithful Citizenship – has basically four stages or parts:
1. Forming one’s conscience before a given election
2. Voting and Voter Development during the election
3. Keeping the elected officials accountable after the election
4. Engaging in legislative visits and advocacy after the election
Finally, in the work of practicing faithful citizenship, the Church as an institution needs to make sure to promote the activities approved by our teachings and avoid the activities not approved by the same teachings
The entire Church in its ministerial structure, weather it is the episcopal conference, a diocese, or a parish, needs to engage in the work of promoting awareness and the implementation (living out) of the teachings and practice of Faithful Citizenship. That is why the USCCB has prepared a plethora of materials to be used by all areas of ministry, not only the social justice ministries in a diocese or parish. Check out the materials for your ministry on the USCCB Faithful Citizenship webpage (see link above).
“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 Faithful Citizenship Statement, p. 8)
What is Faithful Citizenship?
Faithful Citizenship is the Church’s program on participation in the public life in the United States. It is a program designed to instruct and guide every Catholic faithful on the teachings of the Church concerning political participation – what are we called to do? What can or even must do and what we cannot do? What can and what cannot the Church as an institution do? Faithful Citizenship is also the very brochure statement published by the USCCB every four years (in every presidential election year) that contains most of these guidelines and instructions.
- Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
- Formando la conciencia para ser ciudadanos fieles
- USCCB Website & Materials
Why is Faithful Citizenship important?
A closer look at scriptures in the Old Testament, for example, will shows us how God is often working the salvation of His people through the social and political structures of their time: the establishment of Judges and later kings are examples of this. God is also often challenging their social structures as He calls for the political ideals and values that best reflect his commandments, usually through His prophets, so the political structures could work for the common good and not only for the good of a few. Jesus, as a member of his people, inherited these traditions and continued the salvific work through his ministry challenging and instructing his disciples also on social, and therefore political matters, finally consolidating the possibility of its achievement in his self-sacrifice on the cross. He challenged the abuse of political power and the accumulation of wealth in detriment of the poor; he challenged the structures of oppression and the use of religion to cover it up.
Faithful Citizenship is important because, following in these traditions, helps to guide and instruct us on how to apply scripture’s teachings in our political life today. In fact, the document says that “By our baptism, Catholics are committed to following Jesus Christ and to be "salt for the earth, light for the nations." As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, "It is necessary that all participate, according to his or her position and role, in promoting the common good. This is inherent in the dignity of the human person and as far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life." (nos. 1913-1915).
How to engage in the work of Faithful Citizenship?
The living out of our faith in the social, political realm - which is the work of Faithful Citizenship – has basically four stages or parts:
1. Forming one’s conscience before a given election
2. Voting and Voter Development during the election
3. Keeping the elected officials accountable after the election
4. Engaging in legislative visits and advocacy after the election
Finally, in the work of practicing faithful citizenship, the Church as an institution needs to make sure to promote the activities approved by our teachings and avoid the activities not approved by the same teachings
The entire Church in its ministerial structure, weather it is the episcopal conference, a diocese, or a parish, needs to engage in the work of promoting awareness and the implementation (living out) of the teachings and practice of Faithful Citizenship. That is why the USCCB has prepared a plethora of materials to be used by all areas of ministry, not only the social justice ministries in a diocese or parish. Check out the materials for your ministry on the USCCB Faithful Citizenship webpage (see link above).