Events & Updates

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

UPDATES

Faithful Citizenship: A Catechetical Talk

____________________________________________________________________________

A summary of the presentation made by fellow Knight of Columbus and Senior Assistant 

District Attorney (Nassau County), Mr. Robert Formichelli on September 22nd, 2024.

____________________________________________________________________________

Faithful Citizenship in the Roman Catholic Church is the belief that Catholics have a moral obligation to participate actively in the political and social life of their communities, guided by their faith and the teachings of the Church. This concept is rooted in the idea that human dignity and the common good are interconnected, and that Christians have a unique role to play in promoting both.

Key principles of faithful citizenship:

• The dignity of the human person: All individuals, regardless of their circumstances, possess inherent dignity and worth. This principle guides Catholics in advocating for policies that protect human life, promote social justice, and respect the rights of all.

• The common good: The common good is the well-being of the entire community, not just of individuals. Catholics believe that they have a duty to work towards the common good by participating in civic life and promoting policies that benefit all members of society.

• Subsidiarity: The principle in Catholic social teaching that emphasizes the importance of decision-making at the lowest possible level. It suggests that larger organizations, such as governments, should only intervene in the affairs of smaller organizations or individuals when necessary, and that smaller units should be empowered to handle their own affairs whenever possible.

• Solidarity: The Church emphasizes the importance of a world community that has the obligation to help each person. There is an emphasis on religious freedom as a fundamental human right. Catholics believe that individuals should be free to practice their faith without fear of persecution or discrimination. And the Catholic Church believes in the fair and equitable distribution of the benefits and burdens of society. Catholics are called to advocate for policies that address issues of poverty, inequality, and discrimination. We are a large, worldwide human family. This is also an extension of the stewardship of creation is a way because Catholics believe that God created the world and entrusted it to humanity for its care.
  
  

How Catholics can practice faithful citizenship:

• Vote responsibly: Catholics are encouraged to vote in elections and to research candidates' positions on issues that are important to them.

• Participate in civic life: This can include volunteering for community organizations, serving on boards or commissions, or running for public office.

• Advocate for just policies: Catholics can advocate for policies that promote the common good, protect human life, and address issues of social justice.

• Educate themselves: Catholics should stay informed about current events and issues, and educate themselves on the Church's teachings on social and political matters.

By practicing faithful citizenship, Catholics have the responsibility to help building a just and equitable society. And they tie in with four cardinal virtues which are interconnected and essential for living a virtuous life: Prudence, Justice, Humility, and Conscience. By cultivating prudence, justice, humility, and a well-formed conscience, we can strive to live in accordance with God's will and contribute to the common good.

Prudence is the virtue that enables us to discern what is right and good in every circumstance and to choose the appropriate means to achieve it. It involves practical wisdom, sound judgment, and the ability to make wise choices.

Key elements:
Discernment: The ability to distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong.
Foresight: The ability to anticipate future consequences of actions.
Temperance: The ability to control one's passions and desires.

Justice is the virtue that consists in giving God and one's neighbor their due. It involves fairness, equality, and the fulfillment of one's obligations. Justice is about treating others with respect and dignity.

Key elements:
Commutative justice: The fairness in exchanges between individuals.
Distributive justice: The fair distribution of goods and services within a society.
Social justice: The fairness in the structures and institutions of society.

Humility is the virtue that enables us to acknowledge our own limitations and dependence on God. It is about recognizing our place in the world and avoiding pride and arrogance.

Key elements:
Self-awareness: Understanding one's strengths and weaknesses.
Gratitude: Acknowledging the gifts and blessings received from God.
Detachment: Being free from excessive attachment to worldly things.

Conscience is the inner voice that guides us in making moral decisions. It is a gift from God that enables us to discern between good and evil. A well-formed conscience is informed by the teachings of the Church, reason, and personal experience. Conscience implies that we have researched and learned in order to develop an informed opinion about something. We have done the studying and thinking and have come to an understanding of what is good, evil, and/or prudent. A fully formed Christian conscience knows what is in the Catechism of the Chuirch

Key elements:
Informed conscience: A conscience that is guided by the teachings of the Church.
Clear conscience: A conscience that is free from doubt or guilt.
Erroneous conscience: A conscience that is mistaken in its judgment.

Some issues to consider that the Catholic Church considers important are:

1. The taking of a human life must always be opposed and we cannot have blind spots on this.

2. We cannot vote on only one issue. We cannot turn a blind eye to other serious moral issues to vote for a candidate or policy we support.

3. Catholics should be fully engaged in the political process and vote to have their opinions heard. Hold the politicians feet to the fire as the saying goes.

4. Catholics should not knowingly and willingly vote for laws that further evil.

5.Where there are already evil laws on the books, the ‘art of the possible’ concept should be invoked. Take an incremental approach to changing the law without abandoning the right to natural life and death.

6. Morality has to do with the act itself, the intent of the person committing the act, and the circumstance surrounding the act.

7. Voting for candidates must consider their commitment, character, integrity, and their ability and track record of acting on moral issues.

Overall the concept of voting, Catholics should understand that it is always a prudential judgment (a decision made by weighing the difference between greater and lesser evils). It is always a matter of conscience. It is sometimes an act with moral implications. Lastly, it is always an opportunity to do some good. Voting is considered an important part of the Catholic concept of Faithful Citizenship because it allows Catholics to exercise their stewardship of creation, promote social justice, defend human life and dignity, contribute to the common good, and fulfill their civic responsibilities. Faithful citizenship is more than just voting, but voting is tied to the overall concept in that, as responsible Catholics, we are urged to consider all the moral as well as the ethical ramifications of the votes we place for our selected candidates and policies.