Applying our faith to our citizenship

A few weeks ago in this space, we began an occasional series of editorials about the elections in 2000, a series that has the goal of informing and inspiring Catholics to vote conscientiously when the primaries and general election occur in the new millennium.

The Administrative Board of the U.S. Catholic Conference, which includes Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, made a major contribution toward that goal by issuing "Faithful Citizenship: Civic Responsibility for a New Millennium." An article about the document appears on the front page this week, and we will print its entire text in a future issue. For now, here are some cogent sentences that explain why Catholics must pay more attention to and become more involved in the political process:

* "The next millennium requires a new kind of politics, focused more on moral principles than on the latest polls, more on the needs of the poor and vulnerable than the contributions of the rich and powerful, more on the pursuit of the common good than the demands of special interests.

* "Catholics are called to be a community of conscience within the larger society, and to test public life by the moral wisdom anchored in Scripture and consistent with the best of our nation's founding ideals.

* "In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue; participation in the political process is a moral obligation. Every believer is called to faithful citizenship, to become an informed, active and responsible participant in the political process.

* "As Catholics we need to share our values, raise our voices and use our votes to shape a society that protects human life, promotes family life, pursues social justice and practices solidarity. These efforts will strengthen our nation and renew our Church.

* "As Catholics and as voters, this is not an easy time for faithful citizenship. By this, we mean more than people who consistently participate in public life, but disciples who view these responsibilities through the eyes of faith and bring their moral convictions to their civic tasks and choices. Sometimes, it seems few candidates and no party fully reflect our values. But now is not a time for retreat. The new millennium should be an opportunity for renewed participation."

As you begin to ponder those ideas, to study the issues, to reflect on Church teaching and to make decisions about the elections, be sure to add one more ingredient to the process: prayer that you will make the right decision and that our leaders will, in the words of the bishops' document, "defend human life and dignity, pursue greater justice and peace, uphold family life, and advance the common good."

(10-28-99)

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