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the right of individual believers and religious bodies to participate and speak
out without government interference, favoritism, or discrimination. Civil law
should fully recognize and protect the right of the Church and other institutions
in civil society to participate in cultural, political, and economic life without
being forced to abandon or ignore their central moral convictions. Our nation’s
tradition of pluralism is enhanced, not threatened, when religious groups and
people of faith bring their convictions and concerns into public life. Indeed, our
Church’s teaching is in accord with the foundational values that have shaped
our nation’s history: “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
12. 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—for assessing issues, political platforms, and campaigns. We also bring
broad experience in serving those in need—educating the young, serving fami-
lies in crisis, caring for the sick, sheltering the homeless, helping women who
face difficult pregnancies, feeding the hungry, welcoming immigrants and refu-
gees, reaching out in global solidarity, and pursuing peace. We celebrate, with all
our neighbors, the historically robust commitment to religious freedom in this
country that has allowed the Church the freedom to serve the common good.
Who in the Church Should Participate in Political Life?
Laymen should also know that it is generally the function of their well-formed Chris-
tian conscience to see that the divine law is inscribed in the life of the earthly city;
from priests they may look for spiritual light and nourishment. . . . Since they have
an active role to play in the whole life of the Church, laymen are not only bound
to penetrate the world with a Christian spirit, but are also called to be witnesses to
Christ in all things in the midst of human society.
Bishops, to whom is assigned the task of ruling the Church of God, should,
together with their priests, so preach the news of Christ that all the earthly activities of
the faithful will be bathed in the light of the Gospel. All pastors should remember too
that by their daily conduct and concern they are revealing the face of the Church to
the world, and men will judge the power and truth of the Christian message thereby.
(Second Vatican Council,
Gaudium et Spes
, no. 43)
13. In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participa-
tion in political life is a moral obligation. “People in every nation enhance the