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Notes
1 The common good is “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either
as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily” (
Cat-
echism of the Catholic Church
, no. 1906).
2 “Ignorance of Christ and his Gospel, bad example given by others, enslavement to
one’s passions, assertion of a mistaken notion of autonomy of conscience, rejection of
the Church’s authority and her teaching, lack of conversion and charity: these can be
at the source of errors of judgment in moral conduct” (
Catechism of the Catholic Church
,
no. 1792).
3 “When political activity comes up against moral principles that do not admit of excep-
tion, compromise, or derogation, the Catholic commitment becomes more evident
and laden with responsibility. In the face of
fundamental and inalienable ethical demands
,
Christians must recognize that what is at stake is the essence of the moral law, which
concerns the integral good of the human person. This is the case with laws concerning
abortion
and
euthanasia
. . . . Such laws must defend the basic right to life from concep-
tion to natural death” (
Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of
Catholics in Political Life
, no. 4).
4 See
Catechism of the Catholic Church
, no. 2297.
5 These themes are drawn from a rich tradition of principles and ideas that are more
fully described in the
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
from the Pontifi-
cal Council for Justice and Peace (Washington, DC: United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops, 2005).
6 See
Catechism of the Catholic Church
, no. 2297.
7 See
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church
, no. 501.
8 See
Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between
Homosexual Persons
.
H H H