Emotions, conscience and prudence in our political obligations

As we continue to move more deeply into this election year, it is hard not to notice that there are bitter divides among many. It is precisely in these difficult times in our country’s political and social history that the presence of faithful, informed and discerning Catholic Christians engaged in the political process is most needed.

When reflecting on our political responsibility, especially now, when we are called to participate in the serious task of electing our civic leaders, it is important to remember that no politician, no political party, no social policy can ever bring about a utopia in this current life.  We live in a beautiful yet fallen world, one that is redeemed solely by the blood of Christ and not by elected officials, no matter how noble or alluring they may seem to be. 
 
Nevertheless, Pope Francis reminds us who follow Jesus that authentic faith involves “a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it (Evangelii Gaudium, 183).”  In taking seriously our task of serving the common good and helping to build a civilization of love it is easy to get discouraged when the current political climate is so often characterized by high emotions that yield a disturbing degree of cynicism, coarseness and even anger often taking the form of personal attacks and insults towards those who may be in disagreement.

In the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ statement “Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship (FCFC),” my brother bishops and I strongly reaffirm the Catholic teaching that responsible citizenship is a virtue, and that participation in political life is not just an optional privilege, it is a moral obligation. Care for the social order in which we are called by God to live is a duty rooted in our being part of the human community and responsible citizens. However, even more than this, our obligation to participate in political concerns and the decisions of our society is “rooted in our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus Christ and to bear Christian witness in all we do (FCFC 13).”  

We should never sit back and give up on the world and our society. With Christ, we too should always desire and work for the salvation of all and the just ordering of society.  The Church “cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice (Evangelii Gaudium, 183).”

Unfortunately, the current political climate can present some serious challenges to fruitful participation in our political responsibility.  Political conversation, both among individuals and in the public square, oftentimes seems to be losing its necessary civil and rational basis.  Political discourse involves discussion of serious issues and topics that often touch upon the very foundations of a society’s moral principles. As such, it can be expected that many become emotionally invested in the issues and process. This is not necessarily a bad thing; after all, these are serious matters involving the well-being of our society. 

Nevertheless, deep concern or disappointment over legislation, candidates, direction of political parties or other factors should never serve as a justification for a hatefulness that undermines clear thinking and respect for the dignity of persons.  

In short, the actions that we take in political engagement cannot be motivated by anger or maliciousness but rather must be governed by reason that is informed by a well-formed conscience. 

The first step in any political participation, if it is to be fruitful, is the importance of developing a well-formed conscience.  This is important for all but especially so for those of us who claim to bear the name of Christ.  As Catholics, we have the “serious and lifelong obligation to form [our] consciences in accord with human reason and the teaching of the Church (FCFC 17).”  More than just a feeling, emotion or opinion, conscience is “the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us and calling us to do what is good while shunning what is evil (Ibid.)” 

Our society misunderstands conscience, believing that it is one’s personal opinion, determination or feeling that something is right or wrong.  Conscience is not merely our opinion of the “rightness” or “wrongness” of an act, rather it is the instrument by which we reasonably check that act against objective moral principles in order not to determine but rather to discover whether something is right or wrong.  

A well-formed conscience begins with a desire to embrace goodness and truth (FCFC 18). For us Catholics, this means prayerfully considering all the facts, background information, and possible results of an act, but also embracing the guidance of God’s word found in sacred Scripture and the definitive teachings of the Church.  

It is a well-formed conscience that prepares us to be effective participants in the political life of our society and to witness convincingly to the truths of God and the morality of our actions.

To ensure that our political participation is not marred by a blinding emotionalism in which we allow dissatisfaction to guide our political choices and discourse, the Church calls upon us to develop also the virtue of prudence in our lives and to bring this prudence into our political actions.  

Prudence, as the Catechism teaches, enables us “to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it (CCC 1806).”  Our rational exercise of prudence, helps us to deliberate over the actions and possible alternatives that would be most fitting in a specific situation and to act accordingly.  It helps us to keep our emotions in check while weighing whether a certain act is moral and proper.

The virtue of prudence in our political engagement requires us to be courageous in our commitment to the Church’s clear teaching that a good end does not ever justify an immoral means.  In seeking to advance the common good—“by defending the inviolable sanctity of human life from the moment of conception to natural death, by promoting religious freedom, by defending marriage, by feeding the hungry and housing the homeless, by welcoming the immigrant and protecting the environment—it is important to recognize that not all possible courses of action are morally acceptable.  We have a responsibility to discern carefully which public policies are morally sound (cf. FCFC 20).” 

As Catholics, we can disagree over different ways to respond to the important social issues of our day, so long as these alternatives do not violate moral principles. However “we cannot differ on our moral obligation to help build a more just and peaceful world through morally acceptable means, so that the weak and vulnerable are protected and human rights and dignity are defended (FCFC 20).”  Discontentment or frustration over individuals, parties or situations in the political process can never be allowed to eclipse this truth. 

A well-formed conscience, the rational exercise of prudence, and the moral obligation to advance the common good of life, human dignity, religious freedom, the sanctity of marriage, etc.—these cannot be ignored simply because we may be angry with the current state of our political situation.  The very fact that the current political discourse seems largely to be failing to grasp adequately such essential moral truths shows an even greater urgency for us as the people of God to exercise our moral obligation of political engagement by bringing the truth and joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ into our society.  


[ The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship can be found at diocesecc.org/fcfc.]