Bishops' document to offer new guidance on Catholics' political role

Published: 2007-10-18

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Rejecting a political climate based on "powerful interests, partisan attacks, sound bites and media hype," the U.S. bishops call Catholics to "a different kind of political engagement" in a document to be voted on during their fall general meeting Nov. 12-15 in Baltimore. That engagement must be "shaped by the moral convictions of well-formed consciences and focused on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good and the protection of the weak and vulnerable," they said. The 37-page "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility From the Catholic Bishops of the United States" was developed by seven committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and must be approved by two-thirds of the USCCB membership. The bishops also are to vote on a shortened version of the text, designed for use as a parish bulletin insert. The draft is part of a series of documents that have been issued before every presidential election for more than 30 years. But the 2007 version underwent a wider consultation at the committee level and is the first to come before the full body of bishops.

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