Not all political issues of equal value, says Bishop DiMarzio

Published: 2008-02-13

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- A "hierarchy of values" exists, which means not all political issues are of equal value, said Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn. "Our faith must inform our political decisions," he said, and Catholic voters are obliged to distinguish "between moral evil," such as abortion, "and matters of prudential judgment," such as tuition tax credits. Bishop DiMarzio made the comments in an address Feb. 7 to a crowd of 500 at the Cathedral Club of Brooklyn's annual dinner. His remarks drew on the U.S. bishops' 2007 document, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility." When he was chairman of the bishops' domestic policy committee, Bishop DiMarzio headed a committee of chairmen of other USCCB committees that drafted the document, which was prepared in an effort to form consciences, not make decisions for voters. It was issued last November. The bishops have issued a "Faithful Citizenship" document every four years since 1976. In his talk, the bishop referred primarily to issues in New York state.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .