ACT FOR FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP

“ACCEPTING THE FIRST PROCLAMATION, WHICH INVITES US TO RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE AND TO LOVE HIM IN RETURN WITH THE VERY LOVE WHICH IS HIS GIFT, BRINGS FORTH IN OUR LIVES AND ACTIONS A PRIMARY AND FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSE: TO DESIRE, SEEK AND PROTECT THE GOOD OF OTHERS.” – POPE FRANCIS, EVANGELII GAUDIUM, NO. 178


Advance the Cause of Faithful Citizenship

Pray
Civil Dialogue
Vote
Serve
Advocate
Called to Collaborate

Pray

“DISCOVERING THAT THEY ARE LOVED BY GOD, PEOPLE COME TO UNDERSTAND THEIR OWN TRANSCENDENT DIGNITY, THEY LEARN NOT TO BE SATISFIED WITH ONLY THEMSELVES BUT TO ENCOUNTER THEIR NEIGHBOR IN A NETWORK OF RELATIONSHIPS THAT ARE EVER MORE AUTHENTICALLY HUMAN” – COMPENDIUM OF THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH, NO. 4

As Catholics, we know that there is an important connection between our praying life and our calling to bring hope and love to the world we live in. With this idea in mind, we can all draw great benefit from regularly using the prayer with which the Catholic Bishops of the United States closed the 2020 Introductory Letter to Faithful Citizenship:

Merciful Father,

Thank you for inviting each of us to join in your work
of building the kingdom of love, justice, and peace.

Draw us close to you in prayer
as we discern your call in our families and communities.

Send us forth to encounter all whom you love:
those not yet born, those in poverty, those in need of welcome.

Inspire us to respond to the call to faithful citizenship,
during election season and beyond.

Help us to imitate your charity and compassion
and to serve as models of loving dialogue.

Teach us to treat others with respect, even when we disagree,
and seek to share your love and mercy.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God forever and ever.

Amen

Go to the  PRAY section of this site for more prayers you can use to dialogue with God as you discern the role you are called to assume today in the public square. While you are at it, consider this beautiful text from the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church:

“Men and women who are made “new” by the love of God are able to change the rules and the quality of relationships, transforming even social structures. They are people capable of bringing peace where there is conflict, of building and nurturing fraternal relationships where there is hatred, of seeking justice where there prevails the exploitation of man by man. Only love is capable of radically transforming the relationships that men maintain among themselves. This is the perspective that allows every person of good will to perceive the broad horizons of justice and human development in truth and goodness.” (no. 4).

Civil Dialogue

“(DIALOGUE) ARISES FROM THE ENJOYMENT OF SPEAKING AND IT ENRICHES THOSE WHO EXPRESS THEIR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER THROUGH THE MEDIUM OF WORDS. THIS IS AN ENRICHMENT WHICH DOES NOT CONSIST IN OBJECTS BUT IN PERSONS WHO SHARE THEMSELVES IN DIALOGUE” – POPE FRANCIS, EVANGELII GAUDIUM, NO. 142

As a means to promote civil dialogue in our society, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has developed a campaign titled “Civilize It: A Better Kind Of Politics”. Civilize It is a response to Pope Francis’ invitation to develop a “better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good” (Fratelli Tutti, no. 154). With that idea in mind, Civilize It is a nonpartisan initiative that seeks to assist Catholics to counter polarization and division in the Church and society by following the example of the Good Samaritan, who challenges us to “become neighbors to all” (Fratelli Tutti, no. 80).

To learn more about the Civilize It campaign, review the following USCCB website:


Other resources on civil dialogue and the development of a better kind of politics:

Vote

We vote because we are citizens, but we vote conscientiously because we are people of faith. Our consciences are formed through studying Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church, the examination of the facts, and prayerful reflection.

For more on how Catholics are expected to make decisions on how to vote on an election, go to the  LEARN section of this website.


Serve


“WE CANNOT FORGET THAT THE ULTIMATE CRITERION ON WHICH OUR LIVES WILL BE JUDGED IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR OTHERS (…) OUR WORSHIP BECOMES PLEASING TO GOD WHEN WE DEVOTE OURSELVES TO LIVING GENEROUSLY, AND ALLOW GOD’S GIFT, GRANTED IN PRAYER, TO BE SHOWN IN OUR CONCERN FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS” – POPE FRANCIS, GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE, NO. 104

Important as it is, voting in a conscientious way on our periodical elections is only one of the many things we have to do as faithful citizens. Day in and day out, we must make ourselves present in the lives of those who are in need, starting with the poor and vulnerable, with whom Christ has identified Himself ever so clearly: “ whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mt. 25:40)


WORKS OF MERCY

“SEEING AND ACTING WITH MERCY: THAT IS HOLINESS.” – POPE FRANCIS, GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE, NO. 82

Review these USCCB websites to learn more about the spiritual and corporal works of mercy:


LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUES

“THE THREAT OF ABORTION REMAINS OUR PREEMINENT PRIORITY BECAUSE IT DIRECTLY ATTACKS LIFE ITSELF, BECAUSE IT TAKES PLACE WITHIN THE SANCTUARY OF THE FAMILY, AND BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF LIVES DESTROYED. AT THE SAME TIME, WE CANNOT DISMISS OR IGNORE OTHER SERIOUS THREATS TO HUMAN LIFE AND DIGNITY SUCH AS RACISM, THE ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS, POVERTY AND THE DEATH PENALTY.” – FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP, INTRODUCTORY LETTER

Go to the LEARN section of this website to learn more about the many issues on which we are called to serve in our community.

Advocate


“WE ARE ALSO CALLED TO PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING OF ALL, TO SHARE OUR BLESSINGS WITH THOSE MOST IN NEED, TO DEFEND MARRIAGE, AND TO PROTECT THE LIVES AND DIGNITY OF ALL, ESPECIALLY THE WEAK, THE VULNERABLE, THE VOICELESS.” – FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP, NO. 10

REGISTER TO RECEIVE THE TEXAS VOICE DURING THE 87TH TEXAS LEGISLATIVE SESSION
In 2021, Catholic Advocacy Day has been canceled due to the coronavirus. Nevertheless, the Texas Legislature has been in session since January 12th, and will continue to be so until May 31st. In order to make our voices heard this year in the defense of human life and dignity and the protection of the weak and vulnerable, the Texas Conference of Catholic Bishops is inviting all Catholics to sign up for the Texas Catholic Voice, a weekly newsletter through which they will receive urgent action alerts as bills are discussed and voted in the House and Senate. Through these alerts, the TCCB will call on Catholics and others of good will to make phone calls or sending emails in support or opposition to pending legislation.People can sign up to the Texas Catholic Voice on the TCCB’s website by clicking here.


TWO FEET OF LOVE IN ACTION

The  USCCB Two Feet of Love in Action model teaches us that working directly in the realm of charitable works is a noble endeavor that we are all called to undertake; nevertheless, we must also engage ourselves in the works of social justices that are needed to eliminate the structural causes of the social problems we are facing.


LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUES

Go to the  LEARN section of this website to learn more about the many issues you can advocate on as a faithful citizen.


SIGN UP TO THE USCCB ACTION ALERTS

Visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Action Center to sign up to receive Action Alerts that will keep you informed and provide you with immediate opportunities to advocate in favor of relevant issues before your national representatives and other authorities.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TEXAS CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS 87TH LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

To learn more about  the issues the TCCB will be advocating for during the Texas 87th Legislative Session, visit:

Called to Collaborate

“NOT EVERY CATHOLIC CAN BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED ON EACH OF THESE CONCERNS, BUT WE NEED TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AS OUR COMMUNITY OF FAITH DEFENDS HUMAN LIFE AND DIGNITY WHEREVER IT IS THREATENED. WE ARE NOT FACTIONS, BUT ONE FAMILY OF FAITH FULFILLING THE MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST.” – FAITHFUL CITIZENSHIP, NO. 29

Take time to learn about what others are doing to promote the cause of the dignity of the human person and the common good in the topics you find yourself more interested in. Join the existing outreach ministries in your parish, or prayerfully consider approaching your pastor to suggest the creation of a new ministry in your community. Connect and collaborate with faith-based or secular organizations that are doing the good work of the Lord in the service of the unborn, the poor, the imprisoned, etcetera. Pray and support your brothers and sisters who have been called by the Spirit to dedicate the larger portion of their time and resources on an issue different from the one you are working on, “so that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.” (1 Cor., 12:25)


Questions or Comments?

Questions or Comments?

Lauren Stadelman
Director for Pastoral Care & Hospital Ministry