Faith in the Public Arena

The 81st Session of the Minnesota Legislature will re-assemble on February 1. In Minnesota, the Legislative Sessions extend over a two year period; the second convening normally being shorter in length, and dealing primarily with bonding issues.

The Church has a significant role in the political order. This includes educating its members about Catholic social teaching, highlighting the moral dimensions of public policy, participating in debate on matters affecting the common good, and witnessing to the Gospel through its many ministries and services. The Church’s participation in public affairs does not undermine but enriches the political process and affirms genuine pluralism.

In this series of columns, Faith in the Public Arena, we seek to share with readers of the Catholic media across the state our appraisal of currently proposed legislation relative to the Church’s social teachings. Our hope is that growing numbers of Catholic citizens will actively participate in government by contacting their own Senators and Representatives sharing thoughts and opinions with them. As Catholics, we need to share our values and raise our voices to shape a society that protects human life and promotes the common good.

The principles underlying our study are relatively few and simple.

This is the foundational principle of all Catholic Social Justice teaching.

We believe that human beings grow and achieve fulfillment in community, and it is the responsibility of government to serve the good of all people.

Every person has both a right to life and those things required for human decency and corresponding duties and responsibilities to one another, to family, and to the larger society.

A basic moral test of any society is how its most vulnerable members are faring.

The economy exists to serve people, not the other way around.

We are one human family, whatever our national, racial, ethnic, economic, and ideological differences.

Care for the earth is not merely a slogan; it is a requirement of responsible living.

There will be legitimate differences and debate over how these challenging moral principles are applied in concrete situations. Differing prudential judgments on specifics cannot be allowed to obscure our need to know and apply these principles to our family, economic and community life.

The Minnesota Catholic Conference is a public policy office for the Archdiocese and for the five dioceses in Minnesota. Staff members are charged with viewing the bills that come before the legislature through the lens of Catholic social teachings, and bringing the results of their study to Minnesota’s elected officials and its people.