1. Living Our Faith, Loving Our Neighbor in an Election Year (and Beyond) [Insert Name] [Insert Title], Department of [Insert Dept Name} [Insert Date]

2. Are you concerned about…

3. “We are also blessed with religious liberty which safeguards our right to bring our principles and moral convictions to the public arena. These Constitutional freedoms need to be both exercised and protected, as some seek to mute the voices or limit the freedoms of religious believers and religious institutions. Catholics have the same rights and duties as others to participate in public life.” Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, Introduction

4. “The obligation to teach about moral values that should shape our lives, including our public lives, is central to the mission given to the Church by Jesus Christ.” Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, no. 11

5. “In the Catholic Tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in the political process is a moral obligation. This obligation is rooted in our baptismal commitment…” Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, no. 13

6. Our Baptismal Call

7. Rooted in Scripture “Woe to you who enact unjust statutes…” (Is. 10:1) “He has sent me to bring Good News to the poor…” (Lk. 4:18 ) “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt. 25:40). “Choose life...” (Dt. 30:19)

8. Faithful Citizenship  Affirms role in political life  Provides a moral framework  Call to conscience formation  Not a voter guide, scorecard, etc.

9. “The Church wishes to help form consciences in political life and to stimulate greater insight into the authentic requirements of justice as well as greater readiness to act accordingly.” Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est, no. 28

10. 2012 Introductory Note “We urge our Catholic pastors and people to continue to use this important statement to help them form their consciences, to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue, and to shape their choices in the coming election in the light of Catholic teaching.” Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship

11. “Destruction of unborn children through abortion” and other threats to life “Wars, terror, and violence” and their “human and moral costs” “Efforts to force Catholic ministries to violate their consciences” Efforts to “redefine” and “undermine” marriage “An economic crisis which has devastated lives”; need for response that protects the poor ” “The failure to repair a broken immigration system”

12. Life and Dignity of the Human Person Center photo: Food distribution center, Mekelle, Ethiopia. Photo by Sean Sprague for Catholic Relief Services

13. Call to Family, Community and Participation

14. Rights and Responsibilities Photo by Jim Stipe for Catholic Relief Services

15. Preferential Option for the Poor and Vulnerable Photo credit: David Snyder/CRS

16. Dignity of Work & Rights of Workers Photo credit: Ed Foster Jr./CRS

17. Solidarity Photo credit: Sara A. Fajardo/CRS

18. Care for God’s Creation Photo credit: CRS staff

19. A Call to Form Conscience

20. A Call to Exercise Prudence

21. Two Temptations 1. “Moral equivalence that makes no ethical distinctions between different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity. The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed” (no. 28).

22. Two Temptations 2. “The misuse of these necessary moral distinctions as a way of dismissing or ignoring other serious threats to human life and dignity. Racism and other unjust discrimination, the use of the death penalty, resorting to unjust war, the use of torture, war crimes, the failure to respond to those who are suffering from hunger or a lack of health care, or an unjust immigration policy are all serious moral issues that challenge our consciences and require us to act” (no. 29).

23. Two Duties “There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor… They must always be rejected and opposed and must never be supported or condoned” (no. 22). Examples: abortion, euthanasia, human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, genocide, torture, racism, targeting of noncombatants in war

24. Two Duties “Opposition to intrinsically evil acts… should open our eyes to the good we must do, that is, our positive duty to contribute to the common good and to act in solidarity with those in need” (no. 24). Example: Ensuring that basic needs are fulfilled and that food, shelter, health care, education, and meaningful work are available for all.

25. “Both opposing evil and doing good are essential” (no. 24).

26. Download the Two Feet resource at www.usccb.org/jphd in the “Resources and Tools” sectionwww.usccb.org/jphd

27. A Call to Participate

28. www.faithfulcitizenship.org

31. Videos Faithful Citizenship video, DVD Video series for priests (coming soon) Bishops’ 2-minute videos:  Call to participate  Conscience formation  Civil dialogue  Pro-Life  Jobs & Recession  Religious Liberty  Poverty  Marriage  Torture  Immigration  Health Care  Climate Change  Peace in the Holy Land  International Religious Freedom

34. New Bulletin Inserts

37. En Español

38. Search “United States Conference of Catholic Bishops” on Facebook and Twitter

39. Coming Soon   Promotional mailing to parishes from USCCB Communications   “Parish Guide” printed resource with suggested timeline for implementing FCFC

40. PowerPoint available by request

41. Other Useful Resources www.usccb.orgwww.usccb.org (bottom of home page) Justice, Peace & Human Development Catholic Campaign for Human Development Pro-Life Activities Migration Policy Catholic Education

42. “In this coming election and beyond, we urge leaders and all Catholics to share the message of faithful citizenship and to use this document in forming their own consciences, so we can act together to promote and protect human life and dignity, marriage and family, justice and peace in service to the common good. This kind of political responsibility is a requirement of our faith and our duty as citizens.” Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, Introduction

43. Copyright © 2012, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C. All rights reserved. Diocesan-approved groups (including schools and parishes) may use the presentation without alteration for educational purposes only. Under no circumstances may the presentation be posted online or distributed via email or social media. Excerpt from Deus Caritas Est © 2005 Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City. Used with permission. All rights reserved.