In this week’s edition of his diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Standard, Archbishop Wuerl offers the first part of some “Reflections on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” a sort of commentary on the document of the USCCB. Some highlights:

“In a democracy where each of us has a voice and vote, we assume responsibility for the direction our country takes in matters that have clear moral content. We are not free to stand back and allow morally objectionable activities to transpire under the protection of the law as if legality somehow conferred morality on our activities as a people – a society – a nation.” …

“Forming Consciences” reminds us that we bring important assets to the political dialogue about our nation’s future: “We bring a consistent moral framework – drawn from basic human reason that is illuminated by Scripture and the teaching of the Church – for assessing issues, political platforms, and campaigns” (12). …

“We as Catholics bring a God-given gift – the Gospel message – the vision that Jesus imparts. Our faith in God’s word and our recognition of a natural moral law should impel us to a significant level of political participation. Our vote is one way in which our voice is heard and our impact felt.” …

“The bishops also remind us that “clergy and lay people have complementary roles in public life. We bishops have the primary responsibility to hand on the Church’s moral and social teaching…we are to teach fundamental moral principles that help Catholics form their consciences correctly, to provide guidance on the moral dimensions of public decisions, and to encourage the faithful to carry out their responsibilities in political life” (15)….

“The translation of moral imperative into political action and public policy is the work of the laity. Faithful lay women and lay men have the proper task of infusing the temporal order with Christian values. As the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity reminded us, one of the primary tasks of the laity is the “renewal of the temporal order.” This takes place as the laity “led by the light of the gospel and the mind of the Church … act directly and definitively in the temporal sphere” (7)….

“Catholics, particularly those involved in public life, should see their task, then, as contributing to the establishment of a good and just society. We are called, “Forming Consciences” tells us, “to bring together our principles and our political choices, our values and our votes, to help build a better world” (14).