Civilize It
Civil Dialogue: A response to Jesus’ call to love our neighbor (pdf)
What does it mean to form my conscience? (pdf)
Examination of Conscience: Loving Our Neighbors (pdf)
A Prayer for Civility (pdf)
The Challenge of Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
Complete (pdf)
US bishops’ reflection
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship
Avoiding Two Temptations
Two temptations in public life can distort the Church’s defense of human life and dignity: The first is a 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.
The second is 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, environmental degradation, the use of torture, war crimes, the failure to respond to those who are suffering from hunger or a lack of health care or housing, pornography, human trafficking, redefining civil marriage, compromising religious liberty or unjust immigration policies are all serious moral issues that challenge our consciences and require us to act.