"Faithful citizenship" doesn't end on election day

The 2012 American elections saw the US Bishops speak out prominently on a number of controversial issues, including religious liberty, abortion, and immigration reforms.

In the wake of elections that leave the country divided on many of those issues, the Bishops’ Conference is reminding people that “faithful citizenship” does not end on election day.

“Faithful citizenship isn’t about just going to the voting booth on election day. But faithful citizenship is something that is a lifetime calling--it happens every day.” The Director of the USCCB’s Office of Domestic Social Development, Kathy Saile, told Vatican Radio’s Christopher Wells that Catholics need to remain involved in the political process: “We have to hold our political leaders accountable. And they are going to need the input of what’s going on out on the ground on these issues. And so that’s something that we can constantly form their opinions around, and help to form them.”

She says the Church is actively involved in promoting the common good: “The Catholic Church in the US serves one out six people in . . . Catholic hospitals last year, we served one out of ten people who came looking for social services, so we bring a lot of expertise to these issues, not just moral teaching.”

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