Faithful Citizenship in Richmond

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 2/10/05)

In an age when, lamentably, the dichotomy inherent in the refrain "I am personally opposed to (fill in the blank with ‘abortion,’ ‘same-sex marriage,’ ‘embryonic stem cell research,’ or one of many other issues) but…" seems so prevalent, it was heartening to join 180 Catholics this past week at the annual Virginia Catholic Advocacy Day in Richmond.

After all, what these members of our diocese and the Diocese of Richmond eloquently demonstrated in dozens of meetings with delegates, senators, and other elected officials was that we, as Catholics, can be salt of the earth and light of the world. We not only can, but must. Far from putting our faith beneath a bushel basket, we are called to faithful citizenship, to the articulation, application, and advocacy of the truths and principles we weekly profess.

Last June, I and my brother bishops affirmed the following in our statement Catholics in Political Life, "As our conference has insisted in Faithful Citizenship, Catholics who bring their moral convictions into public life do not threaten democracy or pluralism but enrich them and the nation. The separation of church and state does not require division between belief and public action, between moral principles and political choices, but protects the right of believers and religious groups to practice their faith and act on their values in public life."

Guiding our efforts on Catholic Advocacy Day was Jeffrey Caruso, the able director of our newly-established Virginia Catholic Conference (VCC). In forming the VCC, the Dioceses of Arlington and Richmond now join the ranks of over 30 other states with Catholic Conferences. As such, we will be better equipped as we seek to enrich the public discourse in Richmond by bringing the moral principles of our faith to bear on the political choices before our elected officials.

While there were many discussions with elected officials about the details of pending legislation, perhaps what was most striking about Catholic Advocacy Day was the gathering of advocates at St. Peter’s Church at the conclusion of our many meetings. Many shared that elected officials had told them they were grateful for the time we had taken to share our positions with them. Our elected officials cannot help but be mindful of the fact that over 600,000 registered Catholics now reside in the Commonwealth, and that the Church’s support of life, dignity and fairness for all people is a resource – indeed, a beacon – for all, not merely Catholics.

As the current session of the General Assembly in Richmond continues to its close this Feb. 26, I would encourage you to stay abreast of and engaged in the issues, developments of which will be covered in the Arlington Catholic Herald. We cannot fall for the false dichotomy of "faith outside of public life." Instead, we are called to an integration of faith and action, to the "immense" task of "establishing new relationships in human society, under the mastery and guidance of truth, justice, charity and freedom…” (Pacem in Terris, 163).

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