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A Positive Vision of the Good
Why should Catholics care about government, politics, and public policy? As Christians, we are commanded by Jesus to love our neighbor. One significant way of demonstrating this love is by creating a lawful and just society in which it is easier to choose the good.
While it is tempting to think that government is off in the distance "doing things" to taxpayers, our society is better served if we remember that government is a tool for advancing human life, dignity, and the common good. The government is meant to be "of the people, by the people, and for the people." In other words, government exists to serve citizens; citizens do not exist to serve the government.
The government, however, cannot serve us unless we take responsibility for sharing our ideas about how to uphold life, dignity, and the common good. Catholics have been reflecting on these matters since the time of Jesus and over the centuries have developed a body of knowledge known as Catholic Social Teaching. This is summarized in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, which contains the Church’s long reflection on the human experience and provides indispensable principles to help Catholics and all people of good will address the current challenges of our time.
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