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OUR MISSION
GoCatholic of Fairfax wants to help Catholics become more involved in civic life so that our faith and values can transform the culture.
The Catholic Church urges Catholics to view participation in political life as a moral requirement flowing from a citizen’s “co-responsibility for the common good.” According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: it is “morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country (CCC 2240). This duty is rooted in the virtue of justice and the obligation of charity toward one’s neighbor and country. The Church emphasizes that while the state must respect the fundamental rights of the person and the family, citizens must contribute to the good of society “in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom” (CCC 2239). According to the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church: “Participation in community life” is not just a right but a “duty to be fulfilled consciously by all, with responsibility and with a view to the common good” (Compendium 189)(an official document of the Holy See commissioned by Pope John Paul II).
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) expands on this in Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: “Responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation” (Faithful Citizenship, no. 13). The Church does not tell Catholics for whom to vote but seeks to help them form their consciences so they can make choices in light of the Gospel. Voters should prioritize “intrinsically evil” acts—such as abortion and euthanasia—which must always be opposed, and must use the virtue of prudence to discern which leaders will best advance the common good and protect human dignity (Faithful Citizenship, no. 34-37).