Webinar to discuss ways Catholics can promote civility in politics – Catholic Star Herald

To better understand how faith can influence civil discourse, Catholics are invited to join the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Catholic Conferences on October 9 at 6:30 p.m. for a webinar on the upcoming elections. The webinar is titled “Blessed Are the Peacemakers.”

For two of the last three years, the New Jersey Catholic Conference — the public policy body of the New Jersey bishops — “has hosted a webinar on “Faithful Citizenship” to help educate and inform Catholics about their civic responsibility, which Pope Francis considers part of its mission.” Church,” said John W. Hardiman, NJCC director of communications and public relations.

Given the ramifications of the national election, Hardiman continued, “The New Jersey and Pennsylvania conferences felt the time was right to host a joint webinar.”

“Faithful Citizenship” is an important initiative of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, he noted, “and while we highlight more specifics during election season, we promote this initiative year-round on our website and through regular communications with Catholics throughout New Jersey.”

The webinar will feature three panelists: James J. King, executive director of NJCC; Emily Schumacher-Novak, USCCB deputy director for education and outreach, Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, and Eric Failing, executive director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference.

King and Failing’s mandate is to “represent the voice of Catholic bishops in their states and the legislative agenda of the Catholic Church at the state and federal levels,” Hardiman explained. “Their role as the Church’s principal lobbyists in each of their states makes them ideally suited to discuss best practices on the public stage when it comes to interacting with both legislators and citizens.”

Since “Faithful Citizenship” and “Civilize It” are programs that originated from the USCCB, Schumacher-Novak “can help provide deep insight into the role Catholics can play in restoring civility to an otherwise polarized political climate,” he noted.

Dioceses and Catholic Conferences across the country have been invited by the USCCB to promote the “Faithful Citizenship” and “Civilize It” initiatives as part of the national effort.

“The Catholic Church does not endorse candidates or political parties,” Hardiman emphasized, “but does seek to inform and educate the faithful on the formation of conscience in a manner consistent with Catholic Social Teaching, which is the founding principle of Faithful Citizenship.” In doing so, voters are being asked to let their faith influence their politics, not the other way around.”

A parallel video project initiated and coordinated by the NJCC features the bishops of New Jersey speaking to their diocesan communities about the moral responsibility to maintain civility in public discourse and form a conscience for voting in light of Catholic Social Teaching.

“The Catholic Church calls for political commitment shaped by moral convictions with well-formed consciences, focused on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good and the protection of the weak and defenseless,” the bishops say. “Furthermore, Catholics have a moral obligation to serve as arbiters in public life by being informed, engaged, and respectful to all participants, whether they agree or disagree with our personal views.”

Hardiman said: “Hearing the message directly from diocesan bishops puts an exclamation point on how important it is for Catholics to be informed, engaged and decide on candidates with Catholic Social Teaching in mind,” Hardiman said. “We are grateful that (our bishops) understand and appreciate the important role they play and are always willing to speak directly to their parishioners whenever the opportunity arises.”

To learn more about the webinar and to register, visit bit.ly/46ZEW3F. More information about NJCC and its initiatives can be found at njcatholic.org.

EmmaLee Italia is the editor of Monitor magazine, the Catholic publication of the Diocese of Trenton.