Being a Good Citizen

Depending on who's talking, 'being a good citizen' can mean always agreeing with a political party's platform; just paying taxes and staying out of jail; or voting, if there's nothing good on television.

Citizenship, Catholic Style

Since I take 'love God, love your neighbor, everybody's your neighbor' seriously, I must:

• Support religious freedom
  (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2104-2109)
  • For everybody
    (Catechism, 2106)
• Take an active part in public life
  (Catechism, 1915)
• Contribute to the good of society
  • In a spirit of
    • Truth
    • Justice
    • Solidarity
    • Freedom
  (Catechism, 2239)
• Submit to legitimate authorities
  • Refuse obedience to civil authorities
    • When their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience
    (Catechism, 2242)
  (Catechism, 2239)
  (June 1, 2012)

On the whole, I'd rather not get in trouble with civil authorities. But if I had to choose, I'd rather defy the United States Supreme Court than explain to Jesus why I dissed God the Father. (August 27, 2011)

It's a simple decision, but not an easy one:

• "Freedom to Act Like God Matters"
  (June 23, 2012)
  Particularly
  • Pompous Nitwits and Authority
  • Legitimate Authority
  • Conscience, Law, and Losing Your Head
• "John Fisher, Thomas More, and the Big Picture"
  (June 22, 2012)
• "Choose: Religious Freedom; or 'Straight-Jacketing Mandates' "
  (March 7, 2012)
  Particularly
  • Rogue Rulers: Been There, Done That

I'll be back in about an hour, with my hopes and expectations: and, more to the point, a list of 'religious freedom' resources.

---

You may find a link list of today's three posts, and others, useful. Then again, maybe not:

• "An Election, Citizenship, and Expectations"
  (November 4, 2012)

---

Related posts:

• "America's National Election; What I Believe; and What I Don't"
  (October 31, 2012)
• " Obedience, Yes: Blind Obedience, No
  (March 12, 2012)
• "Citizenship, being Catholic, and the Rules of Polite Society"
  (March 22, 2011)
• "Living in America and Living a Catholic Life"
  (April 29, 2010)
• "Elections and Citizenship, Catholic Style"
  (September 24, 2008)