"Religion...has Social Implications"

Last month, someone wrote that "...religion is not just a matter of private conviction. It can't be reduced to personal prayer or Sunday worship. It has social implications...."

Social Implications: Avoiding Evil

He's right. Since I'm a practicing Catholic, I can't kill an innocent person. More accurately, if I decided to commit murder, I'd have to abandon my ideas about what's right and what's not. There might be legal complications, too: depending on who I killed.

That "social implications" quote is from a piece Archbishop Chaput wrote:

• "Building a Culture of Religious Freedom"
  Charles J. Chaput, via
  The Witherspoon Institute (July 27, 2012)

The "social implications" of my faith aren't limited to saying I shouldn't murder folks. For example, the Church also says I shouldn't lie, steal, or cheat on my wife. (Catechism of the Catholic Church: 2464; 2401; 2337, 2364-2365)

No wonder some folks assume the Catholic Church doesn't want us to have any fun: and that's another topic.

Social Implications: Doing Good

Catholic teaching isn't just a list of no-nos. A Catholic citizen is expected to take an active part in public life and be a good citizen. (Catechism, 1915, 2238-43, 2255) Among other things, we're expected to vote. (Catechism, 2240)

Then there's the whole "social justice" thing: which isn't new. (Catechism, 1928-1942) The Catholic Church has been pushing for social justice for two millennia now. (May 6, 2012)

Good Idea: But Not For Me

Like I've said before, the world's billion or so living Catholics aren't all alike: and we're not supposed to be. (August 26, 2010)

That's why I won't claim that everybody should do this:

"Sitting down with a mocha frappuccino or a chai tea latte? Ready to philosophize, hyopthesize, and theologize? Then pull out your copy of Faithful Citizenship and sit down with a friend or two to reflect on the statement's deep themes: How does your faith affect your views on issues facing your world? What is the relationship between your roles as a Catholic and as a citizen?..."
(USCCB)

I almost certainly won't "sit down with a friend or two to reflect...."

My coffee breaks are just that - breaks from research, writing, and washing the dishes. I'll read, or doodle, or let my mind drift, while on break: but serious discussion of issues isn't my idea of rest and recreation.

Discussion-Starters: Good for Solo Work, Too

But the title, "Coffee Discussion Guide," got me interested. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has a 10-point list of discussion-starting questions in a pdf (Acrobat) format document called "Conversations Over Coffee."

Question #5 says: "The seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching ... Which of these themes help you to view issues in new ways? Which of these themes do you think are most often forgotten in public discourse?"

That 10-point discussion starter refers to another online booklet called "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship." I think they're useful, even if you don't want to turn a chat over coffee into a serious discussion:

• "Coffee Discussion Guide"
  USCCB
  • "Conversations Over Coffee*" (pdf)
    * Your guide for great conversation about Faithful Citizenship over lattes and chai tea.
    (from www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/Conversations-Over-Coffee-Discussion-Guide.pdf (August 4, 2012))
  • "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" (pdf)
    A Call to Political Responsibility...
    (from www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship.pdf (August 4, 2012))

I haven't done more than skim over the "Conversations..." thing, and plan to read it later. Maybe this afternoon.

Or maybe I'll take a long nap. It's been a slightly crazy week. And that is yet another topic.

(A tip of the hat to Donna L. Ingraham, on Linkedin, for the heads-up on Archbishop Chaput's piece.)

Related posts:

Politics
• "Life, the Universe, and Badminton"
  (August 3, 2012)
• "Natural Moral Law, Catholicism, Karma, and the Tea Party"
  (October 16, 2010)
• "Party Politics, Reality, the Big Picture, and This Catholic"
  (October 1, 2009)
• "Conservative? Liberal? Democrat? Republican? No, I'm Catholic"
  (November 3, 2008)
• "Life: It's a Single Issue, and an Important One"
  (November 2, 2008)
• Freedom and fear
  • "Freedom to Act Like God Matters"
    (June 23, 2012)
  • " '...A Time to Stand Up''"
    (June 27, 2012)
  • "The Establishment Clause; Religious Freedom; and Getting a Grip"
    (October 5, 2011)
  • "Separation of Church and State, Assumptions, and Fear"
    (September 2, 2011)
  • "Freedom of Religion, or Freedom From Religion?"
    (June 1, 2009)
• (Catholic) social justice
  • "Individuals, the Common Good, and All That"
    (May 13, 2012)
  • "Love and Intelligence, Faith and Reason"
    (April 30, 2012)
  • "Upset Applecarts: A Hopeful Sign"
    (March 5, 2012)
  • " 'The Jesus-Eating Cult of Rick Santorum' and
    'America - Love It or Leave It' "
    (February 29, 2012)
  • "My Take on the News: Religion, Politics, and Freedom"
    (October 28, 2011)
• Vocations
  • "Third Sunday in Ordinary Time; And the Fish Tale of Towards and Away"
    (January 22, 2012)
  • "Vocations for Everyone"
    (December 11, 2011)
  • "Rich in Vocations: It Could Happen Here"
    (March 2, 2011)
  • "National Vocations Week: What's a Vocation?"
    (January 10, 2011)
  • "Year for Priests: 'Lord, Send Us Many Holy Priests' "
    (July 5, 2009)