faithful citizenship
16 Aug
Credit: Catholic New World
“To me, personally, the term “faithful citizen” means someone who stays true to one’s morals and good conscience when performing his or her civic duties. The term “faithful citizen” is really a remarkable combination of words. One word is mostly associated with the Church while the other is solely used in the context of government. I believe being a faithful citizen means exactly what it says, being faithful to one’s Church while also being faithful to one’s country, in respect to one‘s civic responsibilities.” – Brandon Mata
Faithful Citizenship
Catholic New World 2012 Essay Contest Winners, May 20, 2012
Brandon Mata of St. Laurence High School is a The Catholic New World and the Office for Catholic Schools 2012 Essay Contest Second Place Winner. The contest was open for seniors in Catholic high schools asking them to write about what they thought it means to be a faithful citizen.
The concepts of Catholic Social Teaching can be applied to almost every situation in modern life. In more modern times we are faced with many political responsibilities. This year we, as Catholic-American citizens, are, in part, responsible for the 2012 election of the President of the United States. In this election, we are responsible for electing a leader who we can depend on to lead our great nation into economic stability. We, as one Catholic family as well as one united nation, must look towards the concepts of Catholic Social Teaching to form our opinions and cast our votes in accordance with the morals and good conscience instilled in us by our Church.
Based on context, being a faithful citizen can mean different things. One can interpret faithful as “loyal” or being, for lack of a more suitable synonym, “full of faith.” In this context, being “full of faith” would mean acting in accordance with the teachings of one’s Church when performing one‘s civic responsibilities. In respect to loyalty being an aspect of the term “faithful,” one can mean loyal to one’s country or loyal to one’s Church; in this context both meanings can be applied. To me, personally, the term “faithful citizen” means someone who stays true to one’s morals and good conscience when performing his or her civic duties. The term “faithful citizen” is really a remarkable combination of words. One word is mostly associated with the Church while the other is solely used in the context of government. I believe being a faithful citizen means exactly what it says, being faithful to one’s Church while also being faithful to one’s country, in respect to one‘s civic responsibilities.
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