faithful citizenship
27 Aug
Credit: Catholic New World
“Politics is not everyone’s cup of tea. However, whether we like it or not, it truly matters who is elected to office, especially when it comes to the presidential office. People may succeed in removing politics from their lives and sealing themselves in a bubble, but no matter how far away politics may seem, it affects everybody. In fact, the decision we make of our nation’s leader affects not only our nation, but also the globe. It is our duty – as Catholics striving to become faithful citizens – to become informed as to the current state of our nation and the rest of the world. It is a responsibility of all faithful citizens” – Eric Villalpando
Faithful Citizenship
Catholic New World 2012 Essay Contest Winners, May 20, 2012
Eric Villalpando St. Patrick High School is a The Catholic New World and the Office for Catholic Schools 2012 Essay Contest First 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.
Politics is not everyone’s cup of tea. However, whether we like it or not, it truly matters who is elected to office, especially when it comes to the presidential office. People may succeed in removing politics from their lives and sealing themselves in a bubble, but no matter how far away politics may seem, it affects everybody. In fact, the decision we make of our nation’s leader affects not only our nation, but also the globe. It is our duty – as Catholics striving to become faithful citizens – to become informed as to the current state of our nation and the rest of the world. It is a responsibility of all faithful citizens.
My Catholic education has greatly helped me on journey toward becoming a faithful citizen. During my junior year in high school, I was enrolled in a morality class, which was taught by one of the Christian Brothers at my school. In this class, we discussed hot-button issues, such as abortion and gay marriage. These issues are incredibly difficult to debate. However, it is important to discuss these in a respectful manner in order to form each individual’s educated opinion on them. That way, when legislation comes along that deals with these matters, informed citizens are able to effectively voice their opinion. As you can see, being a faithful citizen requires taking action as well as responsibility.
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