Civic duties

Actually, even among apparently responsible and upright Catholics, the error of thinking that they are obliged only to fulfil their family and religious duties is quite common. Often they hardly want to hear about civic duties. This is not a question of selfishness, but simply a lack of formation. No one has ever told them clearly that the virtue of piety (part of the cardinal virtue of justice) and their feeling of Christian solidarity are also exercised by their taking part in the life of society, and by their being aware of and helping to solve the problems that affect the whole community.

Obviously it would be unreasonable to expect every citizen to be professionally involved in politics. This is materially impossible even in the smallest communities, if for no other reason, because of the great amount of specialization and full-time dedication that all work nowadays, politics included, requires.

Obligation to have a minimal knowledge of the political life of one’s country

But still, we can and must demand a minimum of knowledge of specific issues that are important for the common good of one’s own society in its particular historical circumstances. Likewise, we can demand a minimum of understanding of the technical workings of public administration – of its real, limited possibilities – and of civil government, because without such an understanding it is impossible either to have calm and constructive criticism or to propose sensible options.

Hence, in order to achieve the common good, it would be beneficial to provide many opportunities to acquire a sense of social responsibility and of cooperation. I have already spoken to you about one specific means, the catechism. But it would also be good in the field of pedagogy and human formation, if teachers, without imposing personal opinions in what is open to debate, were to teach the duty of acting freely and responsibly in the field of civic activity.