Ours is a “throwaway culture”, in the words of Pope Francis—one in which the vulnerable are too-often discarded like trash. It doesn’t have to be this way. In his book Resisting Throwaway Culture, Fordham University professor Charles Camosy calls us to transcend the left-right political divide in favour of a Catholic culture of hospitality and encounter where “no one is useless, no one is expendable… [and includes] those on the peripheries of life.”
In our conversation with Professor Camosy, we’ll discuss:
Our current state of toxic political polarization
How a Catholic social vision can transcend both the political left and right, and resist the forces tearing us apart
Pope Francis’ idea of a throwaway culture vs. a culture of encounter, and what it would be like to live in the latter How do we consistently apply a Catholic life ethic across a range of issues?
How can we live a culture of encounter in our ordinary lives as Christian citizens? What would the consequences be for our communities?
MEET OUR SPEAKER, PROFESSOR CHARLES CAMOSY
Charles C. Camosy is associate professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University. His work on ethics and policy moves beyond stale and lazy arguments which artificially pit liberals and conservatives against each other. Instead, Camosy finds common ground by unpacking the real complexities of some of today’s most passionately debated issues.
In his encyclical Fratelli tutti, Pope Francis describes many of the challenges facing us in politics and civic life. Among their many causes, he draws out a common theme: our lack of social and political humility. He calls us to a greater love, born in humility and the realization that we grow closer to God by loving others as we love ourselves: “Sincere and humble worship of God bears fruit not in discrimination, hatred and violence, but in respect for the sacredness of life, respect for the dignity and freedom of others, and loving commitment to the welfare of all.
It is Holy Week. In this week before he gave himself to us in the overwhelming love of the cross, Christ suffered tremendous humiliations. He was beaten, mocked, abandoned by his disciples and the society that was meant to protect him; stripped, nailed to a cross, and left to die in front of his mother. There is no greater humility than this: God allowing himself to be subjected to the worst human cruelties, out of sheer love for all.
Let us pray this Holy Week for even a crumb of this unlimited humility—that we may apply it in our personal and social lives, and in encountering the pain and suffering around us, pose the question “What can I do to serve?” instead of “How can I avoid this?”
Almighty and ever-living God, graciously grant that we may heed Christ’s lesson of patient suffering and so merit a share in his Resurrection—and may this spirit of humility wash over our politics, our culture, and every citizen with the power, big and small, to do something for the good of others.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
With our prayers for a meaningful Holy Week for you all, Matthew & Brendan
Upcoming Events
JOIN US WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21 FOR OUR FREE WEBINAR WITH ACCLAIMED CATHOLIC AUTHOR CHARLES CAMOSY ON THROWAWAY CULTURE, AND HOW A CONSISTENT LIFE ETHIC CAN UNITE LEFT AND RIGHT
A conversation about how Catholics can transcend the left-right political divide and build a political culture of encounter and hospitality
Ours is a “throwaway culture”, in the words of Pope Francis—one in which the vulnerable are too-often discarded like trash. It doesn’t have to be this way. In his book Resisting Throwaway Culture, Fordham University professor Charles Camosy calls us to transcend the left-right political divide in favour of a Catholic culture of hospitality and encounter where “no one is useless, no one is expendable… [and includes] those on the peripheries of life.” Join us for a free webinar with Professor Camosy about how a Consistent Life Ethic can unite us and build this political culture, one rooted in love and human dignity.
In our conversation with Professor Camosy, we’ll discuss:
Our current state of toxic political polarization
How a Catholic social vision can transcend both the political left and right, and resist the forces tearing us apart
Pope Francis’ idea of a throwaway culture vs. a culture of encounter, and what it would be like to live in the latter
How do we consistently apply a Catholic life ethic across a range of issues?
How can we live a culture of encounter in our ordinary lives as Christian citizens? What would the consequences be for our communities?
Charles C. Camosy is associate professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University. His work on ethics and policy moves beyond stale and lazy arguments which artificially pit liberals and conservatives against each other. Instead, Camosy finds common ground by unpacking the real complexities of some of today’s most passionately debated issues.
Works of Mercy In Our Community
HELP THE SENIORS IN YOUR LIFE BOOK A COVID-19 VACCINE APPOINTMENT
At long last, Canada’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign is under way. As Catholics, we have a duty to be vaccinated. In the words of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, “Catholics are invited to be vaccinated, both in keeping with the dictates of their conscience and in contributing to the common good by promoting the health and safety of others… All COVID-19 vaccines that are medically approved by the relevant health authorities may be licitly received by Catholics. Since there is currently no choice of vaccine being offered, Catholics in good conscience, may receive the vaccine that is available and offered to them.”
In many parts of Canada, COVID-19 vaccination appointments can be booked online or over the phone. For some elderly members of our Catholic community, accessing vaccinations might be difficult. They may need technical assistance in booking an appointment online or over the phone, or a drive to their appointment at a clinic or hospital. No matter the needs, we encourage you to privately reach out to the elderly people in your life and offer to help them book and attend an appointment. Those who will have the hardest time booking an appointment are often those who are most at risk from the virus. Your loving intercession could help protect their lives. Remember: When helping, be sure to strictly follow public health guidance.
Below are links to some provincial and municipal COVID-19 resources, with information on booking vaccination appointments:
WATCH OUR CONVERSATION WITH DR. TOD WORNER ABOUT READING OUR WAY TO GOD
In February, we were honoured to host Dr. Tod Worner, the managing editor of the Word on Fire Institute’s Evangelization & Culture journal. Who better to tell us about the power of spiritual reading in bringing us closer to God, discovering who we are in God’s eyes, and helping us love our neighbours better?
In this spiritually nourishing conversation that will especially delight the readers in our audience, Dr. Tod Worner discusses with Catholic Conscience’s volunteer animator Peter Copeland:
The place of great literature in the spiritual journey, and how these works can serve as “the echoes of God in the outside world”;
How reading inspires conversion;
How the beauty of great reading opens our hearts to the Holy Spirit;
How modern humanities education in the universities has shifted focus away from great literature and virtue ethics;
The essential humanity in great works of fiction, and even non-Catholic works of literature and how they help us discover who we are in God’s eyes; and,
How reading led Dr. Worner and others to Catholicism.
WE’RE EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR OUR UPCOMING CATHOLIC LEADERS MISSION WORKSHOPS
In the vision of Catholic teaching, civic leadership is a vocation—one of the most important for nourishing the true common good of all. For Catholic civic leaders, proper formation is critical: the well-being and integrity of our communities is at stake. The formation of such leaders is the purpose of our Catholic Leaders Mission: our two-day workshops offer spiritual and moral formation, methods of discernment, and practical skills needed for the political vocation. Our graduates emerge ready to serve their communities in a spirit of political love, through a commitment to the principles of Catholic social teaching and the enhancement of the dignity of all they serve. When we first announced the CLM, the program was aimed at elected officials and those either campaigning for political office or discerning a campaign for office in the next two years. We have come to realize that the skills and spiritual formation offered by CLM are wider to a much wider group, of all those serving in a political vocation. These might include:
Catholic politicians and political candidates;
Catholics who work in politics, including political staff and public servants;
Catholics who work for or volunteer for Catholic charities and advocacy organizations; and,
Catholics who serve in community leadership roles, such as on a board of directors, a parish council, or a committee.
Beyond this list, we welcome all those who work in a political vocation. If your own work or volunteer service doesn’t perfectly fit the above list, we are open to discussing further with you. Simply email brendan@catholicconscience.org and we can chat! Here are four reasons you should join the 2021 CLM cohort.
Grow into your calling as a servant-leader.
Develop the skills needed to succeed in your service.
Learn from top Catholic leaders and political practitioners.
Join a growing community of Catholics in political and civic service.
NEW POPE FRANCIS DOCUMENTARY OUT NOW ON DISCOVERY+
A new documentary about Pope Francis has been released, taking a closer look at the ministry of our extraordinary Holy Father and the contemporary social issues which animate his apostolate to a hurting human family. In the words of the film’s director:
“This film is a love letter to the Earth and its people and will be there as a strong reminder of what can happen when we stop ‘loving one another’. May we all follow the simple mantra and beautiful actions of this incredible man – Pope Francis. I hope that it will bring attention to the important global issues portrayed in the film; and that we can come together to effect change in the world and preserve it for the future. With Pope Francis as the central figure in the film, it is a testament to the power of one person to make a difference. And an inspiration to the viewer to do the same.”
REDEMPTORIST TV REFLECTIONS ON DIGNIFIED EMPLOYMENT, ESSENTIAL WORKERS, ENCOUNTERING THE POOR, AND MORE FOR THE YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH
Our Executive Director recently collaborated with RedemptoristTV to produce a series of video reflections in honour of the Year of St. Joseph and Pope Francis’ apostolic letter, Patris corde, extoling the virtues of this extraordinary Christian saint. Many of these reflections touch on pressing contemporary civic challenges like dignified employment, encountering the vulnerable, the heroism and danger facing essential workers in the COVID-19 pandemic, and more. St. Joseph is one of our patron saints at Catholic Conscience and is the patron of Canada. In challenging times we turn to him for strength and guidance towards his timeless virtues: humility, trust in God, diligence, fortitude, and more.
REGINA ARCHBISHOP DONALD BOLEN’S PRAYER FOR CATHOLICS DURING ELECTIONS
During the 2020 provincial elections in Saskatchewan, Archbishop Donald Bolen of the Archdiocese of Regina offered this prayer for use during elections. This prayer has become a beloved one for us here at Catholic Conscience. We pray it often for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lay apostolate, and for all Catholics serving in civic and political vocations. We share this slightly amended version with you now and ask for your prayers as well:
Lord, father of our human family,
Your son Jesus taught us in the parable of the good Samaritan that each of us is called to care for our brothers and sisters without concern for our differences, or what divides us.
Pour your spirit out upon each and every one of us. Give us, and all involved in the civic and political vocation, A spirit of humility to acknowledge our failuresA spirit of gratitude for each of the gifts you have given usA spirit of wisdom, to guide our actions in accordance with your teachingA spirit of fraternity, so that we might have concern for the most vulnerableAnd a spirit of love, so that we might abide even more fully in You.
O God, Trinity of love, from the profound communion of your divine life grant each and every one of us a deeper sense of unity. Give to us a desire to sacrifice ourselves for our brothers and sisters. Help us to live like your family did, with simplicity in Nazareth, and as the early Christian community did, whose charity has spread throughout the world. O Good Shepherd, Christ the King, you are our Guide. Continue to guide us then to your will in this, and in every moment of our lives.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us. St Joseph, pray for us. St Joan of Arc, pray for us. San Juan Diego, pray for us. St Keteri Tekakwitha, pray for us. Ste. Marguerite Bourgeoys, pray for us. St André Bessette, pray for us. Amen.
St. Jerome wrote, “When we pray, we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks to us.”
We interviewed Dr. Tod Worner (Managing Editor of Evangelization & Culture, the Journal of the Word on Fire Institute) about the power of great literature for forming us into better Catholics, better servants of Christ—and more impactful Christian citizens. Whether you’re an avid reader or want to become one, you’ll leave our conversation feeling inspired to pursue reading as more than a hobby—you’ll learn how reading can be a prayer, and a method of spiritual formation.
Dr. Tod Worner is a practicing internal medicine physician who lectures and offers rotations on medicine and literature for the University of Minnesota Medical School & and teaches “The Art of Healing “ at St. John’s University. He is the Managing Editor of Evangelization & Culture, the Journal of the Word on Fire Institute. He has written for the New York Post, National Review, Word on Fire, and numerous other publications. Mostly, Tod is a proud husband & father delighted to be constantly outsmarted by his two young daughters.
We’ve been thinking about the future lately. We’ve been looking towards a time when the pandemic has passed—when we are all vaccinated, and that blessed day when we can once again safely gather for Mass, fellowship, and celebration. We’ve been looking towards the future of our work at Catholic Conscience—we recently concluded a wonderful board retreat and have begun to formulate a five-year strategic plan for the direction of our evolving mission. We also look forward with gratitude to the opportunities for service that 2021 will bring.
In this issue of the Common Good Catholic, we’re excited to share with you one other reason we’re looking towards the future: the launch of our first-ever Catholic Leaders Mission program. You’ll find all the details below, but basically, it aims to be Canada’s first spiritual and moral formation program for Catholic political candidates—bringing together those seeking a political vocation across party lines, to grow in that vocation in light of Catholic social teaching. We’re so excited to bring CLM to life this year. If you are running for office or are interested in running for office in the next couple of years, please send us an email—we’d love to tell you more!
One theme brings together our thinking about the future. Whether considering the post-pandemic, the future of our mission, or this new and exciting program, we’re thinking about how the future can bring community. Greater community and fellowship for all Catholics and people of good will, as we together work to build the Kingdom of God on earth. We were reminded recently that just as Lent is an opportunity to reflect more critically on our own sins, to repent and turn towards Christ’s love for healing in a refreshed way, so too our community must do this same work. In Fratelli tutti, Pope Francis writes about how the early Christian community so vividly modelled this fellowship and commitment to service with each other and with their neighbours:
…we can see how the early Christian communities, living in a pagan world marked by widespread corruption and aberrations, sought to show unfailing patience, tolerance and understanding. Some texts are very clear in this regard: we are told to admonish our opponents “with gentleness” (2 Tim 2:25) and encouraged “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show every courtesy to everyone. For we ourselves were once foolish” (Tit 3:2-3). The Acts of the Apostles notes that the disciples, albeit persecuted by some of the authorities, “had favour with all the people” (2:47; cf. 4:21.33; 5:13).
May this spirit of love animate us in 2021!
With gratitude, Matthew & Brendan
Upcoming Events
JOIN US THURSDAY, MARCH 11 FROM 7:30-8:30 PM EST FOR OUR INTERVIEW WITH WORD ON FIRE’S DR. TOD WORNER ABOUT READING OUR WAY TO GOD
St. Jerome wrote, “When we pray, we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks to us.” Join us on Thursday, March 11 (7:30-8:30 PM EST) as we interview Dr. Tod Worner (Managing Editor of Evangelization & Culture, the Journal of the Word on Fire Institute) about the power of great literature for forming us into better Catholics, better servants of Christ—and more impactful Christian citizens. Whether you’re an avid reader or want to become one, you’ll leave our conversation feeling inspired to pursue reading as more than a hobby—you’ll learn how reading can be a prayer, and a method of spiritual formation. RSVP today for webinar login details!
MEET OUR GUEST, DR. TOD WORNER Tod Worner is a practicing internal medicine physician who lectures and offers rotations on medicine and literature for the University of Minnesota Medical School & and teaches “The Art of Healing “ at St. John’s University. He is the Managing Editor of Evangelization & Culture, the Journal of the Word on Fire Institute. He has written for the New York Post, National Review, Word on Fire, and numerous other publications. Mostly, Tod is a proud husband & father delighted to be constantly outsmarted by his two young daughters.
Works of Mercy In Our Community
COVID-19 RESOURCES FROM THE CANADIAN CATHOLIC BIOETHICS INSTITUTE
If you’re interested in learning more about Catholic ethical perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic, we highly encourage you to follow the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute. Dr. Moira McQueen and the CCBI team have been providing regular updates on many ethical topics that have come to the fore for Catholics in this time—topics like the ethicality of certain vaccines, healthcare practices, and more. Dr. McQueen is a leading Canadian Catholic expert on bioethical issues and offers excellent, readable analysis.
WATCH OUR CONVERSATION WITH DR. BRETT SALKELD ABOUT VOTING LIKE A CATHOLIC
Last month, we had the great pleasure of hosting our friend Dr. Brett Salkeld—theologian-in-residence at the Archdiocese of Regina—about one of our favourite topics: discerning your vote as a Catholic.
In this wide-ranging conversation, we touch on a variety of topics related to voting, including:
How the ideas of intrinsic evil and remote cooperation with evil do (and do not) apply to the act of voting;
Common myths about voting and Catholic social teaching, like the idea that there is “only one acceptable party for a Catholic to vote for”; and,
The importance of discerning your vote through the lens of Catholic social teaching, including important tactics for doing so—like prayer, charitably discussing the issues with others, encountering and building relationships with your candidates and politicians, and examining your conscience as a political participant.
You can click below to watch the full conversation.
ANNOUNCING THE CATHOLIC LEADERS MISSION: FORMATION FOR CATHOLIC POLITICAL CANDIDATES, PRESENTED BY CATHOLIC CONSCIENCE
Serving as an elected official is more than a job. In the vision of Catholic teaching, civic leadership is a vocation—one of the most important for nourishing the true common good of all. For Catholic leaders, proper formation is critical: the well-being and integrity of our communities is at stake.
The formation of such leaders is the purpose of our Catholic Leaders Mission: our two-day workshops offer spiritual and moral formation, methods of discernment, and practical skills needed in seeking and properly holding office. Our graduates emerge ready to serve their communities in a spirit of political love, through a commitment to the principles of Catholic social teaching and the enhancement of the dignity of every constituent.
Are you a Catholic considering a run for elected office? Here are four reasons you should join the 2021 CLM cohort.
Grow into your calling as a servant-leader.
Develop the skills needed to succeed in your campaign.
Learn from top Catholic leaders and political practitioners.
Join a growing community of Catholics in politics.
LENT IS “A HUMBLE DESCENT BOTH INWARDS AND TOWARDS OTHERS,” POPE FRANCIS SAYS AT ASH WEDNESDAY MASS
In his homily for Ash Wednesday Mass, Pope Francis reminds us how Lent invites us to greater love of God, and in turn, love of neighbour.
Today we bow our heads to receive ashes. At the end of Lent, we will bow even lower to wash the feet of our brothers and sisters. Lent is a humble descent both inwards and towards others. It is about realizing that salvation is not an ascent to glory, but a descent in love. It is about becoming little.
ENJOY A CHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORD WITH YOUR KIDS THIS LENTEN SEASON: YES, LORD! FROM SALT + LIGHT MEDIA
This Lent, Salt + Light Media has launched an exciting and unique new series: Yes, Lord!, a Liturgy of the Word designed with children in mind. New episodes are being released every Friday during Lent, featuring reflections by Deacon Pedro Guevara Mann.
A NATIONAL PRAYER FOR CANADA DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Back in March 2020, the Catholic Register wrote about a collaboration between Ottawa’s Archbishop Terrence Prendergast and Rabbi Dr. Reuven P. Bulka, the former co-president of the Canadian Jewish Congress. Together they co-authored a National Prayer for Canada, which was collectively recited on a common day of action last March. The prayer is a beautiful invocation for God’s help in this moment of danger, and “an invitation to Canadians to pray for all in any way touched by the coronavirus” in the words of Archbishop Prendergast. We invite you to share in this prayer as we hopefully approach the end of this pandemic.
O God, We gather together separated by life-saving distancing, but united more than ever in spirit; We know we are in a war against COVID – 19 together, and the more together we are, the better and stronger we will emerge: We know the challenges are enormous, yet so are the opportunities; That whether we are in isolation with loved ones, or alone, we will have abundance of time; We commit to using that time to the max, to help those in greater need in whatever way we can; We know we all have the opportunity, and time, to be life savers and life enhancers; We give thanks for those who are on the front line taking care of those who are not well; We give thanks for the researchers who are working at breakneck speed to find cure and vaccine; We give thanks for our leaders, federal, provincial and local, for their dedication to all of us; We give thanks for the providers of our daily needs who go to work in spite of the risk; We give thanks for those who have ramped up their ability to produce life-saving supplies. We pray for the well-being of all our life savers; For those who are not well, that they recover fully; For those enduring difficulty, that they may overcome their challenges. We pray that a cure and vaccine will soon be available, And that we all – family, friends, all Canadians, the entire world may be healed in body and spirit. We ask you, O God, to bless our leaders, our front line care givers, our life savers and life enhancers. We ask you, O God, to bless Canada, to bless the world, to bless everyone. Amen.
Happy New Year! We hope you all enjoyed a restful break and a joyful celebration of the Christmas season. January has been a sprint for both of us, in our apostolic and professional lives. We’re sure the same is true for many of you. We pray in this difficult season, where our outlook can darken with the sky, that each of you find the strength of God’s love to serve where you are—as family members, as workers, as ministry leaders, and wherever the Lord calls you.
We all have so much to hope and pray for in 2021—for a COVID-19 vaccine, for a healthier politics better fixed on the common good, and for a return to regular living. We’d like to add one more to this noble list: a hope for Catholic unity in 2021.
No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, the recent American election showed that our community faces many of the same deep divisions facing the wider society. Catholics on both sides of the political spectrum hurled terrible accusations at each other—sometimes questioning the state of their opponents’ souls. This violence of the spirit must end.
There have always been Catholics in different political parties, and different political visions. This will always be the case. But we pray that this year, we all follow our Gospel call to love one another as we love ourselves—as irreplaceable, precious children of God. We can support different policies and parties, but at the end of the day, we share a common foundation as disciples of Christ. It’s the shared bedrock of all our lives.
In this newsletter, you’ll find a link to a recording of our recent webinar. This webinar—a conversation about the importance of participating in the political party candidate nomination process—was a small-scale expression of what Catholic unity can look like. In this event, we brought together three former and current candidates from three different major political parties. No doubt their views of policy are wildly different from each other on many issues! Yet they all shared a common identity as Catholics, inspired by Catholic values, engaged in a charitable discussion of how our community can lead politics to the common good. This is Catholic unity. It’s what we’re called to. No “liberal Catholics” or “conservative Catholics”—just Catholics, pursuing Christ’s mission to build the Kingdom of God on earth… each taking different roads, but seeking the same destination.
May we all follow Pope Francis’ call in Fratelli tutti: Let us love us “as much when he is far away from him as when he is with him” … especially when that distance is one of political views.
With love, Matthew Marquardt & Brendan Steven
Upcoming Events
STAY TUNED FOR BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT OUR NEXT WEBINAR AND THE CATHOLIC LEADERS MISSION
Throughout 2021, we’ll be hosting a series of formation webinars for Catholic civic and political leadership. You’ll find a link to our first webinar below, on how and why you should participate in political party nominations. Thank you to all those who joined our second webinar with Dr. Brett Salkeld, on how to vote like a Catholic. You’ll find a link to the recording in next month’s newsletter.
Keep an eye out in this newsletter and on our social media for the announcement of our next webinar, on how great literature can teach us to be great Catholics and great Catholic citizens. If you love reading extraordinary books, you won’t want to miss this webinar! We’ll be interviewing a very special guest that we can’t wait to announce soon.
Also keep an eye out for the announcement of one of our major initiatives of 2021: the Catholic Leaders Mission, a spiritual formation and political training program for Catholic political candidates. We’ll be sharing more details soon. Meanwhile, if you or someone you know is considering a run for political officer in the near-future, please send us a note at brendan@catholicconscience.org. We’ll be opening the application process soon!
Works of Mercy In Our Community
PRAY FOR THOSE IN NEED: 5 beautiful prayers from the Psalms
In this space, we usually feature a volunteer or other opportunity for readers to participate in. These are always corporal works of mercy. But this time and in this circumstance—when Ontario is under a strict stay-at-home order—we wanted to suggest a spiritual work of mercy for readers to partake in.
Simply put: Consider praying for our people and our country.
We enjoyed reading the article “5 beautiful prayers from the Psalms”, by Marie Ann Torres and published by Salt+Light Media. The Psalms articulate the deepest desires of the heart and soul for God’s comfort—the songs of His people, crying out for Him. We encourage you to pray these prayers for those who are suffering in this crisis.
If these prayers touch your heart, consider watching Cardinal Thomas Collins’ Lectio divina series on the Psalms and Canticles. The Cardinal’s reflections on these incomparable prayers will be a boon to your conversations with the Lord.
WATCH OUR WEBINAR AND LEARN WHY CATHOLICS SHOULD VOTE IN POLITICAL PARTY CANDIDATE NOMINATIONS
Because political party nominations are often low-voter turnout, low-engagement election contests (depending on the riding and the winnability of the party in that riding), well-formed and greater Catholic participation in these exercises can be high-impact—particularly when it comes to elevating people of character to public office, and improving the options available to Canadian voters on the ballot. Because of a federal minority government, an election could come at any time, even in 2021—therefore many parties are launching their nomination contests now. Why is it so critical for Catholics to buy memberships with their party-of-choice, and vote in their local riding nomination contest? We gathered former Liberal candidate Jo-Ann Davis, former NDP candidate Talon Regent, and current Conservative nomination candidate Ben Smith to chat about why nominations matter. Thank you to our guests for this critical conversation and thank you to the Archdiocese of Toronto’s Director of Public Relations & Communications, Neil MacCarthy, for a special introduction. You can watch the full video below.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET INVOLVED WITH CATHOLIC CONSCIENCE? LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO VIA THE THINKING FAITH PODCAST
We’re always looking to bring along more “fishers of men” to join the Catholic Conscience apostolate. If you’d like to learn more about what we do and why we do it—and see if this is the kind of mission God is calling you towards—we’re happy to share our recent interviews with the Thinking Faith podcast. In three parts, we share more about our apostolate, the work we do, and why we do it; the story of Matthew Marquardt’s founding of Catholic Conscience; and the story of our Executive Director, Brendan Steven, joined the mission.
THROUGH FRATELLI TUTTI AND THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL, MATTHEW MARQUARDT SHARES HIS REFLECTIONS ON HOW WE DEFINE POVERTY
In a recent edition of The Torch—the newsletter of our friends at the Newman Centre Catholic Mission in Toronto—Catholic Conscience President Matthew Marquardt shared his thoughts on a recent Newman workshop on ending poverty. He writes about how we define poverty, using Pope Francis’ words and Catholic social teaching as a guide to a Catholic understanding of this critical social concern.
“The poor you will always have with you,” Christ warned his disciples. (Matthew 26:11) But why? Why will they always be with us? The answer is that we, who now form the living body of Christ on earth, have work to do before we can follow him to heaven: we must, by showing continuous, steadfast love to those in need, ensure that the glory of God shows forth through us to the entire world. (Luke 10:25-37; Matthew 25)
RESPONSIBLE APPROACHES TO THE NEWS: CONSCIENTIOUS NEWS CONSUMPTION
We’re consuming more media than ever before. Especially in a time of pandemic, while we’re isolating at home, our eyes are glued to our TV, computer, and phone screens, absorbing an unprecedented amount of news and other digital content. We’ve discovered “doomscrolling”, where we obsessively read all the bad news related to COVID-19 and the world, and feel a deep sense of anxiety and dread. There’s a better way to approach news consumption… but what is that way? Given how topical it has once again become, we wanted to share video from our 2019 panel discussion on responsible news consumption. How should we fight the effects of bias in reading news? How should we be aware of our own bias or the bias of our media sources, and how do we counter these to gain a fuller picture of the truth? We discuss these themes and more with our expert panel.
We just completed the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, an ecumenical observance celebrated around the world that expresses our hopes to God for the fulfilment of Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper, “that they all may be one.”
We offer this prayer for Christian unity, and for greater unity in our own Church so that we may evangelize the world as one community. This prayer comes from our friends at the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon.
O God, under your wing you gather the whole of creation: praise and glory to you!
Help us to follow your will, to gather up all things in Christ.
Open our eyes to see the riches of your grace, so that we may open our mouths to proclaim the hope for the world which lies in you.
Help us to work for a world where people of different religions and cultures can live together in peace; for a just world where rich and poor share their resources.
Help us to use the gifts of your creation according to your wisdom, to the praise of your glory.
Learn how to vote like a Catholic by discerning your conscience, and addressing common myths about Church teaching on voting. These are just two common myths about voting as a Catholic. What does the Church teach us about our responsibility to vote? And how do we discern our consciences and choose who to vote for? In this webinar, we interview Catholic author and theologian Dr. Brett Salkeld on how to truly vote like a Catholic.
Learn about the enormous political impact you can have when you buy a party membership and vote in your local candidate nomination process.
WHY CATHOLICS SHOULD VOTE IN PARTY NOMINATIONS
Only 4% of Canadians are members of political parties. That’s only four out of every 100 of us. That tiny number enjoy a special privilege: voting in political party nominations and selecting who will represent their party in each general election. Many of these nominated candidates eventually become our elected representatives. It matters who represents us. That’s why it’s so important Catholics purchase party memberships and vote in nominations.
Hear from former and current Catholic candidates from different parties about why nominations matter, and how you can get involved and pick your politicians.
Featuring a special introduction from Neil MacCarthy, Director of Public Relations & Communications at the Archdiocese of Toronto.
Panelists:
Jo-Ann Davis, Senior Associate, Leman Group
Talon Regent, Lawyer, Regent Law
Ben Smith, Broadcast Journalist, Rogers Communications Advisory Council on Special Education, Ontario Ministry of Education
An end-of-year reflection from Vickie McNally, member of the Catholic Conscience board of directors
Immaculate Conception, 1628–1629
These days, my everyday work connects me with people pondering the question: “What does a post-pandemic Canada look like? And what can I do to make things better for Canadians?”
I hope at the beginning of this new year, these are questions that all Canadians are asking themselves.
I remember the day Matthew Marquardt, President of Catholic Conscience, asked me to consider joining this board. Really? I thought to myself. What to do I have to offer? What do I know about this organization anyway? And are they trying to do something that makes our common home better? I did some reading about Catholic Conscience, spoke with confidants and said a few prayers. I felt uncertain about making the commitment but was drawn to their mission, “to share Catholic social teaching and form Catholic leaders rooted in its truth and beauty.” It seems important, especially now!
It’s frequently said that Catholic social teaching is the world’s best-kept secret. This was the case for me. A few years ago, Matthew gave a presentation, on Catholic social teaching, at St. Peter’s Parish in Toronto. I was hooked! The opportunity to join the Catholic Conscience board came many months after that. For the time between the presentation and now and especially during the past few months, I thought a lot about what it means to be a leader. Not everyone has the gift or call to lead. We’ve all seen examples of that! Good leaders have clear visions and goals and they also need great support that offers information, perspective and inspiration and the right formation. This is where Catholic Conscience comes in.
In Fratteli Tutti, Pope Francis appealed “for a renewed appreciation of politics as a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, in as much as it seeks the common good.”
What’s wonderful about this appeal is how it declares the ideal form of politics to be “seeking forms of social friendship that include everyone,” a view that opens many ways to be leaders in the political arena.
For me, my way will be in supporting Catholic Conscience behind the scenes, listening to and sharing ideas and knowledge, and upholding the vision that every Catholic becomes a leader willing and ready to transform communities through Gospel values.
Upcoming Events
JOIN US WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20 FROM 7-8 PM EST AND LEARN HOW TO VOTE LIKE A CATHOLIC
“If you vote for a certain political party, you’ll go to hell.” “I can’t vote because there’s no truly Catholic option.”
These are just two common myths about voting as a Catholic. What does the Church teach us about our responsibility to vote? And how do we discern our consciences and choose who to vote for? In this webinar, we interview Catholic author and theologian Dr. Brett Salkeld on how to truly vote like a Catholic.
Brett Salkeld is Archdiocesan Theologian for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina, where he is responsible for deacon formation. Brett is the author of Can Catholics and Evangelicals Agree about Purgatory and the Last Judgment? and How Far Can We Go? A Catholic Guide to Sex and Dating (with Leah Perrault). He is currently working on a book for Catholic teachers tentatively titled Making Every Class Catholic. Brett is a sought-after speaker on many topics related to the Catholic faith. He also serves the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops as a member of the Roman Catholic-Evangelical Dialogue in Canada. His weekly podcast with Deacon Eric Gurash is called Thinking Faith! Brett has a large back catalogue of blog posts at both Vox Nova and sAsk-a-theologian. Brett was baptized in St. Wenceslaus Parish in Gerald, Saskatchewan, where he grew up. He now lives with his wife Flannery and their six children in Regina.
JOIN US WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 FROM 7-8 PM EST AND LEARN ABOUT THE ENORMOUS IMPACT YOU CAN MAKE BY PURCHASING A PARTY MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING IN A LOCAL CANDIDATE NOMINATION
Only 4% of Canadians are members of political parties. That’s only four out of every 100 of us. That tiny number enjoy a special privilege: voting in political party nominations and selecting who will represent their party in each general election. Many of these nominated candidates eventually become our elected representatives. It matters who represents us. That’s why it’s so important Catholics purchase party memberships and vote in nominations.
Hear from former and current Catholic candidates from different parties about why nominations matter, and how you can get involved and pick your politicians.
Featuring a special introduction from Neil MacCarthy, Director of Public Relations & Communications at the Archdiocese of Toronto.
IF YOU’RE STRUGGLING, CATHOLIC AGENCIES ARE READY TO HELP
At the centre of our faith are the spiritual and corporal works of mercy—every Catholic is called to love and serve their neighbours-in-need. Sometimes we too need the support of these works of mercy. If you or someone you know is struggling this winter season, Catholic agencies in Toronto can help. The Archdiocese of Toronto has provided links to a variety of services available in the GTA. You can refer these services to those in your life who might need them. Consider donating to some of these agencies at a time when the need in our city is growing.
CONSCIENCE CONVERSATION: 2020—A YEAR IN CIVIC EVANGELIZATION
Despite the strange circumstances of the pandemic, 2020 was an energetic year in the Catholic Conscience apostolate. Read more from Brendan and Matt’s Conscience Conversation:
I am still digesting the Pope’s articulation of the idea of political love. Both you and I, Matt, have always taken the Pope’s concept of “politics as one of the highest forms of charity when ordered to the common good” as a real call-to-action in this work. But the way he expanded on this core idea to articulate a principle of political love. In arguing convincingly that those in politics–especially those who call themselves disciples of Christ!–must exercise a tender love for others, he asks bold questions for those whose vocation brings them into the realm of political and civic life: “How much love did I put into my work?” “What did I do for the progress of our people?” “What mark did I leave on the life of society?” “What real bonds did I create?” “What positive forces did I unleash?” “How much social peace did I sow?” “What good did I achieve in the position that was entrusted to me?”
HELP THE HOMELESS AND VULNERABLE THIS WINTER IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO
The Archdiocese of Toronto keeps a page on its website where volunteer opportunities with Catholic organizations are shared. You can click the link below and see the full page, but we wanted to share a request for certain items from the Good Shepherd. This organization serves homeless people in downtown Toronto and it remains a critical service in COVID-19. Here’s how you can help:
“The Good Shepherd,” as it is affectionately called, is well known on the streets of Toronto. It’s a place to get a meal, clean clothes, a safe, clean bed for the night. It’s a place to go when you need someone to listen, someone to help. During the COVID-19 crisis, the Good Shepherd remains an “essential” service and is open to care for the homeless. At this time, 700 bagged lunches are served daily. If you are able to support their important work, here is a list of items most in need – they can be dropped off at 412 Queen Street East, Toronto, ON or call (416) 869-3619 for more information:
Hospital Grade Disinfectant
Surgical Face Masks
Disposable Gloves
Cheese Slices
Deli Meat (i.e. Ham, Bologna, etc.)
Eggs
Juice Boxes
Chips
Individually Wrapped Cookies
Granola Bars
Sliced Bread
Bread Rolls (i.e. Sub Buns, Hamburger Buns, etc.)
Paper Lunch Bags
Ziplock Sandwich Bags
From The Holy Father
POPE FRANCIS DECLARES THE YEAR OF SAINT JOSEPH—FOSTER FATHER OF OUR SAVIOUR, GUARDIAN OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, AND PATRON SAINT OF WORKERS AND CANADA
Devotees of Saint Joseph were overjoyed at the news Pope Francis is declaring 2021 the Year of Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph is part of Catholic Conscience’s Board of Patron Saints—as patron of families, workers, Canada, and guardian of the Universal Church, his support and guidance touches on all aspects of our apostolate. In our ministry, we work to inspire well-formed Catholic civic and political leadership among the laity—the “ordinary people”, often “overlooked”, who Pope Francis so honours in his apostolic letter announcing the Year of Saint Joseph:
My desire to do so increased during these months of pandemic, when we experienced, amid the crisis, how “our lives are woven together and sustained by ordinary people, people often overlooked. People who do not appear in newspaper and magazine headlines, or on the latest television show, yet in these very days are surely shaping the decisive events of our history. Doctors, nurses, storekeepers and supermarket workers, cleaning personnel, caregivers, transport workers, men and women working to provide essential services and public safety, volunteers, priests, men and women religious, and so very many others. They understood that no one is saved alone… How many people daily exercise patience and offer hope, taking care to spread not panic, but shared responsibility. How many fathers, mothers, grandparents and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday ways, how to accept and deal with a crisis by adjusting their routines, looking ahead and encouraging the practice of prayer. How many are praying, making sacrifices and interceding for the good of all”. Each of us can discover in Joseph – the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence – an intercessor, a support and a guide in times of trouble. Saint Joseph reminds us that those who appear hidden or in the shadows can play an incomparable role in the history of salvation. A word of recognition and of gratitude is due to them all.
POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH FOR THE GRACE OF CONVERSION
Pope Francis wrote this prayer as part of his apostolic letter announcing the Year of Saint Joseph. In the words of the Holy Father, “We need only ask Saint Joseph for the grace of graces: our conversion.”
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.
Learn how you can grow in and live out your Catholic faith, by serving your neighbours on a board or committee.
In 2020, Toronto Catholics marked the first annual Stewardship Sunday: a reminder that all our time, talent, and treasure are gifts of God’s love meant to be spent in service of others. One way we can offer our gifts to others is through serving on a board or committee whether of a charity, non-profit, business, or other institution. In this webinar, experienced Catholic board leaders will share their stories and you’ll learn:
Who should consider serving on a board, and why;
How Catholic social teaching calls us to serve our neighbours;
How board service can help you grow in faith, particularly in serving your neighbours and living out your Gospel values; and,
One more way of bringing Gospel values to our neighbours: On a board or committee
Dear brothers and sisters,
We hope you’re safe and healthy, and that you and your loved ones are well despite the continuing pandemic. With God’s grace, hopefully our present crisis will pass soon. Until then, please continue to pray for those researching a vaccine—and for all the most vulnerable among us, who are facing the worst of the pandemic.
We’re coming up for air after two very successful Catholic Action campaigns in Saskatchewan and British Columbia! What a pleasure and privilege to collaborate with our friends in the dioceses of Saskatchewan, and the B.C. Catholic. It was exciting to share our materials outside the GTA, and to reach new audiences of fellow Catholics and people of good will across the country.
We’re excited for what’s next: a free webinar we’re hosting on November 25. The topic is a unique one: Serving and loving our neighbours as Catholics, through service on a board of directors or a committee. Whether a parish council, or a charitable board, a neighbourhood association, or even a business board, so many Catholics find themselves being invited to serve on committees. Is there anything to be afraid of? How does our Catholic faith apply to that work? And indeed, how can we grow in our faith in such work? We’re bring together three very experienced board leaders—including two former chairs of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto—to tell us about their work and how their Catholic faith influences that work. If you’ve ever considered serving on a board or committee and wanted to learn more, don’t miss this webinar! You’ll find all the details below. And you can register by clicking here.
As always—you’re in our prayers, and we’re so grateful for your love and support.
One more thing: We’re always looking for new ideas. New programs we can undertake or events we can put together to help grow Catholic civic and political leadership in Canada. If you have an idea, send us an email! So many of our programs thus far have been inspired by the ideas of others. You can reach us at matthew@catholicconscience.org and brendan@catholicconscience.org.
With love, Matthew Marquardt & Brendan Steven
Upcoming Events
JOIN US WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 FROM 7-8 PM AND LEARN ABOUT SERVING ON A BOARD OR COMMITTEE AS A CATHOLIC
In 2020, Toronto Catholics marked the first annual Stewardship Sunday: a reminder that all our time, talent, and treasure are gifts of God’s love meant to be spent in service of others. One way we can offer our gifts to others is through serving on a board or committee whether of a charity, non-profit, business, or other institution. In this webinar, experienced Catholic board leaders will share their stories and you’ll learn:
Who should consider serving on a board, and why;
How Catholic social teaching calls us to serve our neighbours;
How board service can help you grow in faith, particularly in serving your neighbours and living out your Gospel values; and,
TORONTONIANS: HELP ST. PATRICK’S OUT OF THE COLD PROGRAM
Many Catholic Conscience supporters are parishioners at St. Patrick’s parish in downtown Toronto – in fact, Catholic Conscience can be said to have grown up there. So, we would be remiss not to share info about the winter expansion of St. Patrick’s Out of the Cold program. If you’re looking for a way help a neighbor this winter, here’s a great way to do it! Details below.
This year, with COVID-19, the programming for “Out of the Cold” has changed. Meals are prepared for about 600 people and sent down to two downtown full-time shelters to help support their food supply, resources and mandate of care for our brothers and sisters who access their services.
Through a collaborative effort between St. Patrick’s Out of the Cold Program, Street Patrol – which normally operates in the summer months from St. Patrick’s, and Ignite Youth and Young Adult Ministry, we are offering WINTER STREET PATROL: “Into the Cold” beginning Sunday November 29th and running each Sunday until March, beginning at 4:00 pm sharp, and running until about 7:00 pm. Gather at Neumann Hall (131 McCaul Street).
As we cannot safely provide shelter on a weekly basis, we are taking it to the streets.
Brief Description of the Program:
Our Core Team (made up of experienced Out of the Cold and Street Patrol Volunteers) will assemble to prepare coffee, soup, clothing and medical supplies to go on the walks.
Casual Volunteers sign up for a day to join the walks. These Volunteers bring with them a backpack with bagged lunches (sandwich, drink, fruit, sweet snack) which the Casual Volunteers will distribute on the walk.
Our Van with extra supplies will follow the groups and set up stations and replenish supplies onroute.
Casual Volunteers are accompanied on the walk by our Core Team.
Provide referral information for safety, shelter and support services.
Commitment of Casual Volunteers
Volunteers sign up for a particular day using our online registration platform. This will help with volunteer count and contact tracing records.
Volunteers respect and adhere to Health Safety Protocols and Social Distancing measures during the Program.
Being Casual Volunteers, you commit to the days you want to participate. If you are looking to participate on more than one occasion, you need to register for each day you will participate.
Groups would ensure they sign up each person individually.
We can only take about 25 volunteers per walk (usually in two groups), so registration is due by the Wednesday prior to a particular Sunday, or until the week is full.
Volunteers bring about 8-10 bagged lunches with them in a backpack.
Volunteers should be prepared to walk in the weather conditions of the day, and be able to use public transport (Presto Card) should the group travel by transit to a specific destination.
Except for the Van with extra supplies, the groups of volunteers led by the Core Team Members travel together for safety.
Please share this information with anyone who might be interested in taking part in an opportunity to reach out to our brothers and sisters who call the streets their homes, and who are very much effected by the realities of COVID-19 in these winter months.
Thank you, and God Bless!
Conscience Conversations
THE ELECTION IS OVER, BUT THE POLITICS CONTINUE: OUR INTERVIEW WITH THE B.C. CATHOLIC
After working with the B.C. Catholic newspaper on delivering the Catholic Action campaign for that province’s election, our President Matthew Marquardt was interviewed about feedback the campaign received and his thoughts on the need for Catholic engagement in politics between election cycles.
I think there is wide agreement that none of the B.C. parties this election had a perfectly Catholic platform, and it’s possible, perhaps likely, that none of them ever will. But I think it’s also possible that all of them could end up having very good Catholic platforms. One of the reasons we can’t tell what impact we have in the election is that none of the parties is perfect, yet none of them is entirely opposed to all the teaching of the Church. There’s room for conversation. There’s room for respectful discourse. So I think that over time there’s certainly room for improvement.
READ IN THE CATHOLIC REGISTER ABOUT HOW YOU CAN PROVIDE WINTER CLOTHES FOR KIDS IN NEED
“I guess people have had more time at home to do their tidying up and cleaning,” said Louise Coutu, executive director of the St. Vincent De Paul Society. “They feel very good if the items can go to a cause where they know it’s either going to be used by someone directly or that they can use the return for the goods.”
In operation for roughly 30 years, the Bundle Up program has been a conduit between people who want to give away their surplus clothing and those that are in need. On any given weekend the organization sends vehicles to six or seven different parishes across the GTA where parishioners are able to bring their goods to Mass and just put them right on the truck.
“It has kind of eliminated the old drop box idea where there’s a lot of contamination where items are left out the door and open to the elements,” said Coutu. “This way the goods come to us in better condition and it’s still convenient for the parishioner.”
We are still processing the wisdom and insights of Pope Francis’ new encyclical, Fratelli tutti—on universal fraternity and particularly the vocation of politics. During the Saskatchewan election, the diocese of Saskatoon hosted us for a virtual conversation about the encyclical and the place of Catholics in Canadian politics. We were joined in that conversation by Dr. Brett Salkeld, the theologian-in-residence at the Archdiocese of Regina. Dr. Salkeld has written in the past about Catholic political vocation. We wanted to share a recent article of his on “voting like a Catholic”, which shares so much in common with our mission at Catholic Conscience:
Consider the following: What does it mean that American Catholics who identify as Republican or Democrat typically sound more like other, non-Catholic Republicans or Democrats than we sound like one another? We are happy to point out where we believe our party comports with the Gospel, but where it does not, we far too commonly downplay the irksome bit of Church teaching instead of critiquing our party with the Gospel. (We notice this pattern quite easily, by the way, when it is done by members of the other party.) Or, like Adam hoping he could hide his own guilt by blaming Eve, we think we can excuse the evils in our own parties because the other party is ostensibly worse.
This is a scandal! It shows that our priorities are often much more easily shaped by our partisan political commitments than by our faith. This is, to put it in the stark terms of the Bible, idolatry. And this idolatry is damaging our society, our Church, and our souls.
FREE WEBINAR: CELEBRATE THE LIVING LEGACY OF DOROTHY DAY
Our Executive Director Brendan is a great admirer of legendary American Catholic activist and servant of the poor, Dorothy Day. Her biography Long Loneliness was a critical step for his return to the church, and she is an iconic example of Catholic citizenship in action. America Magazine and the Dorothy Day Guild are co-hosting an event to mark the 40th anniversary of her death.
Join the Dorothy Day Guild and America Media as we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of Servant of God Dorothy Day.
PANELISTS INCLUDE: David Brooks, Op-ed Columnist, The New York Times Anne Snyder, Editor in Chief, Comment magazine Paul Elie, Senior Fellow, Georgetown University
Convener: Robert Ellsberg, Publisher, Orbis Books
Interviewer: Colleen Dulle, Assistant Producer, America Media
POPE FRANCIS’ PRAYER TO THE CREATOR, FROM FRATELLI TUTTI
Pope Francis wrote this prayer as part of his new encyclical. Pray it in a spirit of universal solidarity, that Catholics may collectively be peacemakers in politics around the world—serving justice and human dignity wherever we serve.
Lord, Father of our human family, you created all human beings equal in dignity: pour forth into our hearts a fraternal spirit and inspire in us a dream of renewed encounter, dialogue, justice and peace. Move us to create healthier societies and a more dignified world, a world without hunger, poverty, violence and war. May our hearts be open to all the peoples and nations of the earth. May we recognize the goodness and beauty that you have sown in each of us, and thus forge bonds of unity, common projects, and shared dreams. Amen.
