First published 2008
Archbishop Charles Chaput tackles the contentious relationship between religious conviction and political engagement in American democracy. He contends that believers cannot and should not separate their private faith from their public actions. Chaput argues that American democracy was founded on the expectation that citizens would bring their moral convictions into political discourse, not abandon them for the sake of secular neutrality. He challenges the notion that tolerance requires believers to treat their faith as merely private opinion. The Archbishop maintains that because people are fallible and majorities can be wrong, democracy needs engaged citizens of character fighting for their beliefs in the public square. He specifically calls on American Catholics to take an active, vocal role in political debates while maintaining moral consistency. Chaput warns that claiming personal belief in human dignity while acting otherwise in public policy diminishes both private conviction and public service. The book presents his case that good citizenship requires believers to serve their nation by living their faith authentically in all spheres of life.
Genres: christian, american, political-science, religion, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: non-fiction
258 pages · Hardcover · Doubleday Religion