f/k/a . . .

In a post titled “Roberts and Role Differentiation,” Brad Wendel at Legal Ethics Forum

points to pro bono work done by young lawyer John Roberts as evidence Roberts can

make a distinction between his role as lawyer or judge and his role as a member of a

particular Faith.   The case involved gay rights. Brad concluded:

“I can live with a conservative nominee who is likely to make a good faith

effort to decide cases impartially as a judge.  In fact, I think that’s the best

anyone can hope for.” 

 I have a minor point and a major one.  First, the Catholic Church does not oppose

civil rights protections for gays — as long as they do not include the right to gay

marriage.

 

More important, the Church does not countenance role differentiation (separating

one’s spiritual life from one’s job or civic activites).  The authoritative text, Doctrinal

Note on Participation of Catholics in Political Life, which was issued by then-Cardinal

Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) says:

“By its interventions in this area, the Church’s Magisterium does not

wish to exercise political power or eliminate the freedom of opinion of

Catholics regarding contingent questions. Instead, it intends – as is

its proper function – to instruct and illuminate the consciences of the

faithful, particularly those involved in political life, so that their actions

may always serve the integral promotion of the human person and the

common good. The social doctrine of the Church is not an intrusion into

the government of individual countries. It is a question of the lay Catholic’s

duty to be morally coherent, found within one’s conscience, which is one

and indivisible. ’There cannot be two parallel lives in their existence: on the

one hand, the so-called ‘spiritual life’, with its values and demands; and on

the other, the so-called ‘secular’ life, that is, life in a family, at work, in social

responsibilities, in the responsibilities of public life and in culture.’  [emphasis

added]

 

 

“The branch, engrafted to the vine which is Christ, bears its fruit in every sphere

of existence and activity. In fact, every area of the lay faithful’s lives, as different

as they are, enters into the plan of God, who desires that these very areas be

the ‘places in time’ where the love of Christ is revealed and realized for both the

glory of the Father and service of others. Every activity, every situation, every

precise responsibility – as, for example, skill and solidarity in work, love and

dedication in the family and the education of children, service to society and

public life and the promotion of truth in the area of culture – are the occasions

ordained by providence for a ‘continuous exercise of faith, hope and charity’

(Apostolicam actuositatem). Living and acting in conformity with one’s own

conscience on questions of politics is not slavish acceptance of positions alien

to politics or some kind of confessionalism, but rather the way in which Christians

offer their concrete contribution so that, through political life, society will become

more just and more consistent with the dignity of the human person.” 

 

(Related posts: What if John Roberts is a “Serious Catholic”? 

 and on Bainbridge and Roberts’ Catholicism )