Stephen StachofskyMrs. BaumCatholic Social Teaching05/03/13Political ResponsibilityPolitics: It is what makes the world go forward. With the modern politics of the world, Catholics, as Catholics, have a special obligation to exercise political responsibility. The CCC, Catechism of the Catholic Church, states that "Catholics have a moral obligation to promote the common good through the exercise of their voting rights" (CCC 2240) this includes having a well-formed conscience, a complex knowledge of issues non-negotiables taught by the Church and the knowledge of what it means to participate fully in the political world. The world needs conscience. In our society a well-formed conscience is extremely rare, and not only is it rare, but it is rarely used. “Conscience is a judgment of reason with which the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act… [every person] is required to faithfully follow what he knows to be right and upright”. (CCC,1778). Consciousness, like a muscle in your body, can be honed, tuned, built, and taught. When assuming a role in political policies, Catholics cannot be single-issue voters. Using his own conscience and the teachings of the Church, a voter has the obligation to sift the facts of what a candidate stands for and stands for (Faithful Citizenship. par 25.) The formation of a good conscience depends strongly, first and foremost on virtue of prudence. . The virtue of prudence is the practice of discerning the good in every circumstance and choosing the right means to achieve it (CCC, 1806). Using our conscience and the virtue of prudence, we can determine what the best outcome of a situation is and strive to achieve it. In the political world this involves voting for yo… middle of paper… erited candidates. Nd TS. Vatican City, Rome. Network. 13 January 2013."Pluralism." definitely 3. Merriam-Webster. Encyclopedia Britannica Company, nd Web. March 5, 2013. .Loverde, Paul S., Bishop of Arlington, and Francis X. DiLorenzo, Bishop of Richmond. "Electoral letter: vote with a well-formed conscience". Abortion. Catholic Bishops of Virginia, n.d. Web. 24 February 2013. .John Paul, II. "Veritatis Splendor, Encyclical Letter, John Paul II."Veritatis Splendor, Encyclical Letter, John Paul II. Np, nd Web. 04 March 2013. Ratzinger, card. Joseph, and Tarcisio Bertone, archbishop emeritus of Cercelli. "Doctrinal note on some questions concerning the participation of Catholics in political life". Doctrinal note on some issues concerning the participation of Catholics in political life. Np, nd Web. 24 February. 2013. .