The 2004 presidential election raised questions about the role of religion in public life with a new urgency. For the Catholic Church, these issues proved contentious and, at times, divisive for both leaders and people in the pews. Catholic bishops reached different conclusions about the morality of voting for each candidate and they expressed those differences in public forums ranging from pastoral letters within the diocese, to press releases, to letters to the editor of major national newspapers.

The USCCB administrative committee had approved their quadrennial Faithful Citizenship document in September 2003, but some bishops believe that the gravity of some moral issues, especially abortion, demanded a clearer focus and greater priority. Ongoing disagreements led some bishops to consult the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and to ask for guidance from Rome. Appeals to higher authorities, however, whether those of individual Catholics looking to the bishops, or the U. S. bishops’ conference looking to Rome, have not settled these issues.

Therefore the Catholic Common Ground Initiative wishes, now that the heat of the campaign has passed, to sponsor a dialogue on questions that have been raised about the relationship of religion and politics.

We hope to be able to articulate foundational areas of agreement which have been obscured by recent polemics. Then, we hope to explore and to articulate areas of disagreement. Finally, we hope to identify areas that need further reflection and dialogue.

The conference question is:

What is (or should be) the relationship of religion and politics in a pluralistic society?

A. What is the role of law in a pluralistic society in relation to controversial ethical/moral issues?

B. What is the role of the church as an institution in relation to the public sector (prophetic, educative, authoritative)?

C. What are the obligations of individual Catholics as they exercise their duties in the public realm either as voters or as office-holders?

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