Imagine That! The Catholic Moral Imagination and Political Responsibility

Abstract

With the 2008 elections approaching, some Catholics are seeking principles to guide their voting. Others are already aware of rich insights from the Catholic moral tradition, some of which are communicated in shorthand through principles. When some mistakenly equate Catholic morality with the application of principles to situations, they neglect the significance of the Catholic moral imagination. Whether one is trying to better understand the tradition or the contemporary situation, the power of images should not be underestimated. In Faithful Citizenship, the image of a table invites the Catholic imagination to reflect about political responsibility and about the implications of being a eucharistic people. Since Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship does not engage the moral imagination to the same degree as the previous statement on political responsibility, pastoral ministers will need to be more intentional about sharing Catholic social teaching in ways that bring the tradition to life and help Catholics see the contemporary situation. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of Sharing Catholic Social Teaching, this article invites pastoral ministers to consider ways in which they might engage the Angela Senander is assistant professor of moral theology at Washington Theological Union.