Abstract

This essay introduces the Journal of Catholic Legal Studies' Symposium on the United States Bishops pastoral letter Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the United States Catholic Bishops. The essay first summarizes the letter, focusing on the bishops' nuanced and pragmatic approach to voting and their refusal to provide Catholic voters with "easy answers." The essay then introduces the Symposium's six articles. Given the rich tradition of Catholic social thought and the complexity of our current political challenges, it is not surprising that the authors' reactions to Forming Consciences are quite diverse. In the end, however, all six articles share a common goal: to further the "faith-based conversation" that informs and enriches Catholic participation in the political life of our nation.