Dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

My mom is still talking about her zoom study group at Nativity. Even though she has been a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Altamonte Springs since 1971, she crossed the parish line this Summer to zoom in a Nativity study group on the bishops’ teaching on racism, ”Open Wide Our Hearts.”

Being an extrovert suffering dearly from Stay-At-Home Syndrome (restlessness, compulsive cleaning and cooking, talking to oneself), she liked getting to know the other eight members of the study group from Nativity, Most Precious Blood and other parishes. The social side in itself was worth the ticket.

They talked about racism and learned that some members had experienced fear and discrimination because of the color of their skin. It was an eye-opening study group.

She is looking forward to meeting with her study group again. This time, they are talking about the bishops’ teaching on political participation, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” https://www.usccb.org/offices/justice-peace-human-development/forming-consciences-faithful-citizenship 

We have a half dozen study groups starting the week of September 13 to reflect on our faith and politics. I’m kicking it off with a Pastor Chat on Sunday at 5pm. You can find a study group at a convenient time either in person or in zoom https://nativity.org/pastors-chat.

Like many, I am wary of political conversations. They usually end up in anger and division. What I like about this study is that it does not deal directly with church teaching on human life, promoting peace, marriage and family life, religious freedom, health care, migration, and so on. Before approaching these hot-button issues, our bishops seek to form our conscience. They talk about why the Church teaches on public policy, who should participate in politics, how the Church helps the faithful address public issues, and what four principles guide its teaching.

In the next month, watch for summaries of the Church’s teaching in the bulletin, flocknote emails, social media, and parish website. Check out the bishops’ five 2-minute videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL18AF7577177E12D9. 

My study group meets under the Nativity Gazebo on Friday mornings 1030-1130am on Fridays September 18, September 25, October 2 and October 9. Join us!

Our goal is to form our consciences with Church teaching so that we bring the light of faith to politics. The light of Christ is our best response to the heat of political ads, social media controversies, hatred, and violence. His love is the gift we bring.

“In the Catholic tradition,” our bishops write, “responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.”

In Christ,

Father David