The U.S. Bishops, at their November 2007
meeting, approved their quadrennial statement on politics
and elections, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship:
A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops
of the United States." The aim of this course is to allow
participants to reflect on the teaching contained in this
document, and to reflect on the same questions the bishops'
intended their statement to address:
- Why does the church teach about issues
affecting public policy?
- Who in the church should participate
in political life?
- How does the church help the Catholic
faithful to speak about political and social questions?
- What does the church say about Catholic
social teaching in the public square?
The primary reading for this course will
be the bishops' statement. Additional readings (previous
U.S. bishops' statements, teachings from the Vatican and
Magisterium, news articles and opinions, etc.) will also
provide the opportunity to reflect on issues related to
the above questions at both the national and local levels
(e.g. should politicians be denied communion based on their
political views? Is there a candidate that best fits Catholic
values? What can I do, or what is my diocese/parish doing,
to be "faithful citizens"?)
- Four weeks in duration, which includes
orientation to online learning.
- Typically 15-20 students in each course.
- All readings available online in text
format.
- Supplemental readings are provided
to encourage further exploration of topic, internet links
provided for all readings.
- Short written assignments required
for each unit.
All course material included online.
Readings will include:
- Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith, Doctrinal note on some questions regarding participation
of Catholics in political life.
- U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,
Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic
Call to Political Responsibility.
- Selected articles from newspapers and
periodicals.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Requirements for course include:
- Weekly reading of assigned texts.
- Participation in class discussion using
Discussions area (minimum 2 comments, questions, or responses
weekly).
- Participation in two weekly chat sessions
during the course.
- Short written assignment (150-200 words)
for each unit.
- Completion of Course Evaluation.
- 3 to 5 hours a week (time varies from
student to student depending on your learning style and
schedule.)
A Certificate of Completion awarding 20
Contact Hours will be sent upon completion of all the course
requirements.
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Greg Doyle is originally
from the Virginia suburbs of Washington DC. After
completing undergraduate degrees at Notre Dame, he
served in the Navy as a submarine officer in Charleston,
SC and then worked at a commercial nuclear power plant
in Maryland. He returned to Notre Dame for theological
studies, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree.
Greg began working with STEP while a graduate student
during the first year that STEP eCourses were offered,
and started full-time work there upon graduation.
He and his wife have two sons.
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