Sumienie katolickiego parlamentarzysty. Legislacyjne dylematy moralne w świetle rozumu i wiary

Abstract

The teachings of the last Vatican Council clearly stressed the importance of having a right conscience in shaping community life. People’s conscience affects not only their personal choices, but also contributes to forming the social ethos of their communities through conscientious engagement in various aspects of public life. An important form of public involvement is the work of parliamentary members in law making. While considering the activities of Catholic MPs, we frequently ask whether they ought to be guided by their conscience in the process of making civil law. Should they be guided by those values which they share as believers in Christ? Or perhaps should they yield to a kind of schizophrenia and use their conscience in private lives only, while adopting other criteria during legislative procedures? This article aims to answer this and other similar questions. If members of parliament really wish to conscientiously serve their voters, they should not promote those bills which stand in sharp contrast to reason and human dignity. This – a responsible task for lawmakers – should constantly be filled with a moral imperative in their conscience shaped by such criteria of good that truly serve the integral development of individuals and entire communities.