It being Election Day and all, I thought it might be useful to post a link to an essay I wrote on the primacy of conscience. We often hear from people—especially those who want to disagree with the Church’s teachings—who say that they are following their own conscience.
Here’s the crux of the piece:
- Our conscience is a guide, like we would hire a guide to take us on a hike in the backwoods. If that guide hasn’t been formed—if he has no experience in that region, hasn’t studied the trail maps, doesn’t know where to find food and water—your trip will be long and unpleasant. But a well-formed guide will take you straight to your destination, avoiding any pitfalls along the way and keeping you safe. Take your conscience to its very own guide school and let it be educated according to the truth that God has revealed and keeps safe in his beloved Church.
So if you want your conscience to be your guide when deciding for whom to vote, at least make sure that your conscience is properly formed.
