Faith and Politics – Episode 1

Bio - Who is Richard?

Politics is what keeps our society going, yet often in ways that might be judged to be immoral, even scandalous. What is a Catholic to make of politics? And even more radically, how are we to participate actively and righteously in the public arena of politics?

We discuss these issues with Richard Gwyn, one of Canada’s best-known and most highly-regarded political commentators. The author of several best-selling books, the latest of which is The Hidden Pierre Trudeau: The Faith Behind the Politics (Novalis), and the recipient of national awards for newspaper and magazine writing, his articles are syndicated from coast to coast and he is a frequent commentator on television and radio.

Richard has been a journalist since 1957 throughout which time he has worked for many media organizations, from Time Canada to the CBC. In 1973, Richard joined the Toronto Star as a columnist. His thrice-weekly columns were syndicated in 26 newspapers. In a survey, his Parliamentary Press Gallery colleagues overwhelmingly judged Richard the single columnist they “all had to read”. In 2002 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.

• What is God’s purpose for government?
  Read Gaudium et Spes, 74.
• On what criteria should we support political candidates?
  Read Election 2004: Responsibility and Discernment, 13.
• What is my responsibility to the common good of society as a Catholic and a citizen? Read Gaudium et Spes, 75, 76.
• How do I carry out my responsibility to the common good as a Catholic and citizen?
  Read Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1913-1915.

• Vatican Council II, Gaudium et Spes, no. 40-45, 73-76
• Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1877 – 1948
• Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Note: The Participation of Catholics in Political Life
  November 24, 2002)
• Document of the Episcopal Commission for Social Affairs of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) Election 2004: Responsibility and Discernment (April, 2004)