Informed by our principles — outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church as the common good (1905-1912), solidarity (1939-1942) and subsidiarity (1883-1885) — justice is the constant and firm will to give God and neighbor what is due. It orders our relationships, protects human dignity and promotes good.

For Catholics engaged in American politics, justice is an essential expression of Christian discipleship. Every person is created in the image and likeness of God, possessing an equal dignity that cannot be earned, lost or diminished by age, race, wealth, productivity, citizenship or political affiliation. Because politics is ultimately about people, this truth must shape every Catholic’s engagement in public life.

This perspective distinguishes Catholic engagement in politics from purely ideological approaches. Christian ethics begins by recognizing that the dignity of the human person is a theological truth revealed through Scripture and ultimately through the Incarnation. Because the Son of God became man, Jesus Christ united himself in some fashion with every person, revealing the extraordinary dignity of human life. This understanding changes the way Catholics approach the public square. If every person possesses a dignity rooted in God, rather than in political, social or economic status, then political engagement cannot be reduced to advancing a party’s interests or defeating an opponent.

Seeing every person through this lens changes not only what Catholics believe, but how we engage in politics. Catholics must resist the temptation to view politics as tribal warfare. It is easy to ask, “What helps my party?” or “How can my side win?”

Justice, however, asks: “What is owed to every human person?” Catholics are challenged to look beyond political slogans and consider whether laws and policies truly protect human dignity and promote authentic human flourishing. Justice is inseparable from the common good, the social conditions that allow individuals, families and communities to flourish. 

The common good is often mistaken for whatever benefits the majority. Christian justice sees it differently. The common good is not achieved by sacrificing some members of society for the benefit of others. Actually, society flourishes only when the dignity and well-being of all its members are respected. The weakest members of society are not obstacles to progress. They are persons entrusted to our care, and how we treat them reveals the moral health of the entire community. A just society enables people to pursue truth, live virtuously, support their families, worship freely, work with dignity and participate in civic life.

Political decisions shape these conditions. Therefore, politics is fundamentally a moral endeavor. Government has a legitimate role in protecting life, preserving public order, defending religious liberty, upholding justice and caring for the vulnerable, but it is neither the source of human dignity nor the solution to every social problem. The principles of solidarity and subsidiarity help guide Catholics in making political judgments.

Solidarity unites us as one human family, making the joys and struggles of others our own. It compels Catholics to defend the dignity of everyone on society’s margins, from the preborn to the elderly, and to ensure no one is excluded. This same solidarity rejects political hostility. While we may disagree on policy, Christians must reject personal attacks. We must treat political opponents as fellow citizens loved by God and speak truth with charity. Solidarity asks how we can help.

Subsidiarity determines who should help. Catholic teaching holds that decisions and assistance belong at the lowest competent level, with families, churches and local communities acting before higher authorities step in. Subsidiarity builds healthy societies from the ground up by relying on strong families, communities and civil society. Higher levels of government have an important role, but they should support rather than replace these institutions. Subsidiarity respects human freedom by recognizing that people are not just recipients of assistance, but active participants in building a just society.

Justice requires balancing solidarity and subsidiarity for the common good. Political solutions are rarely simple; Catholics must ask not only whether a problem deserves a response, but whether that response respects human dignity and encourages responsibility. Justice seeks neither indifference toward suffering nor the assumption that every problem can be solved through government action alone. Without subsidiarity, solidarity leads to over-centralization and government dependence. Without solidarity, subsidiarity leads to neglect of the vulnerable. Because Catholic social teaching rejects both extremes, faithful Catholics may find themselves challenged by every political movement and party. No political party fully reflects the Gospel. Our primary allegiance is to Christ, not partisan ideology.

This doesn’t mean Catholics should withdraw from politics. The Church calls the faithful to bring Christian virtue into public life by voting, serving, advocating for just laws and engaging respectfully with others. We must do so with consciences formed by Scripture, reason and the Church’s teaching. The Catechism is an excellent resource to do so.

Justice reminds us that politics exists to serve the human person and the human family. Every law and policy should be judged by whether it protects human dignity and advances the common good. Guided by solidarity and subsidiarity, Catholics seek a society where every person can flourish according to God’s plan.

Ultimately, Christian justice is about allowing the love of Christ to shape the way we see, serve and sacrifice for one another.

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This article is the second in a series exploring the cardinal virtues and other Catholic principles for faithful participation in American political life.