In light of our ultimate hope in Christ, we believe we should view politics as important, but not ultimate; political wins as consequential, yet inherently temporal and fleeting. As such, we should be politically engaged, taking seriously the political implications of the command to “love thy neighbor,” but not captive to particular leaders or ideologies.

We believe that the manner of our political engagement—and the public witness produced through those actions—is as important as the results of our engagement. That being the case, we have a responsibility to treat political opponents as our fellow citizens and human beings made in the image of God, who deserve to be reasoned with, cared for, and respected.

In our approach to politics and public policy, we believe we should always champion the equal dignity of every human life, and—to borrow the phrase from Catholic Social Teaching—have a “preferential option” for the poor and vulnerable.

We believe pluralism should be acknowledged as an unavoidable reality, and that Christians should be committed to bringing our strongly-held beliefs and ethical principles into the public square primarily through persuasion rather than coercive power.

In the face of real or perceived persecution, we believe Christians should not be willing to defend themselves at all costs, particularly if it means sacrificing Christian principles. Instead, we should adopt the posture of the Apostle Paul, who wrote: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships,

We believe we should be committed to the rule of law and democracy—not as ends in themselves, but as the best means to deliberate over and build a common life in a pluralistic society.

Finally, rooted in a proper understanding of human anthropology, we believe it is important to advocate for political and economic institutions that promote individual agency, opportunity, and responsibility, as well as communal solidarity.