Porta Fidei, a free online Catholic faith formation platform created by the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, is offering a new online course that frames patriotism as a Christian virtue and encourages Catholics to engage in public life.
The course, “Christian Citizenship and the Virtue of Patriotism,” will be taught by Chad Pecknold, associate professor of historical and systematic theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. It launches as the U.S. prepares to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in July.
Organizers say the program addresses a common temptation among Christians to withdraw from politics.
“Christians may feel tempted to avoid politics,” Porta Fidei said in a press release emailed to Zeale News. “Yet, all are called to faithful citizenship. As America prepares to commemorate its Semiquincentennial, it’s a natural time for Catholics to strive to grow by God’s grace as Christians and as citizens.”
In a video about the upcoming course, Pecknold emphasized the connection between Catholic faith and civic duty. He said the course covers the “fundamentals of political life, the goodness of the human person, our social and political nature, and why that commits us to our families and to our country.”
“Why on earth should we care about politics?” Pecknold asked. “Because God cares about politics. God cares about us loving our neighbors as we love him.”
He added that Catholics “bring an enormous wealth to our political life.” Pecknold highlighted a statement from Pope Leo XIII, who, in a letter approving The Catholic University of America, declared that Catholic colleges would “give to the Republic her best citizens.”
The course is divided into two main sections. According to Porta Fidei’s website, the first is focused on Christian citizenship and teaches that a “virtuous family member makes a virtuous citizen.” The section draws on the Catechism and the Fourth Commandment, the duty to honor one’s parents, as the foundation for the virtue of patriotism.
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The second section, titled “Practicing Patriotism,” presents patriotism as a habit connected to all virtues and rooted in divine goodness. According to the course materials, topics include protecting marriage and the family, prioritizing the Imago Dei, honoring America’s Catholic heritage, and being faithful citizens.
The course’s launch coincides with other Catholic voices highlighting patriotism ahead of America’s 250th anniversary, including Cardinal Raymond Burke, who is releasing an eight-part video series titled “The Virtue of Patriotism.” The series is produced by the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe as part of CatholicVote’s Zeale for America 250 campaign. Together, the efforts reflect a broader Catholic emphasis on forming faithful citizens.