Abstract

This article sheds light on the synergy between Catholic social thought and community organizing. By deploying reverence, a notion from classical-Greek political philosophy, this article examines the dynamic relationship between democratic practice and public action, on the one hand, and the cultivation of the interior life, or spirituality, on the other. For moderns, the dominant culture views these realms as distinct and disconnected. In contrast, the article argues that they are mutually reinforcing, each better with the other, in greater service together for both the common good and a healthy, democratic political culture. This hypothesis is advanced through an analysis of three skills necessary for effective democratic practice: relational conversation through story; designing, implementing, and evaluating political action; and negotiation, compromise and agreement. Scholarship from political theory and philosophy, theology, and Catholic social thought, as well as direct practical professional experience, is integral to this article.