Catholic Conscience

Overview
Catholic Conscience is a Canadian registered nonprofit organization dedicated to civic evangelization through the formation of citizens inspired by the social teachings of the Catholic Church. The organization promotes non-partisan Catholic civic and political leadership, aiming to bring Gospel values into the center of public discourse and foster full civic participation in accordance with Catholic social principles. It holds the business registration number 701256521RR0001 and operates as a registered charity under Canadian law.

Mission and Activities
The core mission of Catholic Conscience is to form Catholics and people of goodwill for active, informed, and values-driven participation in civic and political life. It focuses on instilling the principles, values, and virtues rooted in Catholic social teaching, such as love, charity, stewardship, and the common good, without aligning with any political party. The organization encourages engagement in public service and politics as a way to serve society according to these values.

Catholic Conscience emphasizes the importance of overcoming societal indifference, a theme highlighted by Pope Francis in his encyclical Fratelli tutti, by fostering a community attentive to the social and political challenges of modern life. The organization offers educational resources and civic formation grounded in the Church’s guidance on governance, economic structures, international relations, and empowering individual voices.

History and Development
Originally active in supporting individual Catholic political candidates, the organization rebranded as Catholic Conscience in 2017. This marked a strategic shift towards focusing on political parties and broader civic engagement rather than individual campaigns. The rebranding reflected a desire to form Catholics comprehensively in the social teachings of the Church and to encourage participation across all levels of civic life.

Since its inception during the 2014 Ontario and 2015 federal elections, Catholic Conscience has expanded its influence with ambitions to reach a national audience across Canada and eventually extend to other Western democracies. Notably, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon has incorporated Catholic Conscience materials into its parish activities, indicating growing institutional support.

Organizational Structure and Reach
Catholic Conscience is an independent, non-partisan charity operating primarily within Canada. It engages its community through formation and outreach, equipping members to contribute to a diverse and persuasive Catholic voice within Canadian civil society. The organization continues to prepare for municipal, provincial, and federal election cycles, aiming to strengthen Catholic engagement in public affairs.

Recognition and Impact
Registered as a charity with the Canada Revenue Agency, Catholic Conscience complies with regulatory requirements and benefits from public fundraising platforms, enabling it to focus resources on mission-driven work. It is recognized for its unique role in combining Catholic social teaching with civic leadership and political engagement, distinguishing it globally among Catholic organizations.

This summary is based on publicly available information about Catholic Conscience as a Canadian nonprofit organization with a focus on Catholic civic and political formation through non-partisan engagement guided by Catholic social teaching[1][2][3][4][5].