Carl Anderson publishes book on conscience and politics

Carl Anderson, the former Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, has published a book titled Conscience as a Political Problem.

In the book, Anderson examines the relationship between Catholic conscience and political action. He addresses the historical connection between John F. Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign and the modern political approach where officials express personal opposition to abortion while supporting its legality.

Anderson argues that Kennedy’s use of the term conscience during his address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association was intended to assure voters of his independence from papal interference in national affairs. The author notes that Kennedy's focus was on prudential political matters, such as diplomatic relations with the Holy See and aid for parochial schools, rather than on permanent moral questions. Anderson suggests that while Kennedy's approach was within Catholic bounds for that era, the use of conscience became a more complex issue when applied to fundamental moral matters like abortion.