This book provides a concise and informative survey of what the U.S. Catholic bishops have said about crucial public issues such as world hunger, nuclear armament, military conscription, conscientious objection, multinational corporations, national health insurance, capital punishment, abortion legislation, and public aid to non-public education. The positions of the bishops are presented and the reasoning behind these positions analyzed. The book is organized into three parts. Part 1 discusses "Religion and Politics in the Catholic Tradition" in two chapters: "Addressing the Political Order" and "Political Principles." Part 2 addresses the bishops' statements on policy issues in chapters entitled "Foreign Policy" and "Domestic Policies." Chapters in Part 3 are "An Evaluation of the Bishops' Quest for Justice" and "Evangelization, Catholic Social Teaching, and Political Philosophy." Appendices include a brief summation on how the bishops make policy statements, the texts of two statements on corrections reform and the energy crisis respectively, and a paper on the approach of the National Catholic Welfare Council to political and social reform. Notes, and an index of names and documents, conclude the volume. (KWL)