Across the country -- in group discussions, adult education programs, diocesan conferences, DVD presentations and Sunday Mass homilies -- U.S. Catholics are taking a close look at the bishops' 2007 document intended to help Catholic voters form their consciences on a variety of issues.

Even though there is a push to review the document, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility," during the election season, many Catholics do not plan to put it aside after Nov. 4.

"Voting isn't the end of being a faithful citizen. It's really about continuing to advocate for our visions and values," said Barbara Budde, director of the parish social ministry office of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Austin, Texas.

"As a matter of fact, we're starting to turn our attention toward after the elections," she told Catholic News Service Sept. 26, noting that Catholic leaders are making sure people are knowledgeable about issues that might come up in the Texas Legislature and in Congress.

Four years ago, Catholic leaders in Austin were urging people to vote and conducting frequent parish voter-registration drives. Now, Budde said, with voting in place the current focus is on "forming consciences."

Although "Faithful Citizenship" was first published in 1975, the bishops produce a new version of it about every four years to coincide with the national elections. The document for the 2008 election was overwhelmingly approved by the bishops last November.

Since then, Joan Rosenhauer, associate director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, has been giving talks about the document across the country. In various workshops and group discussions, she said, she has seen how Catholics are "taking very seriously the bishops' message that forming one's conscience is critical as we make decisions in political life."

"Part of this process involves studying Scripture and the church's teaching," she said. "Catholics are reading and reflecting on the document carefully to learn what is involved in forming one's conscience and to learn about the basic principles and ideas from Catholic teaching that should shape decisions in public life."

Rosenhauer said the document's emphasis on having a well-formed conscience seems to "strike a chord with many people."