The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis is sponsoring a conference this weekend aimed at addressing Catholicism and the question of its role in politics.

"Catholics in the Public Square" promises to "explore the responsibilities of Catholics in political life and how to vote your conscience when no candidate expresses Catholic views," according to The Catholic Spirit, the archdiocesan newspaper.

Speakers will address topics such as: "What are our responsibilities as Catholics when it comes to political life?" and
"What about the separation of Church and State?"

The conference is set for 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday at Our Lady of Grace in Edina.

Keynote speakers will include: Anthony Picarello Jr., counsel for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference; and Angela Pfister, assistant director of the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture.

Minnesota's Catholic bishops have embarked on a campaign to get Catholics to support a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would define marriage as a union between a man and woman. The amendment is up for vote next November.

As part of their campaign, the state's Catholic bishops are taking the unusual step of urging parish priests across the state to form committees to help get the proposed marriage amendment passed by voters.