Dear Friends,
As I write this letter, the election is two weeks away. Many of you are already voting by mail. When it comes to some of the ballot initiatives in the state of Nebraska, the Nebraska Catholic Conference has taken a clear stand and encourages you to thoroughly pray through and think through your decision before voting. Bulletin inserts will help you in better understanding those positions.
However, when it comes to guiding you in making decisions about which candidates to vote for, the choices are much more difficult. There are many strong and even hateful things said by the candidates and their supporters. Even within the parties there are strong differences. It is clear that we are a divided land. However, this is not new, and I do not think it should be a reason for the grave concern that we hear in the rhetoric on social media. Fear has always been a tool of the evil one which is why Jesus says over and over again, “Do not be afraid.” Our trust is not in human beings but in our God. That reminder is on every dollar bill.
To those who would canonize any political leader, or who would see him or her as “God’s choice,” please, beware. Some people can become inordinately devoted to a candidate, so much so that they seem to believe that she or he can usher in the Kingdom of God! Every leader is flawed, some more deeply than others. That a candidate is right on certain important issues does not mean that we should be unquestioning of his or her views on others. Pope Francis recently commented that neither of our presidential candidates was perfect and people would have to decide between them. Neither is completely pro-life. No party perfectly reflects Catholic teaching; Catholics in both parties have many reasons to challenge their candidates and the parties with which they are affiliated.
Obviously, we live in a secular society. Personally, I think it has always been that way in the United States, even though people talk about this idea that we once were a “Christian” nation. I love studying history, and I cannot find a time when, as a nation, we acted as a “Christian” nation.
The scriptural stance from St. Paul regarding our leaders is clear: “First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:1-4). Remember, when St. Paul wrote this, Nero was Caesar!
Perhaps it is good during elections to remember the introduction of the U.S. Constitution: “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” There is nothing in the original Constitution about religion. It is in the First Amendment to the Constitution that we read: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” The “Bill of Rights” was added to limit the power of government.
May I suggest that each of you join me in praying a bit more this next month. Pray to God for our country and for our leaders. Pray to God for our state and for our city. Pray that those elected serve well and lead us closer to those founding principles. Pray that God would open our hearts to devote more attention to the things and people closer to home, to tend more the vineyard of our own soul. May God help us to see the things that we can actually change. The problems and sins of the world are not isolated to Washington; they exist in our own souls too. May we focus more on our own families and communities and seek to improve them.
Peace,
Fr. Damian