A Church Without a Home: A Catholic Call to Political Action

By Fr. Tom Washburn, O.F.M.

In the 1960 Presidential election, strong opposition was raised against the candidacy of Catholic candidate Sen. John F. Kennedy, Jr. The contention was made that as a loyal Catholic, President Kennedy would take direction on policy from prelates of the Church; even the Pope himself. While assuring Americans that as president, he would make decisions based on the best interest of his constituency, Kennedy said, “If I should lose on the real issues, I shall return to my seat in the Senate, satisfied that I had tried my best and was fairly judged. But if this election is decided on the basis that 40 million Americans lost their chance of being President on the day they were baptized, then it is the whole nation that will be the loser, in the eyes of Catholics and non-Catholics around the world, in the eyes of history, and in the eyes of our own people.”^{^[1]}

Some 43 years later, Kennedy’s words sound prophetic as Catholics in America find themselves to be a people without a political party to call their home. Since Kennedy made that speech, the number of Catholics in the United States has risen from 40 million to more than 62 million, nearly 23% of the American population. The influence of Catholic Americans, however, has decreased in the same period.

Most Catholics probably share the experience of agonizing over who to choose at election time. Perhaps here in New Hampshire this sentiment is felt more than elsewhere, or at the very least, since the election cycle begins to much earlier here, it is felt over a more sustained period. Do we vote based on the broader issues? Do we vote based on a single issue – like the pro-life stance of a candidate? What constitutes a pro-life stance? Is it merely being against abortion? What about the death penalty? What about health care, poverty, welfare, justice?

Catholics have become schizophrenic Americans – we more often than not are forced to leave the values formed by our faith outside of the ballot box to choose between whichever candidate more closely represents our values. We are Catholics in one sphere, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Greens, Libertarians in another – and rarely shall the twain meet.

The irony, of course, is that one of the hallmarks of the Second Vatican Council some 40 years ago, was the Church’s newfound awareness of its relation to the world. In its’ Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudiem et Spes, the Council said, “Since [the laity] have an active role to play in the whole life of the Church, they are not only bound to penetrate the world with a Christian spirit, but are also called to be witnesses to Christ in all things in the midst of human society.”^{^[2]} Pope John Paul II has been a model of using his position to “penetrate the world with a Christian spirit” influencing politics and policy around the world on issues ranging from the fall of communism to economic justice and pro-life concerns.

However, the result in America has been the lessening of Catholic influence. Particularly since the Supreme Court decision in Roe V. Wade allowing abortion, Catholics seem to have surrendered their political voice and instead are left to make choices between a variety of candidates who don’t quite share the same world view. The result is that, outside from a very few issues, the perspective of American Catholics has been largely shut out of the political debate.

As citizens of the great country, we are of course guided by our own founding documents and we do hold dear our nations. The First Amendment to our Constitution established that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The goal of course, was that there not be an official state religion that would have a binding and legal influence on the governance of the nation. However, there is a difference between the separation of Church and state and the inaction of Catholic people in the political process. It seems in many ways that Catholics in America have forgotten the second part of that statement about the “free exercise” of their religion – particularly in the public sphere. Gaudiem et Spes decried this divided approach to faith and life, “This split between the faith which many profess and their daily lives deserves to be counted among the more serious errors of our age.”^{^[3]}

The answer lies in a new call to action for the Catholic faithful in the political sphere of our nation. Instead of sitting on the sidelines of the political debate, Catholic laity must become deeply involved in the process, not merely supporting candidates with whom they can agree on this issue or that; but by actively reminding candidates that they are elected to represent their constituency – including their Catholic constituency. Catholics need to encourage candidates to work for the common good, to support life, to care for the poor and the sick, to house the homeless and work for peace – not only because these are issues of faith, but because they make good sense for the nation and the world.

Every election cycle, the United States bishops put out a document entitled Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility. It is one of the best kept secrets in the American Catholic Church. This document doesn’t instruct Catholics on who to vote for, or which political party to support; rather it reminds Catholics of the issues important to us that should direct our discernment of candidates. It gives Catholics the framework against which to judge candidates; and perhaps more importantly an individual framework from which Catholics can influence and encourage candidates.

The bishops state, “Politics in this election year and beyond should be about an old idea with new power--the common good. The central question should not be, ‘Are you better off than you were four years ago?’ It should be, ‘How can ‘we’--all of us, especially the weak and vulnerable--be better off in the years ahead? How can we protect and promote human life and dignity? How can we pursue greater justice and peace?’”^{^[4]}

As politically active Catholics, we should be able to have an impact on the process. We should not merely look at the major political parties, recognizing our discontent with their overall policies and approaches, and shrugging our shoulders as we walk away. Instead, it is a time for greater action than ever. In a world torn by war, terror and what the Holy Father has labeled a “Culture of Death,” Catholics can bring an approach to the process that emphasizes not what we fail to be, but what we can become; our best selves. The U.S. Bishops encourage this type of political action, “At this time, some Catholics may feel politically homeless, sensing that no political party and too few candidates share a consistent concern for human life and dignity. However, this is not a time for retreat or discouragement. We need more, not less engagement in political life. We urge Catholics to become more involved by running for office; by working within political parties; by contributing money or time to campaigns; and by joining diocesan legislative networks, community organizations, and other efforts to apply Catholic principles in the public square.”

This type of action goes far beyond party affiliation and unhelpful labels like liberal and conservative. Instead it reminds Catholics that we can and should have an influence wherever we are. We should be involved not in one party, but in all parties, stressing and stating the political implications of our faith perspective.

The Bishops outline some of the questions that should be primary for Catholics in the political sphere. I have consolidated them here:

1. How can we build a safer, more peaceful world?

2. How can we keep our nation from turning to abortion, the death penalty, euthanasia and assisted suicide to solve some of its most difficult problems?

3. How will we address the tragic fact that more than 30,000 children die every day as a result of hunger, international debt, and lack of development around the world?

4. How can our nation help parents raise their children with respect for life, sound moral values, a sense of hope, and an ethic of stewardship and responsibility?

5. How will we address the growing number of families and individuals without affordable and accessible health care?

6. How will our society combat continuing prejudice, religious bigotry, and other forms of discrimination?

7. How will our nation pursue the values of justice and peace in a violent world?

8.How can families, community organizations, markets, and government work together for the common good?

9. When should our nation use, or avoid the use of, military force?

10. How can we join with other nations to lead the world?

It seems clear that the time for the voices of the Catholic faithful to be heard in our public discourse. Catholics should come face-to-face with our own political homelessness and demand a place within the current political structure in our nation. No candidate, no party, should be able to sideline the views and concerns of their Catholic constituency. As Catholics we have a consistent moral framework that can serve as an excellent antidote to the issue-driven, poll-driven politics of our nation. Register to vote, register others to vote, volunteer for candidates, raise your questions, your issues. All Catholics have a duty to become active in the direction of our nation.

“The call to faithful citizenship raises a fundamental question for all of us. What does it mean to be a Catholic living in the United States in the year 2004 and beyond? As Catholics, the election and the policy choices that follow it call us to recommit ourselves to carry the values of the Gospel and church teaching into the public square. As citizens and residents of the United States, we have the duty to participate now and in the future in the debates and choices over the values, vision, and leaders that will guide our nation. This dual calling of faith and citizenship is at the heart of what it means to be a Catholic in the United States. Faithful citizenship calls us to seek ‘a place at the table’ of life for all God's children in the elections of 2004 and beyond.”^{^[5]}

Fr. Tom Washburn, O.F.M. is associate pastor and coordinator of youth ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Derry, NH. He is a member of the Order of Friars Minor and holds two master’s degrees from Weston Jesuit School of Theology and is part time faculty of Regis College’s Ministry Institute in Manchester, NH. Email him at: TOMWAS@aol.com.