Week of May 05, 2004

Why faith is, and belongs, at the center of the public square

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Every election year the Church lives through the same strange drama: Catholics speak their faith, and the world tells them to pipe down.

Every election year, as part of her mission (Matt 28:19), the Church talks about the moral issues that shape our political debates. She reminds us that if we claim to be "Catholic," then we need to act like it by following our faith in our business dealings, our family relations, our public service and our political choices — including the ones we make in the voting booth.

Jesus told His disciples to be leaven in society — in other words, to give society new life by the power of their witness. He was talking to you and me. That's our vocation as believers, to be leaven. And in a world infected by sin, Karl Barth captured exactly what that vocation means when he said, "to clasp hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the world."

The Gospels were never meant to be a collection of reassuring, private pieties. They were written to change the world. Anything less vigorous is unworthy of the sacrifice Christ made to redeem us. Jesus named evil clearly. He always acted out of love. Real love is never weak, and it never seeks to "coexist" with sin. Jesus called on people to change. As His followers, we have the same task, even as we repent and seek conversion ourselves.

Predictably, every election year, critics try to silence Catholics by warning earnestly about "the separation of Church and state." It's an empty, and often dishonest, argument for two reasons.

First, while it's not the business of the Church to endorse specific candidates or political parties, she does have the duty — and the constitutional right — to speak forcefully about social, economic and political issues in the light of Jesus Christ, and to guide Catholics by her teaching. She would betray the mission Christ gave her if she didn't.

Religious witness has always played an active role in American political life. When the powerful like what the Church does, she's "prophetic." When they don't, she's "intrusive." Have we so quickly forgotten the civil rights movement? Do we remember Cesar Chavez? Removing religion from public policy debates and the voting booth would make us shallow, ignorant, perhaps "peaceful" — but not safe.

Second, even the most ardent supporters of separating Church and state are very happy to accept the Church's help — and often her leadership — in serving the poor, the sick, the hungry, the mentally and physically handicapped, the homeless, the migrant worker and inner-city children.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Denver is the largest non-government provider of aid to the poor in the Rocky Mountain region. In fact, Catholic outreach to the needy and suffering goes on 24 hours a day, all over northern Colorado. So what "separation of Church and state" really means in an election year is, "Thanks for all the help, you Catholics (and other religious believers) — now be quiet."

We can't afford to be fooled, this year or any year, about what it means and what it costs to be a follower of Jesus Christ. What we really believe about God always shapes how we interact with the world. If it doesn't, then our faith is empty words. If we claim to be Catholic, then we need to conform our hearts and actions to our faith — in the voting booth; in our work; in the charities we support; and in our personal conduct.

With or without the approval of the powerful, the Church serves the poor — from the unborn child to the undocumented immigrant — every day of every year. We should take pride in that. We should thank God for that. And as her sons and daughters, we need to support her with our prayers, our financial support and our courage in the public square.

The Archbishop's Catholic Appeal is a vital source of funds for dozens of Church ministries, from Catholic Charities' work with the homeless, the developmentally disabled and troubled families, to services for immigrants and seniors, to Hispanic ministry, and jail and prison ministry; to the Catholic Biblical and Catechetical schools; to Project Rachel, youth ministry and seminary and diaconal formation. Your support for the ACA makes these important works possible.

Tens of thousands of people across northern Colorado depend on the services supported by the ACA. Please be as generous in your contribution to the ACA this year as your circumstances allow.