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Faithful
Citizenship
January
26-27, 2008
Matthew
4:12-23
The
presidential election is more than six months away, and already
it is the central news story. Newspapers, TVs, internet are
all filled with the strategies, the polls, the positions,
the bickering, and the spin of the campaigns. I'm already
exhausted, and there's a long way to go. It could be tempting
for us to turn it off, to say “I'm going to worry about my
family, my job, my church community, and let them fight it
out.” As tempting as this approach might be, it is unacceptable
if we are followers of Jesus. Because the gospel is not just
about getting to heaven; it is about collaborating in the
creation of a just world.
That
gives us great responsibilities as Americans, because we are
the most powerful country on earth. And the power of our country
is fundamentally shaped by the decisions of people in the
voting booths. Votes by ordinary people such and you and me
will determine the future of our country and in a real way
the future of our world. Because of this, participation in
the political process is a moral obligation. Our vote is not,
as it is in many countries, a gimmick or a front for some
political dictator. Our vote counts. Therefore, for all the
mess and ugliness of American politics, not to be involved,
not to vote is moral negligence.
But
of course we are called to vote in a particular way. We are
called to bring into the political process our beliefs and
our convictions which flow from the gospel. As we make political
judgments, our vote should not simply be based on what is
most practical, or what's best for me, or am I better than
I was four years ago. It should be based on what God is calling
me to do, what will build God's kingdom?
Now
such an approach might seem utter foolishness. For we all
know that our political system is not based on the kingdom
of God . It is based on getting people elected. Millions of
dollars are presently being spent to do the math, so that
the candidates can build a platform to draw the necessary
votes in the Electoral College. Candidates are willing to
shift their positions and change their talk to arrive at the
necessary numbers to win. “The Catholic vote” is for many
only a line on some political analyst's spreadsheet. But that
does not absolve us from exercising our political involvement
from the perspective of God's kingdom.
Paul
in today's second reading captures our situation: “The message
of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but
to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” So if you
haven't figured it out already, today's homily is an exercise
in political foolishness. I strive to emphasize how we have
a responsibility to vote in light of the gospel that we profess.
Why am I doing it today? The United States bishops have just
published their document, which they do every four years,
on faithful citizenship. There is a summary of this document
available in the kiosk. If you want the full document, that's
also available here.
I am here at the ambo because I want to quote a few passages
directly from the document.
Let's
start with this one. The bishops write, “Unfortunately, politics
in our country often can be a contest of powerful interests,
partisan attacks, sound bites, and media hype. The church
calls for a different kind of political engagement, one shaped
by the moral convictions of well-formed consciences and focused
on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common
good, and the protection of the weak and the vulnerable.”
Now let's be clear. You will not find in this document from
the bishops, nor will you find in the Christian gospels, the
name of the person for whom you should vote. Each Catholic
must cast their vote based upon their individual conscience.
The bishops make this clear. But our consciences should be
formed in light of the gospel, in light of what we believe.
So to say, “Oh, I don't have to worry about that. You see,
I'm a democrat” or “I'm a republican,” is missing the point.
Whatever our political affiliation, we must still go through
the process to ask which candidate, which platform most closely
conforms to God's kingdom. Of course no candidate or platform
corresponds precisely. This is why we must enter a process
to decide which alternative best responds to the gospel.
What
are the principles that should guide us? The bishops mention
a number of them, but let me just mention a few. It will illustrate
how no one candidate or political party has a complete monopoly
on these principles. Certainly a central principle that should
guide our voting is the importance of human life and the necessity
of preserving it. The bishops speak strongly here. I quote,
“The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human
life from the moment of conception until natural death is
always wrong, and is not just one issue among many. It must
always be opposed.” As you know, there are some candidates
that espouse this position. Because of that, they should be
listened to and respected. But even this one essential position
does not exhaust our responsibilities to life. The bishops
continue, “We cannot ignore other serious threats to human
life and dignity. Racism and other unjust discrimination,
the use of the death penalty, resorting to unjust war, the
use of torture, war crimes, the failure to respond to those
who are suffering from hunger or lack of health care, or an
unjust immigration policy, are all serious moral issues that
challenge our consciences and require us to act. These are
not optional concerns which can be dismissed.”
They
go on to emphasize our responsibility to the poor and the
vulnerable, stating, “A basic moral test for our society is
how we treat the most vulnerable in our midst.” Now this does
not mean that the bishops adopt any particular form of government,
such as socialism, or any particular economic policy. But
it does mean that, as candidates present options for economic
policy, the question that the Christian asks is “How will
this affect the poorest among us? Will the most vulnerable
be protected?”
The
bishops adopt the principle of solidarity, stating “Solidarity
includes the scriptural call to welcome the stranger among
us, including immigrants seeking work, a safe home, education
for their children, and a decent life for their families.”
This principle does not mean that we are required to have
open borders where everyone can enter at will. But it does
remind us that in discussing immigration, the Christian adopts
the attitude of welcoming the stranger, rather than keeping
the alien out.
The
bishops do not consider care for the environment optional.
“We have a moral obligation to protect the planet on which
we live—to respect God's creation and to ensure a safe and
hospitable environment for human beings, especially children
at their most vulnerable stages of development.”
In
conclusion the bishops state, “In light of these principles
and the blessings we share as a part of a free and democratic
nation, we bishops vigorously repeat our call for a renewed
kind of politics: a politics focused more on moral principle
than on the latest polls, a politics focused more on the needs
of the weak than on the benefits to the strong, a politics
focused more on the pursuit of the common good than on the
demands of narrow interests.” Obviously, to base our vote
on these principles might seem to some foolishness, but it
is the foolishness of Christ. Deciding for whom we will vote
will not be easy, and not everyone in this church will come
to the same conclusion. But Christ calls us to exercise our
vote in light of the gospel. This is the year. It is not too
early to begin.
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