A vast field for the apostolate has opened up on the national and international levels where the laity especially assist with their Christian wisdom. In loyalty to their country and in faithful fulfillment of their civic obligations, Catholics should feel themselves obliged to promote the true common good. Thus they should make the weight of their opinion felt in order that the civil authority may act with justice and that legislation may conform to moral precepts and the common good. #10

In this Blog post I wanted to highlight a point that is usually missed from the various election resources that you will see from either official or non-official Catholic. The call to be faithful citizens is by no means restricted to Election Day. Voting is an important civic responsibility and our Church calls us to participate in this duty. However, since no party or candidate can ever fully represent Catholic moral interest we are called to be ongoing active participants in the political process. We are encouraged to vote on election day and to be Catholic advocates every other day. Time and time again the Church reminds us that no party ever fully encapsulates the totality of the Catholic public morality and social teaching. We are encouraged to vote for a political agenda that best promotes the dignity of life and the common good but then we are also encouraged to push our representatives and political leadership (whether we voted for them or not) on issues and policies that are of concern to the Church’s teaching. As an example, if we vote for a politician who is against abortion but also in favor of the death penalty then we are urged on by our church to press that politician on the issue of the death penalty or any other position he or she may take that clearly contradict the Church’s teachings.

Many of will probably receive election resources and information from a variety of Catholic groups and organizations. If you trust these groups and organizations by all means you are encouraged to heed their information. However the Church cautions us with regards to “Catholic” organizations that offer resources that contradict the Church’s teachings. It is worth noting and promoting the Church’s caution here since some organizations and individuals have uttered errors on both sides of the American political spectrum:

There have been cases within some organizations founded on Catholic principles, in which support has been given to political forces or movements with positions contrary to the moral and social teaching of the Church on fundamental ethical questions. Such activities, in contradiction to basic principles of Christian conscience, are not compatible with membership in organizations or associations which define themselves as Catholic. Similarly, some Catholic periodicals in certain countries have expressed perspectives on political choices that have been ambiguous or incorrect, by misinterpreting the idea of the political autonomy enjoyed by Catholics and by not taking into consideration the principles mentioned above. – Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, DOCTRINAL NOTE on some questions regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life, #7

Officially the Church does not nor will it endorse any individual or party. The Church rightfully feels that this is outside of its jurisdiction as pronounced in the Second Vatican Council’s “Declaration of Religious Freedom”. It encourages the well formed Catholic to vote his or her conscience based on the moral principles and social teachings that it offers. It is the role of the Church to pronounce on these principles and teachings for the formation of the Christian conscience. Two official documents are worth consulting for this purpose:

• Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: By the United States Catholic Conferences of Bishops
• DOCTRINAL NOTE on some questions regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life: By the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith

The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops has a great political website, Faithful Citizenship, that gives the best and official Catholic resources regarding the elections and our political responsibility. I would like to encourage people and parishes to visit and promote this site. Parishes and Retreat Centers may want to consult the USCCB’s do’s and don’ts page with regards to what political activity they are and are not allowed to do. Also, by clicking on to this link you will find the seven key themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

With regards to the issues of Catholic concern I will offer a link to a previous blog post that we shared over the Church’s definition of “Intrinsically Evil” acts which define the more serious elements of concerns for the Church in protecting the dignity of the human person. But I will also leave you with this excerpt from the USCCB when they defined the Church’s moral position under the framework of the Consistent Ethic of Life.

Adopting a consistent ethic of life, the Catholic Church promotes a broad spectrum of issues “seeking to protect human life and promote human dignity from the inception of life to its final moment.” Opposition to abortion and euthanasia does not excuse indifference to those who suffer from poverty, violence and injustice. Any politics of human life must work to resist the violence of war and the scandal of capital punishment. Any politics of human dignity must seriously address issues of racism, poverty, hunger, employment, education, housing, and health care. Therefore, Catholics should eagerly involve themselves as advocates for the weak and marginalized in all these areas. – USCCB, Living the Gospel of Life, #23

• Luke 19:28-40 (Gospel for the Procession). Luke’s account of Jesus’ messianic entry into Jerusalem heightens the struggle which Jesus will face in the city and temple.
• Isaiah 50:4-7 In the prophecy of Isaiah the third Song of the Suffering Servant combines listening and abject humiliation with dignified strength.
• Philippians 2:6-11. Jesus emptied himself of his divine dignity, to be incarnated in our midst and suffer the humiliation of the cross.
• Luke 22:14-23:56. The Passion according to Luke portrays Jesus more frequently than the other gospels in prayer, in forgiveness, and in concern for others.

Thoughts for your own consideration: By John Gonzalez

I am on a train leaving Washington DC as I reflect on the lectionary readings for Palm Sunday. This past weekend a multitude gathered in the Capitol, marching and advocating for the rights of immigrants, refugees and displaced peoples. I cannot help but consider the similarity between the immigrant march and the historical moment when Jesus was triumphantly entering Jerusalem. The march brought a hundred thousand people to be in solidarity over an issue that concerns all of us. We all felt great. The success that some of us had with our representatives afterwards only fueled these powerful feelings. Likewise we read that Jesus entered Jerusalem with great fanfare. Even as the Pharisees request that the disciples tone down their message Jesus suggested to them that this excitement would continue with the stones themselves. In other words the energy was palpable, just as it was for us this past Saturday.

But even as we began to pack and head back to our respective regions many of us began to reflect on the challenging political atmosphere that is awaiting us. Our congressional representatives applauded this exciting event but they too reminded us of the pragmatic political reality that would compromise this initiative. I feel a deep sense of solidarity with Jesus who immediately after his triumphant entry wept over the city saying,   “If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.”

During the workshops over the weekend we were reminded of a value that is at the heart of the first reading and the Gospel. The suffering servant is distinguished by his ability to listen, pray and forgive. Issues such as healthcare, abortion and immigration touch people at their core because in some real way they are affected by these issues. This past weekend we in the United States have been affected by all three issues. People react to issues in any number of ways: they can be defensive, reactionary and possibly provocative (for or against the issue) or they may be thoughtful and reasonable and yet here again they may take any number of positions with the issues. The workshops taught us to listen to the legitimate feelings and frustrations of people who will share with us their perspective on these issues with us and to reconcile their feelings and concerns with the broader principles of faith. The Church, like Jesus, is called to be prophetic and to not compromise the values of the Kingdom of God. But in fulfilling our prophetic role we must raise these values while pastorally attending to the feelings and concerns of all the people who will be either in support or against the principles of our Catholic social teachings.

Jesus laments how the greater value of peace eludes the people of Jerusalem. The peace of God flows from the principles of the common good and the preferential option for the poor, principles that we learn from Jesus’ parables and teachings. But when people are challenged by issues that affect them directly, it may be too difficult for them to envision broader community principles that seem to go against their own self-interest. Our challenge is to listen attentively to their stories and to pray with them in hopes that we can walk together in reconciling their issues with the concern of all God’s people.

However there will be times that we will hit an impasse. We may have to endure insult and betrayal. This is perhaps the most challenging role of the suffering servant, but in following the ways of Christ we will be asked to forgive. Jesus forgives Peter, the executioners and the thief. He consoles the women in the midst of his own suffering. Being completely imperfect my own reaction is to vent my own frustrations when I encounter severe and sometimes irrational disagreements on social issues. But this is the challenge we are given in following the Lamb of God. The example of Jesus is to pray and to offer up to God these social challenges. It will be from God that we will get the courage to continue being both prophetic and pastoral.

If the work of Redemption accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary touches the meaning of the human being, that work of God will be concerned with all the elements of human life including the coming into life and the leaving of life in death.

Terminating a human life demands deep understanding and is charged with serious moral implications. The leaders and teachers in the Catholic Church have been providing guidance in many areas of concem. As Passionists we loyally accept that guidance and absorb its vibrant correctness.

The highest teaching authority in the Church, a General Council, reaffirmed the sinfulness of abortion: “Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes..” (Gaudium et Spes, # 51.)

This truth has been reaffirmed again and again by national hierarchies and. Competent theologians have offered much help. Against this background we Passionists can ask ourselves: “Does our commitment to Christ Crucified influence our attitudes toward abortion? Do we have any insights to share?”

We know that the Son of God came to us to share his life to the full. He gave us his life for that very reason. “I am the Good Shepherd, I lay down my life for my sheep.” “Greater love no one has than to give his life.”

While Jesus is concerned chiefly about sharing divine life, the life of grace, a first requirement is a living human being capable of receiving that grace. So our Lord and Savior is necessarily concerned about our very bodily existence and well-being.

So when abortions – the destruction of human life of the unborn is counted in the millions each year across the world and is all too prevalent in our own country, it makes itself present in Christ’s becoming not only the Victim for sin – but as St. Paul writes “sin itself.”

The Son of God, the Son of Mary, appreciates the disappointment of souls who would never know the light of day or breathe in the fragrance of a spring flower. He knew the cruelty and selfishness that prompts the slaughter of innocents. He was to die to seek pardon for all the destroyers of the unborn. St. Luke tells us he sweated blood as he agreed to see himself the victim of sin, including the sin of killing the unborn.

Passionists are called to enter into the mind and sufferings of Christ. The Divine Savior came to call sinners, but he came to call them away from sin and to find their way to God. If Passionists are to have the mind and heart of Christ when facing the tsunami of abortions, we need to share the love of Christ for human kind. The unborn are the most defenseless; civil society refuses to protect them. Agencies exist to promote their killing.

The Heart of Christ pleads for those awaiting birth, bleeds for them. We believe Christ died for all, including  the unborn, that it is his will that they live and come to know him. Passionists must be accompany the Son of God in his bloody sweat in the Garden and in his agonizing in soul a body on the cross, Passionists need to see abortions as the dying Christ sees them and comprehend the injustice to the unborn.

The Apostle Paul wrote that dreadful sentence: “(God) made him to be sin who did not know sin…” (II Cor 5/21). Jesus not only takes away the sins of the world, he takes on himself the world’s sins. The horror of the flood tide of abortions drowns him as he agonizes in the Garden. Life is cheapened and bargained away in the womb for greater ease, for some bauble of consumer goods, selfishness of one kind or another.

Christ died to expiate the sins, he died to bring conversion to the sinners. Passionists need to share Christ’s sorrowing Heart. Passionists need to be steadfast in declaring the evil of abortion. But Passionists also need to speak of the forgiving Heart of Christ. Sorrow and repentance are fitting attitudes, despair and depression have no place. Our God is a forgiving God. A Passionist needs to proclaim the Christ of Calvary is the one who suffered for sin, but equally he is the on~ who brings forgiveness.

The sin of abortion and its relevance to the Son of God makes it relevant to the Passionist as well. It needs to invade his prayer enflame his zeal. If he is a preacher, a missionary he needs to be sure he is giving out the true message in love.

Passionists are called to strengthen the effort of those who strive to turn back the tide of abortions whether in writing or active protests and political activity. Here are issues in which the teaching of Christ and the Cross of Christ have place in the ballot box. Abortion is certainly one such issue.

Senator Robert Casey from Pennsylvania has moved the abortion issue into a new dimension of political discussion and I for one applaud him for this.  Senator Casey is a Pro-Life Democrat and his recent contribution is to develop a bill in congress known as the Pregnant Women Support Act.  The following link will offer you details on this bill.

Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. | Senator for Pennsylvania: Newsroom – Press Release.

With this bill Senator Casey moves the issue of abortion from the narrow sexual arguments used by both camps and into the social arena. This bill would offer better health care to expecting mothers and help pregnant college and high school students stay in school as well as provide counseling and shelter to women in abusive relationships. For more information on this please visit the Catholic Alliance for the Common Good site. Also you may want to visit the USCCB site on this Bill.

On a related issue Congress and the President are moving to Promote the Freedom of Choice Act. This act would eliminate many laws that help regulate this issue including informed consent laws, parental involvement laws, maternal health laws and regulation of abortion clinics. The United States Catholic Conference of Bishops has spoken against this deregulation. To view their site on this Act please click here.

The staff of the Passionist Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office support these two Catholic positions in promoting the Pregnant Women Support Act and advocating against the Freedom of Choice Act.

Peace,

John