Faith and Patriotism By CHARLES J. CHAPUT

Published: October 22, 2004

Denver - The theologian Karl Barth once said, "To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world."

That saying comes to mind as the election approaches and I hear more lectures about how Roman Catholics must not "impose their beliefs on society" or warnings about the need for "the separation of church and state."

These are two of the emptiest slogans in current American politics, intended to discourage serious debate. No one in mainstream American politics wants a theocracy. Nor does anyone doubt the importance of morality in public life. Therefore, we should recognize these slogans for what they are: frequently dishonest and ultimately dangerous sound bites.

Lawmaking inevitably involves some group imposing its beliefs on the rest of us. That's the nature of the democratic process. If we say that we "ought" to do something, we are making a moral judgment. When our legislators turn that judgment into law, somebody's ought becomes a "must" for the whole of society. This is not inherently dangerous; it's how pluralism works.

Democracy depends on people of conviction expressing their views, confidently and without embarrassment. This give-and-take is an American tradition, and religious believers play a vital role in it. We don't serve our country - in fact we weaken it intellectually - if we downplay our principles or fail to speak forcefully out of some misguided sense of good manners.

People who support permissive abortion laws have no qualms about imposing their views on society. Often working against popular opinion, they have tried to block any effort to change permissive abortion laws since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. That's fair. That's their right. But why should the rules of engagement be different for citizens who oppose those laws?

Catholics have an obligation to work for the common good and the dignity of every person. We see abortion as a matter of civil rights and human dignity, not simply as a matter of religious teaching. We are doubly unfaithful - both to our religious convictions and to our democratic responsibilities - if we fail to support the right to life of the unborn child. Our duties to social justice by no means end there. But they do always begin there, because the right to life is foundational.

For Catholics to take a "pro-choice" view toward abortion contradicts our identity and makes us complicit in how the choice plays out. The "choice" in abortion always involves the choice to end the life of an unborn human being. For anyone who sees this fact clearly, neutrality, silence or private disapproval are not options. They are evils almost as grave as abortion itself.

If religious believers do not advance their convictions about public morality in public debate, they are demonstrating not tolerance but cowardice.

The civil order has its own sphere of responsibility, and its own proper autonomy, apart from the church or any other religious community. But civil authorities are never exempt from moral engagement and criticism, either from the church or its members. The founders themselves realized this.

The founders sought to prevent the establishment of an official state church. Given America's history of anti-Catholic nativism, Catholics strongly support the Constitution's approach to religious freedom. But the Constitution does not, nor was it ever intended to, prohibit people or communities of faith from playing an active role in public life.

Exiling religion from civic debate separates government from morality and citizens from their consciences. That road leads to politics without character, now a national epidemic.

Words are cheap. Actions matter. If we believe in the sanctity of life from conception to natural death, we need to prove that by our actions, including our political choices. Anything less leads to the corruption of our integrity. Patriotism, which is a virtue for people of all faiths, requires that we fight, ethically and nonviolently, for what we believe.

Claiming that "we don't want to impose our beliefs on society" is not merely politically convenient; it is morally incoherent and irresponsible.

As James 2:17 reminds us, in a passage quoted in the final presidential debate, "Faith without works is dead." It is a valid point. People should act on what they claim to believe. Otherwise they are violating their own conscience, and lying to themselves and the rest of us."

IF THIS DOESN'T NAIL THE ARGUEMENT SHUT ON THOSE LIKE KERRY WHO THINK THAT THEY CAN BE BOTH "PRO-CHOICE" AND HONEST CATHOLICS, WHAT CAN?

-- Joe (joestong@yahoo.com), October 22, 2004

Answers

bump

-- (bump@bump.bump), October 22, 2004.

Bishop Chaput, You have helped to elect a man that has little regard for human life. He has no intention of trying to reverse Rowe v Wade. Abortion has gone up dramaticly under his administration, after going down under President Clintion. He has cut the programs that help unwed mothers and their families. He has cut many programs that help the poor and elderly. He has sent our young people into a war based on lies. Thousands of people have died because of him. He excuted one hundred and fifty people in Texas while not even taking the time to really look at their pleas for clemency. He never took more than a half hour to review there pleas. I think this was such an unethical move on your part. The Catholic Church cannot even take care of there own sins, they sweep them under the carpet. John Kerry is a good man, he did not deserve what you did to him. He would have been a good President. Now God help us with this arogant man, that could care less. You should be ashamed of your self. I was born and raised a Catholic and I have not seen anything as shamefull as what you have done.This is purely political on your part because there was not the same attack on past presidents that support abotion. Now there are many more poor children in this country, and it is going to get even worse for them. Because this president while is very good at acting compassionate his actions are anything but. So when you see people struggling without enough food and without health insurance without the proper shelter not able to find a job, you can blame yourself for helping to elect such a heartless person. Penny

-- Penny Burkett (ptburkett@msn.com), November 19, 2004.

nice said about bush penny

but i just want to say that if j. kerry was elected there wouldn't be much difference,they both only care about their own profits and their political programs suck,american mainstream politics just blind the ppl and makes them focus on irrelevant things like abortion and gay-marriage make them scared of terrorists that don't exist,the only guy here that seems ok was ralph nader

i think the majority of the american ppl can't see the truth because the truth is just too unbelieveble to believe,they're being influenced by the media,influenced by their religion and the fear of the treats of "terrorists",people don't see that the real problem lies in mass manipulation and is leading to a totalitarian society where the gouvernement controlles everyone and everything

people still don't see that we don't live in a democracy,ppl still think if they have their jobs,their house,their family that they have a life,that they are free and that this country is good

and how can you vote for a man who's against abortion against killing unborn babies that don't know nothing,that aren't aware of anything,who's life hasen't even started yet,when he kills grown up people and children that know everything,that have a life,that are aware that can feel real pain,that have to die only because this man and everyone who's behind him just want their money,just want to have an oil monopoly and rule the world economically and politically

you passed the test,they know now on which things they can catch you,they know how you respond to fear,they know what they have to tell you to make you believe their lies

-- N8n th3 w!ntr (de_nathan_winter@msn.com), November 20, 2004.

What's more sinful - to execute 150 men who had access to lawyers, a trial by a jury of their peers, a retrial, appeals, all of which proved beyond a reasonable doubt that they were guilty of horrible murders.... or to kill a completely innocent baby who is no threat to anyone and would be loved by many married couples who can't have children?

Strangely, those who love Kerry and wish he had been elected don't care about the babies...they care about MURDERERS!

Yes, and not just domestic murderers either. They're worried and cry over terrorists and sadistic thugs like Saddam's facistic rapists and men who killed little children and old women. They want us to spare these evil men but continue to fund Planned Parenthood to the tune of $700 million a year!

Anyone see who these so-called "catholics" who hate Chaput really love? criminals, murderers, people who share their own ethic that life is only important when it helps their political hacks, not in and of itself.

-- abortion is the worst evil (anonymous@yahoo.com), November 22, 2004.