Suffering With Joy

A Pernicious Construct

March 2, 2010

Today Sandro Magister of chiesa features the content of a very challenging presentation by a Catholic bishop in the depths of the Bible Belt.  Here are a couple of excerpts from Archbishop Chaput’s March 1, 2010 address at the Baptist University of Houston on the vocation of Christians in American public life:

Fifty years ago this fall, in September 1960, Sen. John F. Kennedy, the Democratic candidate for president, spoke to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association. He had one purpose. He needed to convince 300 uneasy Protestant ministers, and the country at large, that a Catholic like himself could serve loyally as our nation’s chief executive. Kennedy convinced the country, if not the ministers, and went on to be elected. And his speech left a lasting mark on American politics. It was sincere, compelling, articulate – and wrong. Not wrong about the patriotism of Catholics, but wrong about American history and very wrong about the role of religious faith in our nation’s life. And he wasn’t merely “wrong.” His Houston remarks profoundly undermined the place not just of Catholics, but of all religious believers, in America’s public life and political conversation. Today, half a century later, we’re paying for the damage.

Archbishop Chaput is the foremost American bishop on the subject of Catholic life and politics and is an ardent pro-life advocate.  In his talk he continues to lay out the historical development of secularism in our country, starting with the great divorce between religion and politics that was already happening and that Kennedy voiced in 1960.

Early in his remarks, Kennedy said: “I believe in an America where the separation of Church and state is absolute.” [The pernicious construct] Given the distrust historically shown to Catholics in this country, his words were shrewdly chosen. The trouble is, the Constitution doesn’t say that. The Founders and Framers didn’t believe that. And the history of the United States contradicts that. Unlike revolutionary leaders in Europe, the American Founders looked quite favorably on religion. Many were believers themselves. In fact, one of the main reasons for writing the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause – the clause that bars any federally-endorsed Church – was that several of the Constitution’s Framers wanted to protect the publicly funded Protestant Churches they already had in their own states. John Adams actually preferred a “mild and equitable establishment of religion” and helped draft that into the 1780 Massachusetts Constitution.

Crucifixion, 1503, Cranach, Lucas the Elder, pine panel, Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Secularism is poisonous to life itself. It’s why this day the terminally ill, mentally challenged, disabled and elderly have reason to fear for their lives.  There is no place for valuing suffering outside of the Christian construct, and no place for respect for life or person. The times we live in are more dangerous to our souls, our country and the world than ever before.  Struck loose from Judeo-Christian moorings, life purpose becomes utilitarian and hopeless.  Chaput brings forth the challenge to Christians today:

…Christianity is not mainly – or even significantly –- about politics. It’s about living and sharing the love of God. And Christian political engagement, when it happens, is never mainly the task of the clergy. That work belongs to lay believers who live most intensely in the world. Christian faith is not a set of ethics or doctrines. It’s not a group of theories about social and economic justice. All these things have their place. All of them can be important. But a Christian life begins in a relationship with Jesus Christ; and it bears fruit in the justice, mercy and love we show to others because of that relationship. [Yes, Yes, and Yes!]

In closing Chaput said:

We live in a country that was once – despite its sins and flaws – deeply shaped by Christian faith. It can be so again. But we will do that together, or we won’t do it at all. We need to remember the words of St. Hilary from so long ago: “Unum sunt, qui invicem sunt”, they are one, who are wholly for each other. May God grant us the grace to love each other, support each other and live wholly for each other in Jesus Christ – so that we might work together in renewing the nation that has served human freedom so well.

If ever we are to stand up and be counted as genuine, visible followers of Christ doing the very difficult to counteract the spirit of the world, now is the time.  The helpless, sick and suffering, by uniting with the sufferings of Christ can be a silent, invisible, potent army of support to those seeking to restore all things in Christ.

You can sign up here to receive email notice when Sandro Magister publishes new articles.

Tags: Catholic Church, suffering

No comments yet.

Leave a comment

Name (required) Mail (will not be published) (required) Website Message

CAPTCHA Code