Editorial

The dual calling of faith and citizenship is at the heart of what it means to be a Catholic in the United States at this time. We urge Catholics to register, vote, and become more involved in public life, to protect human life and dignity and to advance the common good. Faithful citizenship challenges us to seek a place at the table of life for all God's children in the elections of 2004 and beyond.

The Challenge of Faithful Citizenship, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (2004)

Whatever the results of the Nov. 2nd election, faithful Catholic citizens must continue to answer the call of our bishops to be faithful citizens.

Although we would like to take a break from politics, our involvement does not stop with the election. Far from it.

Work for common good. Perhaps now more than ever, Catholic citizens must help heal wounds and work for the common good. We must try to find ways to unite our citizens on issues we can agree upon, such as defending life, advancing justice, and pursuing peace.

In The Challenge of Faithful Citizenship, the U.S. bishops said, "We need a new kind of politics - focused on moral principles, not on polls; on the needs of the vulnerable, not the contributions of the powerful; and on the pursuit of the common good, not the demands of special interests." These days it may be difficult to rise above the political mire, but we have got to do it.

No time for retreat. Some Catholics may feel "politically homeless," the bishops noted, "sensing that no political party and too few candidates share a consistent concern for human life and dignity." However, they tell us that this is no time for retreat or discouragement. "We need more, not less engagement in political life."

As our letters to the Catholic Herald Mailbag reveal, Catholics do not always agree on what that engagement means. We do not always take the same political path. Some worry about the separation of church and state. Others feel the church should be more involved in state affairs.

Discuss, pray, educate. I think the dialogue among our readers is good. We need to discuss these issues, as well as reflect and pray about them. I would also suggest that the Catholic Church must continue to educate members of the church and our entire society about the breadth and depth of church teaching. We have a wonderful moral framework based in Scripture and church tradition on protecting human life, promoting family life, pursuing social justice, and protecting global solidarity. Our Church has so much to offer our country and our world. We must not let others reduce our teaching to "sound bites" or partisan wrangling.

Put faith first. I hope that Catholic citizens - including those elected to public office - will have the courage to stand up for their beliefs. It will not always make them popular. They may even lose an election. But Catholic citizens and politicians have got to put "faithful" before "citizenship." Our faith must come first and serve as the foundation for our actions.

During this election campaign, we heard candidates talk about not forcing their personal beliefs on others. But isn't that what all politicians do? Catholics must have the courage to go against opinion polls or the party line and stand up for the moral issues taught by our faith. We must witness to the Gospel message, whether it's popular or not.

Then we will truly be faithful citizens.

Mary C. Uhler, editor

Mailbag

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Catholics should place faith at heart of public service

To the editor:

I would invite Father Umhoefer (Mailbag, Oct. 28), if he hasn't already done so, to read Living the Gospel of Life: A Challenge to American Catholics, published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1998. Let me quote section 30 from this powerful statement from our bishops: "Catholics who are privileged to serve in public leadership positions have an obligation to place their faith at the heart of their public service, particularly on issues regarding the sanctity and dignity of human life. Thomas More, the former chancellor of England who preferred to give his life rather than betray his Catholic convictions, went to his execution with the words, 'I die the king's good servant, but God's first.'"

Senator John Kerry told the editors of Catholic Digest in their October issue that "Teresa and I are practicing and believing Catholics, who attend Mass and receive Communion. It is central to our faith and our lives." In an interview with the Dubuque Herald Telegraph (7/04/04), Kerry stated, "I believe life does begin at conception . . . but I can't take my Catholic belief, my article of faith, and legislate it on a Protestant or a Jew or an atheist who doesn't share it."

Father Umhoefer writes that, "Catholic teaching on abortion, euthanasia, and embryonic stem cell research is quite clear. But the political choices that would best promote these teachings are not always so clear." Kerry, during his 20 years in the Senate, has a terrible voting record when it comes to these life issues. According to National Right to Life, Kerry has an almost zero pro-life voting record. He voted against banning the gruesome procedure called partial-birth abortion six times.

He has made it perfectly clear that if elected as president, he would only nominate justices to the United States Supreme Court who would keep "abortion on demand" the law of the land. Kerry supports embryonic stem cell research and would like to lift the restrictions issued by President Bush.

I know this is a moot point, since the election will be completed by the time this letter is published, but my question to Father Umhoefer is this. Do you think with a vote for Kerry that the church's teachings on abortion and embryonic stem cell research will be "best" promoted? We have lost over 44 million unborn children to surgical abortion since 1973. Kerry is "personally opposed to abortion," but yet would do everything in his power to keep it legal.

I am deeply offended by Father Umhoefer's assertion that because the abortion rate went down during President Clinton's administration that his pro-choice position was somehow the reason for this reduction, assuming the numbers are correct. I think a more likely reason the rate has been decreasing is those wonderful "saints" in the pro-life movement who are working to protect all life from conception until natural death.

I agree with Father Umhoefer, "May the Spirit of truth, right judgment, peace and love be always with us." But that doesn't prevent me from pointing out the hypocrisy of certain Catholic candidates who claim to be faithful but yet reject that very faith when they run for office. Kerry has "betrayed his Catholic convictions" with his support of abortion rights and embryonic stem cell research.

Pat Hardyman, Blanchardville

Pro-lifers should support all life from womb to tomb

To the editor:

As a practicing Catholic who totally believes in the worth of all life, I'm disappointed at some of the articles in the Catholic Herald. I don't understand when so many issues that concern us all are at stake, why Catholics should have to consider only one issue when voting.

I am pro-life. A true pro-life politician would be: anti-abortion, anti-death penalty, anti-war (which is pushed by the pope), pro-gun control, pro-environment, an advocate for the poor, homeless and helpless, in active pursuit of a decent living wage and affordable healthcare for all, while keeping corporate greed in check. Our President Bush promotes only one of these issues.

Society should be fully educating our young people (girls and boys also) on the subject of abortion and its terrible consequences. God gives us a free will. Those women who choose to kill babies will be judged by God for their actions. We live in a country with civil rights. Pro-choice is not pro-abortion.

It is time for pro-life people to stop hiding behind a single issue and become true supporters for all life from conception to natural death. God gave us our brains to use. I suggest we use them for the leader who will protect and lead us all without serious abuse of power.

Phyllis Feiner, Spring Green

Guide stated clear teaching

To the editor:

How refreshing to see the full page ad, Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics, in last week's edition [print edition only]! It was wonderful to see something so in line with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and reiterating so clearly the points made by our own wonderful, Godly Bishop Robert Morlino in the previous week's issue.

It is refreshing and soothing to the soul to see our Church's basic, bottom line beliefs unequivocally stated, without apology, without compromise, and without rancor or accusation. Sometimes our Church's teachings simply need to be made clear.

The truth is what it is. And we will be held accountable for our determination to seek it. My deepest thanks to the donor who paid to have it printed.

Ramona Weakland Warden, Madison

Entwining religion and state

To the editor:

Let us come to a basic understanding that people of good faith will never agree as to when life begins - just like people of good faith will not agree on whether Jesus was divine, whether Mary was a virgin, whether the host is the body or symbol of Christ.

I may be happy when a politician promotes only my particular set of beliefs this time, but we open the door further to entwining religion and state. Will it always lead to good when the government only promotes the beliefs of its leader of the moment?

The pope himself has not endorsed a candidate nor stated abortion as the only life issue worth considering. We all need to think hard about how much any given set of personal faith beliefs should affect government decisions. If not, I fear the very liberty of faith is at stake.

Sandy Draus, Cottage Grove

Vote what's right, not party

To the editor:

During the last few weeks, I've taken note of the letters you've published in your "Voices" section and I have a few comments.

Through the years most Catholics have voted Democratic. And with the change of direction this party has taken over the last few decades, Catholics are having much difficulty switching party affiliation. Some have said, "Look at the party's policies" (I have); others have said, "The Church has become partisan" (it hasn't).

Well, I say look at what we have here. The Democrats are preaching a secularist policy of pro-abortion, gay marriage, etc., directly against not only Christian laws, but centuries' old civil and moral laws.

Take heed, Catholics. It's time to stand up and vote for what's right, not for a particular party.

William Bartz, Westfield

Separation of church, state

To the editor:

The Oct. 21 edition of the Catholic Herald had two full-page ads [print edition only] telling Catholics how to vote. When I was attending Catholic school, we were taught that it was a great thing that in America there was separation of church and state. I am disappointed and disheartened to see that the Catholic Church is not only encouraging its members to vote Republican but, in some cases, refusing Democrats the sacraments for not doing so.

I think it is a tragedy for the hierarchy in the Catholic Church to emphasize a chasm among the political and religious groups in this country. The Church is telling us that members should only vote Republican and that is totally un-American and not in the spirit of the founding fathers.

Granted that abortion is a tragedy, but it is not an issue to be solved by government or any religion. We can't impose our religious beliefs on others. It should be the choice of the mother, her doctor, and her God. This and some other issues, such as same sex marriage, are important to religions, but should not be politicized.

The government should take care of its people and not give tax breaks to the wealthy and big corporations. The deficit will have to be made up by the middle class and even the poor. The middle class is growing smaller and the separation between the wealthy and poor is widening. This is not going in the direction of the people, by the people, and for the people. This is becoming government by corporation.

Voters should vote according to their consciences, not by the demand of spouse, employer, or church.

Kathleen Ganser, Sun Prairie

End holocaust of abortion

To the editor:

Some say this election is a choice between defending the young, the poor, the marginalized, the frail, even all creation, versus ending the holocaust of abortion. How can they be so certain that they have the only right answer to all these issues? Social scientists are clearly divided on how to best defend the young, the marginalized, and the frail. And good people have always differed about the best ways to defend the least among us.

Another argument is that the environment, indeed all creation, hangs in the balance. Again, how can they be so certain their opinion is right when scientists are clearly divided on a wide range of these issues? Good people have always differed about how best to be good stewards.

I pray we recognize that no one has a monopoly on compassion or stewardship. Please do not sacrifice the lives of millions more babies to an opinion about these issues: issues that have been with us since before I was born, issues that we good people will debate for decades to come. Let us put these aside and band together, like the greatest generation before us, and put an end to the holocaust of our time, the systematic, brutal, pain-filled murder of millions of innocents in legalized abortion.

I encourage all to read Archbishop Raymond Burke's pastoral letter, "Our Civic Responsibility for the Common Good." I will not trivialize his great message with a quote out of context, nor make any inferences as to his intent.

Ron Faust, Cross Plains