www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Rites and Wrongs - from the WSJ

First, I wish glad tidings of peace and brotherhood to each of you!

It seems that some of us are in desparate need of some gladness. The message of the Gospel is one of gladness and we sully that message when we involve ourselves too much in the affairs of Mammon -- and that is exactly what modern politics is about.

Should I vote for a candidate who is against abortion but who supports fellow candidates who vote the "pro abort" (pro choice?) line because they are in the same party?

So, should I vote for any candidate who violates the morality of the church? Should I vote for the candidate who is against R v. W but who supports the death penalty for the mentally impaired and teenagers.?

Should I vote for any candidate who is divorced? (I know, I know -- there is no divorce in
Rome and only Catholics can be annulled!)

The Holy Father has had a few things to say about the morality of rampant Capitalism and the sharing of the world's resources. So, should I vote for a candidate who accepts campaign contributions from large international corporations? ... or who lets lobbyists from the corportations write complex regulatory legislation ... or who supports an economic theory of giving to the rich so it will (might?) trickle down to the poor?

Should I reelect the candidate who cut welfare and provided for job training but who then opposes funding for childcare for the marginally employed?

Should I vote for any candidate who refuses to raise the minimum wage to a level high enough for a two-income family to pay the rent?

Should I ever support in any way any candidate who cuts funds for people to increase the funds for war?

Since I don't believe that abortion will ever end as long as women seek abortion, I would prefer to support the candidate who would actually attempt what Clinton campaigned on -- to make abortion safe, legal and rare. ... most especially rare.

It is not the hearts of politicians which need to be won over but the hearts of men and women everywhere.

Please think on this.

Peace.

Dear Truth Seeker,

Thank you the reminder that each of us is called to be an adult formed in Christ. The ambiguity, the gray areas, the uncertainty are what present us with the choices which help us to let Christ shape our lives.

How do we participate in a world where there is freedom to choose to do evil? How do we become so Christ-like that we become an invitation to do good and avoid that evil?

We are challenged to surrender our minds and hearts to Him and then to study our choices in that context. How do we do that?

There is right and wrong. Sometimes seeing the evil is easy. Sometimes it is not easy to decide which is which. Sometimes it is hard to find the best way to work with God in the world to make it the place He wants it to be.

It is harder still to recognize that other adults formed in Christ will disagree with us about our assessment about what is true and good or about how to achieve them.

Jesus lived His adult human life as an adult who was not always looked on with favor even by the religious authorities of his day. Certainly that was not easy. He had no force other than the authority of His word and His witness to inspire others to become more like Him.

Your list of questions and observations clearly illustrate how hard the choices for us are. Our task is not to run from the world and its political decisions and social institutions and its problems.

We are called to be Christians not republicans or democrats or liberal or conservative. Yet we are called to participate to bring this world closer to being God's Kingdom on earth.

It is not easy to be an adult. It is even more difficult to be an adult formed in Christ.

Sometimes it is easier to simply refuse to make the choices and let others do it for us.

Thanks for the reminder. We need to all the help we can as we assist eachother to become true adults formed in christ.

Your words are certainly helpful in doing that.

Steve


Thanks again!

Steve