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Phone: 781-784-2265
Email: parish@olossharon.org
 

CIVILITY – IS IT ENOUGH?

One year ahead of the 2020 national elections, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is calling on Catholics to model civility, love for neighbor and respectful dialogue. Almost  simultaneously, six independent national Catholic organizations have joined with other religious groups in sponsoring a document called “Faithful Democracy 2020: Restoring the Voters Covenant.” The document affirms: “Every human being is a person of dignity and worth. In a secular democracy, fair and just democratic systems are central to the assertion of that dignity and worth.”
 
The bishops state: “Conversation in the public square is all too often filled with personal attacks and words that assume the worst about those with whom we disagree. We are in need of healing in our families, communities and country. The bishops call on all “…Catholics to honor the human dignity of each person they encounter, whether it is online, at the dinner table or in the pews next to them.”
 
The dignity and worth of every human person is a given. We are all God’s children. How that plays out in political discourse and public policy is where it gets complicated. But those areas like every area of human endeavor are not exempt from the scrutiny of gospel values. And we, however difficult that can sometimes be are not free from the obligation to apply those values to the issues of the day.
 
While promoting civility and human dignity are indeed worthy goals, facing the real issues with the clarity of gospel values is where, as the saying goes, the rubber hits the road. I think of the strong statement of Cardinal O’Malley when he learned of the separation of young immigrant children from their parents. “As a Catholic bishop, I support political and legal authority. I have always taught respect for the civil law and will continue to do so. But, I cannot be silent when our country’s immigration policy destroys families, traumatizes parents and terrorizes children. The harmful and unjust policy of separating children from their parents must be ended.”
 
There is danger in silence or acquiescence. Groups who have chosen that route have been accused of being drawn into “a vortex of moral ambiguity and relativism” and having surrendered their moral voice in the public sphere for a bit of worldly influence. While it is clear that the moral voice of our church has been severely weakened over the past twenty years or so, we don’t get a pass on     speaking up when public actions put our gospel values at stake.
 
We should be prepared for this coming year which will underscore the profound polarization in our country. It will challenge us all to be respectful and civil. However, we cannot avoid confronting the reality that truth telling, concern for the needy and respect for those who are different are being  devalued in our culture. We cannot be bystanders.
 
We are indeed children of God and we are disciples of Jesus also. God’s presence in and to the world is our mission as well. And the promise that our God and Savior will stand always beside us is true in every circumstance and always.
 
~ Fr. Frank