In 1922, as he began his pontificate, Pope Pius XI issued his first encyclical, Ubi Arcano Dei Consilio (“When in the inscrutable designs of God”) wherein he took a look at the world in which he lived: one not yet recovered from the ravages of the most devastating war (to that point) in human history. Affirming the role of government in promoting the common good–and that the tenets of good, reasonable government were consistent with those of the nascent principles of Catholic social teaching–he lamented the state of affairs in the modern world which manifested themselves in class struggle, the self-interested pursuit of power among leaders…and slavish devotion to the success of political parties over the commonwealth.
His observations are as true today as they were 100 years ago–as what has passed for “responsible” political campaigning has proved over the last few months.
The 2024 national elections are mercifully, blessedly over. For the next two years (at least) we won’t need to hear about how “Candidate A” is “too liberal for Ohio,” or how “Candidate B” is “too extremist.” And we can put to bed for a while–in television commercials anyway–the mudslinging and character bashing that have become the bread and butter of modern campaigning. Despite all the nastiness, we have elected a new House of Representatives and Senate and will soon put into the White House a new president–to the delight of about half of the voting public and the dismay of the other half. Whether our candidates won or lost, we can and should celebrate: the people have spoken. Our republic will go on…
…If we are true to our heritage as Americans and our faith as Catholics and Christians.
We are at a crossroads as a nation–not the first or last–but a crossroads nonetheless. We can continue the way of division and tribalism, or we can follow the way of unity and concord. We can see ourselves primarily as Democrats and Republicans, or we can see ourselves as Americans. As Catholics, we can retreat to the safety of our families and parishes, or we can have the courage to act as instruments of God’s healing and grace as we move forward from the election.
Full disclosure: “My” presidential candidate did not win. My candidate was never going to win. Tired of holding my nose when I voted, in conscience I went with a third-party candidate whose views most closely aligned with my own. So know that in challenging us below, I am not exhorting us to “get behind” the person I supported, I am speaking to myself as much as anyone else.
St. Paul, writing to a church in anti-Christian Rome, declared:
Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves…Therefore, it is necessary to be subject not only because of the wrath [of leaders] but also because of conscience. Pay to all their dues…respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due (Romans 13:1-2, 7).
Paul was savvy. Some scholars suggest that he was leaving a paper trail to ensure that Roman authorities could not claim that the Christians in that city were trying to undermine the government. But his words mean what they say–we have an obligation to respect the authority of those who hold office, even when we don’t like them or what they stand for. Does this mean that we must blindly follow our leaders? Of course not!–-especially in our democratic republic where freedom of speech is guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Constitution and the right to participate in political life stands as a fundamental part of our Catholic social ethic.
A little more than two years after Pope Pius promulgated his first encyclical, he followed up with another, Qui Primas, (“In the First…”) where, reflecting on his assessment of the state of the world in his first encyclical (hence the title), instituted the feast of Christ the King. Adopted later by members of the Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist communions, this feast stands as a bold reminder that we have only one true Ruler–the One Who reigns from Heaven. All other governments and leaders derive their authority from Him…and are ultimately accountable to Him.
Nineteen Twenty-Five was marked by the rise of outwardly atheist and anti-theist governments. Mexico suffered under a rabidly anti-religious regime that actively persecuted Catholics and other Christians. The Soviet Union emerged as a devoutly atheistic state and Italy, while not overtly atheistic, was in its fascism, decidedly secular.
…And the seeds of Naziism were being planted.
In short, it was a time when sizable elements from BOTH the political left and right forgot their relationships with God and made their political parties their de facto religions.
It was a time very much like our own.
We will have a new president soon, one who will have the weight of the world on his shoulders. He has many flaws–as we all do–but many gifts as well. Jesus calls us to “love one another” (Jn 13:34 ) including our enemies (Mt. 5:44) (even our political ones), and while “rendering to God what is God’s,” we need to give unto “Caesar” what is his (Mt. 22:21).
St. Thomas reminds us that to love is to “will the good of the other.” We should want Mr. Trump to be a good president, even as we wish him to be a good person. Like voicing our concerns and objections when we think he may be straying, praying for his success is part of what we “owe Caesar”: understanding success to be a presidency marked by a commitment to protecting the fundamental dignity and right to life of every person from the moment of conception until natural death. We should pray that he is dedicated to promoting the common good of both our American and world societies. As Catholics and Christians we should pray that he is an instrument of peace in the world–both at home and abroad–that he protects religious and civil rights, and that he promotes policies that protect and elevate the most needy and vulnerable in society. We should pray that he surrounds himself with competent advisors and that he leads with wisdom.
Regardless of our political leanings.
Like the president himself, we need to remember that before we are partisan actors, we are Americans. And before that, we are children of God and heirs to His kingdom, missioned to help establish His reign on earth. We need to pray for President-elect Trump: for his success in what promotes the common good and the dignity of the human person and, where needed, for his conversion of heart. That’s not an option.
Our Eternal King has spoken.
A.M.D.G. / B.V.M.H.