Being Political or a Matter of Faith
If you want to start an argument, either religion or politics can be two topics to consider. If you interject politics into preaching in church, you will find people objecting.
As one who preaches, speaking for myself, I can honestly say I don’t want to preach about politics. However, what I do want to do, and I am supposed to do, is to preach about issues important to our faith. People need to hear what our faith teaches, even if an issue is controversial. To avoid controversial issues completely is to avoid the truth, the truth that will set us free (John 8:32)
When it comes to not preaching about politics, the challenge is that often issues that are seen as political are also very important to our faith. In this article, I would like to discuss some of these issues and discuss the difficulties involved.
For example, the issue of abortion is a “hot-button” issue in politics. Those who support abortion justify it as a woman’s own reproductive decision. As such, they say it is a private decision where others should not intervene.
Abortion, of course, is also a very important issue for our faith. It is not a new issue. We can find it discussed in early church documents. The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults writes,“In the Didache (The Teaching of the Apostles), 2, 2, written toward the end of the first century and revered as an honored guide for Christian Life, we read, “You shall not kill the embryo by abortion” (USCCB, United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. Washington, DC: USCCB. 2006., 391). We read in the Letter of Barrabas, a second century document, “Do not kill an unborn child through abortion.” (As found in the Office of Readings 18th Wednesday in Ordinary Time with the following citation: “Cap 19, 1-3, 5-7, 8-12: Funk 1, 53-57”).
Abortion is important in our Catholic faith because we know that life begins at conception. Thus, the child in the womb has all the same rights as the mother. Psalm 139:13-16 speaks of God’s involvement in our lives before our birth, “You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb.” God is involved in our development from the moment of conception.
The controversy over abortion becomes even more challenging if one does not understand why politicians who support abortion should not receive Communion. What I think that some people do not understand that in saying these politicians should not receive Communion, our Catholic faith is not trying to be political. Our Catholic faith teaches that anyone who has committed mortal sin, politician or not, should not receive Communion.
If one participates in an abortion freely and knowing that our Catholic faith teaches it is wrong, they have committed mortal sin. While a politician may not directly participate in an abortion, if they opening support abortion and identify as Catholic, they are guilty of scandal. The Catechism of the Catholic Church writes “Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.” (2284, see also Matthew 18:6, 1 Corinthians 8:10-13).
The Catechism also states, “Therefore, they are guilty of scandal who establish laws or social structures leading to the decline of morals and the corruption of religious practice, or to “social conditions that, intentionally or not, make Christian conduct and obedience to the Commandments difficult and practically impossible” (2286).
Again, our Catholic Church is not trying to be political here. The same applies to all, whether they are a politician or not. The issue merely takes on a new level when politicians are involved.
Another issue that may be perceived as a political issue is the death penalty. It is the government’s role to administer proper punishment (justice but not revenge). However, our Catholic faith has something to offer on what proper punishment is.
Those who support the death penalty sometimes cite Leviticus 24:19-20 and its phrase “an eye for an eye” to justify the death penalty. However, we need to understand that God, in this verse from Leviticus, is not calling us to kill the person. God was trying to the violence from escalating as people responded in revenge.– a limit not a command an eye for an eye. Jesus points us away from killing in Matthew 5:38-42.
If we wish to use Scripture in our arguments concerning the death penalty, we need to look to passages even earlier than Leviticus. In Genesis 4:1-16, we see that God did not ill Cain for murdering his brother. In fact, in verse 15, God prohibits others from killing Cain. God does punish Cain (Genesis 4:10-12) but does so without killing him.
Another issue we see in politics is negative campaigning. I find it saddening to see how much campaigning is direct negative talk about the opposing candidate. The negativity is obvious in politics but it is not unique. We even find it used against Jesus by his opponents in Matthew 12:22-24 when those who oppose Jesus say that He drives out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.
What we need to see in all our dealings with others, not just in politics, is honesty and fairness. We need to speak truthfully (see Matthew 5:37, James 5:12). When we are deciding how to vote, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) write, “These decisions should take into account a candidate’s commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence a given issue. In the end, this is a decision to be made by each Catholic guided by a conscience formed by Catholic moral teaching” (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States with New Introductory Note (USCCB: Washington, DC. 2023). https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/upload/forming-consciences-for-faithful-citizenship.pdf).
Of course, LGBT ideology is another controversial topic. Those who speak in favor of accepting same-sex attraction, speak of one’s freedom to determine their own identity. Our Christian faith points us to the Bible where it states, “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman” (Leviticus 18:22). (For more on what our Catholic Church says about homosexuality and how to treat people with same-sex attraction, see my document, “Towards Dignity and Truth: Compassionate Dialogue on Homosexuality”, April 12, 2021).
Regarding transgenderism, our Catholic faith point us to Genesis 1:27, “male and female he created them.” (For more on Catholic understanding of gender thinking, see my document, Towards Dignity and Truth: Compassionate Dialogue and Pastoral Response on Transgenderism, September 22, 2023)
In arguing for freedom, they may speak of the Declaration of Independence calling for liberty and happiness (we must not forget it also speaks of the right to life). Freedom is a good thing. God gives us free will. However, it is God’s desire that we do not use our free will to sin. Jesus himself says to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more” (John 8:11).
As Pope St. John Paul II said when speaking at Camden Yards, “Every generation of Americans needs to know that freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought” (“Homily of his holiness John Paul II” during his Apostolic Journey to America. Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Baltimore. October 8, 1995. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/1995/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_19951008_baltimore.html, 7.)
When we sin, there are consequences. In Ezekiel 3:20, we read “But if the just turn away from their right conduct and do evil when I place a stumbling block before them, then they shall die.”
I find I could go on and on with more examples of issues that are both political and issues of faith. Instead of continuing in detail here with material I have already written about, I will simply point you to some previous articles of mine and/or Bible verses on more issues that may seem political.
Tolerance – see my article “Tolerance, Hate Speech, and Dialogue” (January 12, 2021).
Immigration – Here I simply point you to Exodus 22:30 – “You shall not oppress or afflict a resident alien, for you were once aliens residing in the land of Egypt.” (Cf. Exodus 23:9) and remind you that Jesus calls us to “love our neighbor.”
Truth – Jesus is our cornerstone (Psalm 118:32) and provides us with the truth that sets us free (see John 8:32). What do others use as the foundation for their positions?
IVF – Please see my article “There is Hope in Alabama” (February 27, 2024)
I hope I have brought clarity and understanding to help you understand our Catholic Church does not want to enter into politics. We only want to speak up for what God teaches us.
The U.S. bishops begin their in the introductory note to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, “As Catholics and Americans, we are blessed to be able to participate in our nation’s political and public life. Our freedoms respect the dignity of individuals and their consciences and allow us to come together for the common good. Election seasons, therefore, should contain a sense of gratitude and hope. Our love for this country, our patriotism, properly impels us to vote.”
They continue, “But increasingly, it seems, election seasons are a time of anxiety and spiritual trial. Political rhetoric is increasingly angry, seeking to motivate primarily through division and hatred. Fear can be an effective tool for raising money. The most heated arguments online often get the most clicks. Demonizing the other can win votes.”
We face a difficult time in the present politics in our nation. We need to pray. The U.S. Bishops invite us to a better way that you can read about online at https://civilizeit.org/.
I will conclude by citing from the U.S. bishops conclusion to Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, “Building a world of respect for human life and dignity, where justice and peace prevail, requires more than just political commitment. Individuals, families, businesses, community organizations, and governments all have a role to play. Participation in political life in light of fundamental moral principles is an essential duty for every Catholic and all people of good will” (57).
Peace,
Fr. Jeff