Unity, engagement and Jesus Christ:
in an election year

Most Reverend Michael Mulvey is bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi.

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Every four years, our country embarks on the election of a new president. The process by which a country chooses its leader is a solemn and noble task. At times, in the relatively young history of our country, this process has unfortunately become combative and contentious. Currently, there is no doubt that we are witnessing how disagreeable and oftentimes uncivil we can be to one another throughout this process.

The current political climate leads us to wonder why we are so divided and whether the people of this country are so hopelessly fractured that we are not able to move forward without antagonism towards each other. It tempts us to believe the incorrect notion that faithfulness to our own views and positions allows us the false luxury of belligerence, name-calling or degrading others.

Yet in the midst of politicians attacking each other, citizens exalting their favorite candidate to the point of being demigods and others demonizing them to the point of maliciousness, we must ask ourselves "in whom do I believe, in whom do I trust." Our Faith is not placed in fallen human beings or political parties, no matter what they represent or promise us, but in the person Jesus Christ. His prayer during the most important time of his paschal mystery expressed God’s desire that we all be one as he and the Father are one (Jn 17:21).

We forget that this prayer for unity from Jesus was not just for a harmony among believers, but that we all would be united, as he and the Father are one. It is this prayer and vision of Jesus that must guide us as we live our lives in society today, striving to be faithful and faith-filled citizens, especially during election time.

In the current bellicose political climate one person whose actions stand out for me as an example of Christian civility is Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, who died recently. Justice Scalia never stopped dialoguing, speaking with and even socializing with those whose thoughts and opinions radically differed from his own. Though no stranger to spirited argumentation and political controversy, Justice Scalia maintained close social relationships with other members of the Supreme Court, including joyful friendships with those who vehemently opposed his opinions on a whole array of issues. 

This for us is a modern day message from the highest court in the country on how we should deal with others who may think and vote differently than we do and even those who may embrace different morals than we do.

Perhaps even more than all of his legal opinions and all his learned wisdom, Justice Scalia’s actions modeled for us the truth that we must never cease dialoguing and engaging with others, even in difficult times. A civil unity, if not friendship, with those who differ from us can enrich our lives and our society.

This is a step in the direction of what Jesus had in mind when he prayed his prayer of unity “that they all may be one.” It is a step towards establishing a true relationship with Christ, the one to whom we should all look to before we wrongfully exalt our favorite candidates or degrade our least favorite ones. 

Several popes, including St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis, remind us that faith is not about a set of formulas, doctrines or precepts. Though these are essential, critical and crucial for our faith in the Gospel, they only help us grow in our authentic relationship with God. Faith is about following the person of Jesus Christ and adhering to his words.

In the life of Christ, he too encountered a difficult and antagonistic political situation, one far more confused and contentious than our own. The occupation by the Roman Empire, the multi-faceted and oftentimes corrupt structures in the synagogue system, the various religious and political groups ranging from pacifists to guerrilla warriors, all created a world in which it seemed impossible for the Gospel to be planted and to grow.

Despite all of this, when someone disagreed or challenged Jesus, even perhaps violently (cf. Jn 8:59), he did not run from them or cast stones at them but rather, with great love and patience, sat with those who disagreed with him: such as the tax collectors and sinners (Lk 5:27-32); engaged with those whom his society had cast out such as the Samaritan woman (Jn 4:1-42); and stretched out his hand even to those who had radically different morals but were in great need of hearing God’s message of mercy such as the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:1-11).

His encounter with each and every one of them was a moment of engagement, of unity without sacrificing truth, and of an invitation to the Kingdom of God in their midst.

In the same way, in our current political climate, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, we too are called to dialogue with those who may seriously disagree with our embrace of the truth, to engage those whom society has written off and to be an invitation to God’s mercy even to those who may thoroughly reject our political views, faith and morals. We are now called to be his presence to the world and to all those most in need of hearing and seeing the Gospel.

For us as members of the Body of Christ, it is important that we reflect and understand who we are as children of God living in the world, but not of this world. To help with this, the Catholic bishops of the United States have again offered to all people of good will a statement entitled "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" as guidance and teaching on our political responsibility in the United States. In it my brother bishops and I emphasize: “first and foremost, we remember that we relate to the civil order as citizens of the heavenly Kingdom, whose reign is not yet fully realized on earth but demands our unqualified allegiance. It is as citizens faithful to the Lord Jesus that we contribute most effectively to the civil order.”

As we enter more deeply into this election year, I urge you to take seriously the duty of forming your consciences to reflect the mind and attitude of Christ and to engage in the political process with our fellow citizens with the love, patience and holiness of Jesus.

In the months ahead and leading up to the general election this fall, look for articles and resources in the South Texas Catholic that we as a diocese and as a Church will be offering to assist and guide us in forming our consciences to the best of our ability according to the mind and heart of Jesus Christ. In this way we can become effective citizens of our beloved country, infusing our society with the Gospel. 

May God continue to bless the United States and us as we continue to discern in the months ahead. 

[The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship can be found at www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/faithful-citizenship/.]