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An opportunity for influence in a time of change – An initial response to the Election As Catholics, we have before us an opportunity for influence in a time of change. Both the Democratic and the Republican parties are in a time of turmoil. Both must remake themselves over the next four years. It is easier to re-direct a moving object than a stationary one. Separation of Church and State, Not separation of Faith and Society The Democrats are struggling to remain a major party in America. They lost because they failed to fully understand the faith and socially conservative values held by a majority of Americans. We now have the opportunity to persuade Democrats to take seriously the connection of faith and public policy. And we can do this without falling into the trap of those who think that the two are one-in-the-same or who reduce faith to matters of personal conduct. Certainly, no Democrat who embraces an extreme pro-choice position can make it on the national level. A more moderate abortion position from Kerry, and a better articulation of his faith may have brought him closer to victory. In the waning days of the campaign he began to speak more about his faith. Many did not deem him genuine, either because he has not often thought and spoken about his faith and thus failed to show the connection of his faith to his politics, or because they felt the connection simply was not there. We ourselves must do a better job of intelligently articulating the connection of faith and policy. To the Democrats, our task will be to advocate for family and fundamental life issues. Fear and Domination vs. Faith and Justice Some may be surprised to think that the Republican party is in trouble, but we will see very soon a struggle for the soul of that party. The true conservatives, not needing to worry about the re-election of a president, will begin to attack the president and his Neo-Conservative controlled administration for their policies of empire, skyrocketing deficits and large government. It is a war with the conservatives who brought Ronald Reagan to power on the one side and the strange coalition of moderate Republicans represented by Governor Schwarzenegger, Mayor Giuliani, et al, along with the Neo-Cons of Vice President Cheney, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, et al. and the Religious Right on the other. With the conservatives we can push for a more humble foreign policy and a more balanced approach to Israel. We can challenge the administration's doctrine of fear at home and domination abroad. We will present instead a message of faith and justice. We will make the connection of our catholic "universal" church to global solidarity. A Marginally Christian Message vs. the Full Gospel To both parties we need to continue to advocate the social dimensions of our faith. Whether conservative, neo-con, right-wing evangelical or conservative Catholic, all are in error if faith is reduced to matters of personal conduct. We will need to challenge the teaching of some in our own church who have proved to be theologically flawed, politically ignorant, and objectively immoral in espousing single-issue politics. We must wrap ourselves gloriously in the seamless garment of life. Regardless the outcome of this election our work remains the same. We are prophets, not partisans. We speak to power, for those who are powerless. We look not to establish any government, but to further the Kingdom of God. Tom Garlitz is the Director of the Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Peace and Social Justice Ministry |