Post Election Reflection

President Obama has been re-elected by a solid Electoral College majority and approximately a 51% take of the popular vote.  The President pursues and promotes some policies that are grave moral evils that can never be supported by Catholics and in fact violate natural law.  In some areas he pursues policies that are in line with Catholic Social Teaching, however even when pursuing these laudable goals he often intertwines them with terrible evils.  Early data indicates that 50% Catholic voters (approx 25% of total number of voters) cast their ballots for President Obama. (CARA)  The President has repeated his 2008 calls for unity and collaboration.

To those Catholic who voted for him intending to affirm the good the President claims to intend, while opposing the harm he does, I say, “I pray good is accomplished”.  For me the good he seeks could be achieved without the evils he propagates.  At the same time I ask you to use the fact you voted for him to tell him and his collaborators constantly that you abhor the evils he promotes and in the end to abandon him and his supporters if they continue in this manner.  For me one term of this doublespeak was enough but I am obviously a minority.

To those Catholics, who actually support the grave evils the President promotes – abortion, marriage redefinition etc and some lesser evils (e.g. restriction of religious freedom) – you break my heart.  I pray that you will change not so much your political views but repent of your rejection of Christ’s teachings and confess sacramentally.

For those who are disappointed, as I am, that our nation continues to choose such evils, we pray together that our nation will repent and avoid reaping the evils it sows so willingly.  Pray Our Lady of Fatima to intercede for mercy for our country.  I encourage you, as Cardinal Dolan indicated in his letter to President Obama, (http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-183.cfm ) that we will continue to work tirelessly for what is truly right and boldly collaborate when it is possible.  See also the USCCB press release http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/2012/11/from-virulent-partisanship-to-bold.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter . 

The liturgy often inspires us and the readings of the liturgy, on this Day After Election Day remind us of a few things.  Paul says to the Philippians (cf Phil 2:12-18): 

Do everything without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life,

We are indeed in the midst of a perverse and crooked generation.  Let us strive for holiness so that we may be pure and be lights shining in the darkness that grows over our country. 

In the Gospel (Luke 14:25-33 Jesus reminds us that we may have to hate those closest to us because of the call of the Gospel.  Obviously Jesus is speaking in hyperbole; our love for the Lord may seem to force us to “hate” them because we cannot abide their actions.  Our differences with them must lead us to pray and sacrifice for them.  The command to "hate", through the power of the Cross is really a command to love.  He tells us to take up the cross and follow him.  In the end we know that He is Lord – and we trust in Him alone as or refuge and strength.  We cannot in the end put our trust in earthly allegiances and are convinced that He will give us the grace to overcome every trial.  Let us seek to live in a manner worthy of the call we have received.  Finally Philippians 4:4:  Rejoice in the Lord always!