If we are witnessing the moral collapse of the United States government and people, where is the Catholic Church in all of this? We have long known that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, like the country itself, is deeply divided, but has it become as dysfunctional as the government?
The neo-conservative religious agenda has been growing for decades and, like the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement, is built on the fantasy that Jesus was white, middle-class, spoke English, and ate MacDonalds.
The state of the neo-conservative party in the Catholic Church and its bishops’ conference appears to reflect the political divisions between Republicans and Democrats and, in a similar vein, the moral bankruptcy of the Right and the moral indignation of the Left. Meanwhile, the poorest of the United States population go without reasonable access to healthcare, housing, and education. Similarly, now that severe cuts to federal spending have impacted the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), many people who rely on this assistance are left bereft.
Correcting misunderstandings in faith and politics
Pope Francis’ letter rebutting U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance’s misunderstanding of Christian love was timely. It shows that one world leader, an American from Latin America, is not afraid of the United States and how it wields power. He is also prepared to correct a brother in baptism when his theology is wrong, and his understanding of a fundamental Christian tenant needs further catechesis. This begs the question: who prepared Vance to enter the Church, and who should guide him as he learns the difference between saying you’re a Christian and becoming one?
Pope Francis’ letter is also an object lesson to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as he flounders in the political world between being a Christian and Catholic in name and one in practice, as he negotiates the minefield of recognizing the truth and having the courage to acknowledge it in public. Perhaps, to save his soul, it might be time for him to resign.
As Catholic men, Vance and Rubio represent more on the world stage than their political parties and personal agendas. They represent United States Catholicism to their domestic electorates and the international community. They need to be equal in speaking as Christian and Catholic men, annunciating the values of Jesus, and living the gifts and fruits of God’s Holy Spirit. If not, they should publicly declare the priorities that drive their decision-making, statements, and understanding of the truth.
If these are not Christ’s values, then to avoid being “spat out of the mouth” of God, they could leave the church by a formal act because they are not able or willing to live their baptismal commitment. Alternatively, during Lent, they could repent and, with a firm conviction, commit to living differently.
Can bishops stand on the right side of history?
Similarly, the Catholic bishops of the United States need to consider their place in the unfolding drama and what it would take for them—as a conference and individuals—to be found on the “right side of history” once this is over. My fear for them is that, like all Catholic hierarchs who aligned themselves with fascist regimes in Chile, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Hungry, Germany, and Russia in the 20th century (to name only seven), they will find that they will be accused of “acting too late,” “doing too little” or “being complicit” because they were protecting their self-interest and financial security.
“Bishops of the United States need to consider their place in the unfolding drama and what it would take for them—as a conference and individuals—to be found on the ‘right side of history’ once this is over.”
Vance’s support of right-wing fascism is not in question, given his speech at the Munich Security Conference and his meeting with the political leader of Germany’s far-right party, which wants, among other things, to deport non-ethnic Germans, even those with citizenship. Where is Vance’s spiritual director and bishop at this time? Why are the bishops not calling him to account, as they did over President Joe Biden’s position on a woman’s right to choose? Are we seeing here a double standard?
Concerning the deification of U.S. President Donald Trump by right-wing Catholics, we are seeing the infiltration of the “new apostolic reformation” that proposes that God (the Judeo-Christian God, not the Islamic or the Hindu God) has chosen this man as the prophet who will bring salvation to the world. According to this vision, Trump is the new messiah; Vance and Rubio are his apostles, along with Senator Lindsey Graham and others.
New apostolic reformation proposes that anyone who opposes Trump opposes the United States government and the “American people,” which, of course, does not include the Canadians, the Mexicans, Columbians, etc., who are all Americans!
Creating a divine mission around Trump that is sanctioned through displays of grotesque Christianity, as at his inauguration ceremony, is idolatry. Bishops, theologians, where are you?
A divided United States Catholic Church must face its political responsibilities. When it is gathered for the Eucharist and before receiving Holy Communion, individuals must examine their consciences: By what right do I receive the Eucharist if I have taken food from the hungry, kicked the homeless onto the street, taken financial support from the widow, the child, and the orphan? If you have done all of this, are you worthy of receiving the body and blood of the Lord, or do you drink and eat your own condemnation?
“A divided United States Catholic Church must face its political responsibilities.”
When one hears the defiance: “That was fine for then, but now it is different,” or “We have to defend our country,” or “Those people are freeloaders,” remember Jesus did not preach the Sermon on the Mount from a comfortable Upper West Side Manhattan apartment, or an ice-cream café on Bondi Beach! Jesus preached the moral foundation of Christian ethical living in Roman-occupied Palestine, where an authoritarian military power suppressed freedoms and manipulated religious leaders. These leaders were more concerned with their outward displays of piety than with upholding the traditions of their ancestors, who had suffered in Egypt and were led by a true prophet to the Promised Land.
Radicalized “Christians” are generally preaching a false Christianity that has bleached Jesus out of the story. In such a hostile culture, to preach and live the Beatitudes is a risk! But that is what we all sign up for when we pass through the waters of baptism.
J. P. Grayland is currently assistant lecturer in the Department of Liturgy, University of Würzburg (Germany). A priest of the Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North (New Zealand), his latest book is titled: Catholics. Prayer, Belief and Diversity in a Secular Context (Te Hepara Pai, 2020).
Republished with permission by La Croix International.
