Bishops attend a Nov. 16, 2022, session of the fall general assembly of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore. (CNS photo/Bob Roller)
VIEW FROM THE PEW
Hasn’t this been a headache of a month so far? We survived all the noise and absurd promises, nasty accusations and dire predictions. Whether you were tuned into the red spin or blue spin, it’s been like living in the midst of a rock-crushing operation. I admit that as a news junkie, I willingly had my head in the grinder for months. But I finally chose to step into the white space of our red, white and blue world. I fasted for a few days from the news and focused on the white dove of peace a.k.a. the Holy Spirit. Wheee, decompression and cleared vision.
What do you know, when the dust settled, the lights were still on and democracy survived, thanks to the thoughtful citizens who took ballots in hand instead of clubs and guns. And to the committed government professionals who keep the system working. God bless the minions.
Not that it’s ever going to be all quiet on the democracy front. I’m just hoping that the herd of politicians, influencers, commentators, predictors will settle down, tamp down their blaming, bragging, whining, denying voices, and find their own white space.
Stop talking and listen
It’s time to stop talking and listen, folks. What were they saying in line at the polling place, those tired people making a quick stop between two jobs needed to keep their own home lights and furnace on, old-timers whose incomes no longer cover the grocery bill or medical care costs. Even more urgent is to listen to the youngest newest voters with awakening awareness of what’s missing in this politicized world they will inherit.
Not to turn away from the serious subject at hand, but there’s one comic commentator I encounter here and there who knows my penchant for dredging up some old song as a theme. He suggested I consider the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and the likelihood that it’s time that God will “loose the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword.” I’m afraid he is taking the pre-Christmas liturgical readings about the end times very seriously.
I wasn’t meaning to shrug him off when I said that my theme song for this election end times is dedicated to the hordes of politicians who just never want to let go. I’m thinking Kenny Rogers’ advice from “The Gambler” can be applied beyond gamblers. You know the verse, “You gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, know when to run.” Fill in your own suggestions for people who should just be “walking away.”
Another acquaintance, who loves horoscopes and knows my disdain for that ancient form of scamming, was finding signs and portents about the elections. Really, we need to care about planets in alignment? We have our hands full minding this planet.
But then I play a similar game of signs and portents. I found myself looking at the daily Mass readings hoping for an “aha” moment, some Scripture passage so significant for the occasion. My distracted, meandering reading during the election season did not have an “aha” moment.
The season of elections was still upon us last week. It generated some charged and critical headlines but not locally; you need to search for them. Few Catholics are even aware of the workings of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the church bureaucracy in our country. At their fall meeting Nov. 15-17 in Baltimore, they voted for new officers.
If you thought that this was an election free from politics, you would probably be mistaken.
In the hands of humans
How can we be surprised; it’s an institution left in the hands of humans not angels. Compared to the 240-plus years our country has had to evolve beyond its noble, lofty declaration of being, we’re looking at 2,000 years of Christianity and its evolving institutions. Uncountable humans have had hands on the church since the compassionate Son of God brought his message of love and forgiveness. Ages later we keep reminding ourselves about our roots, but sometimes we lose our path from the Sermon on the Mount.
About last week’s election, “There’s no white smoke here,” wrote a Religion News Service reporter, a wry comparison to the ceremony when a pope is elected and the importance of that event.
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, the new president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, told reporters, “If there is any way to insert the Gospel into all aspects of life in our country, I certainly will not miss any occasion to do that.” Archbishop Broglio, 70, who heads the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services, said he did not see the conference president role as “primarily political” but that he would not shy away from public debates, according to the Religion News Service, an independent news agency.
However, he faced pointed questions from reporters about actions, seen as political and controversial, that he has taken during his career as military services prelate and previous assignments with the Vatican.
Several Catholic and secular news agencies and organizations interpreted the election of Archbishop Broglio, and Archbishop William E. Lori of the Baltimore diocese as vice president, as very much political.
Commentators for the Jesuit America magazine, National Catholic Reporter, the Associated Press and newspapers here and abroad identify the new officers as conservative in terms of Catholic Church teachings as well as their connection with American politics.
Some writers interpreted the election result as a statement of opposition to Pope Francis, with a slate minus more moderate clergy and significantly not including any bishops whom Francis has elevated to cardinals. The votes were not unanimous among the 239 bishops casting ballots.
The keynote speaker at the conference was the papal nuncio. Archbishop Christophe Pierre emphasized that the church has a missionary role to spread the Gospel. He reminded the bishops of Pope Francis’ image of the church as a field hospital, which must work at healing those who are wounded. He said that involves listening, showing patience and having respectful dialogue in the midst of a culture that is experiencing so much division.
Resuming my fast
Beyond that, I leave it to you to look up the many things written about this election and the politics involved. I’m resuming my fast, retreating to my white zone of peace of mind.
I admit I was scouring the liturgies for Nov. 15-17 hoping for significant readings that would strike deep chords in the clergy crowd. OK, yes, I was wishing it was time for the reading of the Sermon on the Mount, the seminal charge to care for the hungry, poor, sick, immigrant, disaffected and discarded people. I was really, really wishing that by some miraculous timing, the folks who laid out this November’s liturgy years ago, might have used the Gospel account of Jesus sending forth the apostles, his first batch of bishops:
“He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases.” And he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither a walking stick, nor a sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.”
Or more appropriate perhaps, would be when Jesus sent the next batch of missionaries, the 72 disciples, with similar instructions saying, “Behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.”
Both times, when Jesus sent out his followers to start taking on their role he cautioned them that “as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.”
Well, there’s lots of dark and dirty spots in this country that need dust shaken and shoveled away, spiritually, as well as literally. My prayers and thanks go to those who chose to take on the sweeping, be they politico or prelate.
Halleluiah, it’s time to flip the calendar page from this tumultuous month.
Let’s make next month a time of choices for good as we head into the bright light of Christmas. I’m starting with a box of food into the food pantry bin Sunday. And listening. I plan to do a lot of that.
I changed my mind, here’s my new theme song choice for December. “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.”
