Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s

Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM Cap, of Denver has just published a book on Catholic beliefs and political life, titled Render Unto Caesar. I heartily recommend it for any mature Catholic and for adult study groups. It is a book simply written about complex and crucial areas of our lives as Catholics and American citizens. The Aug. 12 issue of L’Osservatore Romano published a very favorable revue of the book by Father Robert Imbelli.

In the book, Archbishop Chaput reflects on a variety of topics — Emperor Constantine and the Church, conscience, St. Thomas More, The American Experiment, Church-State relations in the U.S., John Courtney Murray, Vatican II and religious freedom, anti-Catholic prejudice in America, Catholic politicians and dissent, etc. The book comes just as the American public is preparing to elect a president and other public officials. It is an appropriate time.

In the brief space of this column I can only touch upon one or two ideas which the archbishop mentions. First, I appreciate the emphasis which he places upon the power that Catholic could have in influencing the culture of our country — if they would only use it. There are an estimated 69 million Catholics in the United States (at least in name), almost 25 percent of the population. Over 150 Catholics serve in Congress, including 25 percent of the Senate. A majority of Supreme Court judges are Catholic. And yet, Archbishop Chaput asks the embarrassing question: “What difference has it made?” Half of the marriages in the United States end in divorce, four out of 10 children are born out of wedlock, at least a million children are killed every year by abortion. Catholics get divorced, have abortions and make use of contraceptives at roughly the same rates as others.”

Why? The archbishop suggests several reasons. Perhaps the main one is that Catholics have assimilated the general culture of American society and made themselves indistinguishable from their non-Catholic neighbors. In becoming more “American” they have become less “Catholic.” Besides, millions of Catholics have left the church in recent years, some entering other religions, others dropping out of the religions scene completely. A great tragedy.

However, tens of millions of Catholic have remained faithful to the church. But many perhaps have become intimidated by the myth of absolute separation of church and state. Archbishop Chaput spends a considerable time on examining the intent of the Founding Fathers in formulating the First Amendment, which guarantees religious freedom, and then the history of the amendment and its interpretation over time. The archbishop’s conclusion: “The one thing the establishment clause cannot mean — either in the Constitution’s wording and core principles or from the intent of the framers — is for religious believers and communities to be silent in public affairs.” (By the way, I came across the other day a blog by a Catholic group. They explained the reason for the blog was “to mix religion into politics where it rightly belongs.” I liked the thought.)

Of course, Archbishop Chaput takes up the deeply controversial issue of voting for politicians who support abortion or same-sex marriage or euthanasia — actions which the church has always taught are intrinsically evil, i.e. they can never be justified by circumstances or intent. I know that some Catholics argue that they should be able to vote for a pro-abortion candidate if the candidate supports a good number of acceptable endeavors.

The archbishop answers the argument by stating clearly that if one votes for a pro-abortion candidate — from any political party — because he or she holds favorable positions in other areas, the voter needs to have such justifying reasons so that the aborted babies would accept and approve “when we meet them and need to explain our actions — as we someday will!” I believe that when we enter the voting booth, we stand there not alone but with God. If all Catholics voted with that awareness, the American culture could soon be affected.

The final words of Archbishop Chaput’s book include these: “Generations of Catholics have rightly embraced America as their own. But if our nation now exports other values — violence, greed, vulgarity, abortion, a rejection of children — American Catholics must work to change that or be held co-responsible.” A sobering thought.

Father John A. Leies, SM, STD, is president emeritus of St. Mary’s University and was formerly head of the Theology Department there.