The United States Bishops (Living the Gospel of Life) wrote: "We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship nor merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity meaningfully to participate in building the culture of life......in ways that defend human life, especially those of God's children who are unborn, disabled or otherwise vulnerable."  And Saint Teresa of Avila says: "God walks amid the pots and pans."

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     Therefore, the Church maintains her responsibility to preserve the common good, and sustain and protect human life at every stage, in every circumstance, from conception to natural death.  We oppose murder/abortion/euthanasia.  All human beings have the right to respect simply because they are human--made in the image and likeness of God--whether Christian or Catholic or other religion.

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     In America, we have a national value of "separation of church and state": America's founders sought protection from government oppression of religion, and from government sponsorship of a specific religion.  Initially, separation was intended as protection FOR religion, not protection FROM religion.  There will always be some tension between the Church and the State.  We should worry when there is no tension, that is, no separation.  The Church and State must protect each other's freedom and integrity.

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     "To accept the separation of the church from the state [does] not mean accepting a passive or marginal status for the church in society" [Fr. J. Bryan Hehir].  Separation does not ban individual religious conviction from the public arena.  But the Church, as an institution, does speak out on moral issues.  Even as an individual citizen, a Catholic needs to be careful not to identify with, and wholehearted endorse, any political party in an uncritical manner.

     Freedom is an important value.  Freedom is never merely about the well-being of the individual.  Itis a relational matter.  There is no freedom in running away from responsibility for others.  Mark Twain said: "It is a worthy thing to fight for one's freedom; it is another sight finer to fight for another man's."

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     Freedom is an important value and Truth is an important value.  They are linked.  Christian are most free when acting in accord with God's Truth for us.  Jesus says "the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).

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--Fr. Curtis

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