Voice in the Public Square

Friday, Jan. 20, 2017

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York will be among the faith leaders who will offer readings at the Jan. 20 U.S. presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.

When this was announced, social media was filled with comments both taking umbrage and praising the cardinal for his participation. And, in an interview with Catholic News Service, he acknowledged that some of his critics had written to him. His response, according to CNS, was that had Hilary Clinton won the election and invited him to pray, he would have been honored, also. As a pastor, “People ask us to pray with them and for them. That doesn’t mean we’re for them or against them,” he said in the CNS interview.

Myself, I don’t see what the controversy is. Donald Trump is the president-elect of the United States. While praying for him is a pastoral act, Cardinal Dolan also understands that Trump’s administration will rule the politics of this country for the next four years. If a person or an organization – say, for example, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, of which Cardinal Dolan is a past president – wants to play in the field of national politics, it only makes sense to begin on amicable terms. Pope Francis sets an excellent example by preaching the need to find common ground and build bridges. Already there is common ground: President-elect Trump has said that he is opposed to abortion. 

This is not to say that there won’t be disagreement: President-elect Trump campaigned on a promise to deport millions of undocumented workers and build a wall along the U.S./Mexico border, while the USCCB supports the rights of immigrants.

All of which highlights an important fact of life that seems to be overlooked in these rancorous days, and that fact is that we must work together. None of us will get everything we want, but we should at least strive to ensure that everyone gets what they need.  

For the inauguration, Cardinal Dolan has chosen to read Wisdom 9, King Solomon’s prayer that God send him wisdom “to help me and to toil with me and teach me what is pleasing to you…” – a fitting enough prayer for every person who is tasked with leadership in whatever role.

Speaking of leadership, we as Catholics are called to “participate for the common good” in politics, according to Pope Francis. Here in the Diocese of Salt Lake City, we have an excellent opportunity to do just that. As the 2017 session of the Utah legislature gets underway, two bills of particular concern to Catholics have been proposed. One of these bills would repeal the state’s death penalty. The other proposes to allow physician-assisted suicide. Both the death penalty and assisted suicide fly in the face of the Catholic teaching that human life is sacred from conception to natural death.

To ensure that the Catholic voice is heard on these matters, the diocese has made postcards available; parishioners are asked to fill out the postcards, which will be presented to legislators in February. If the postcards aren’t available at your parish, they can be downloaded at http://www.dioslc.org/ministries/governmentliaison.

Filling out these postcards is an easy way to demonstrate your faith at the local political level.

Another way to join with others in the sanctity of life arena is to join in prayer against abortion. This weekend will mark the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion in this country. Prayer groups throughout Utah will join with those nationwide to pray for the unborn. The diocesan event will be Sunday, Jan. 22, 2 p.m.  at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Salt Lake City. 

Marie Mischel is editor of the Intermountain Catholic.