If I Might Interject: Quick Quips: Election Errors Edition

David Wanat's post on his blog, If I Might Interject: Quick Quips: Election Errors Edition: Now that we finished the conventions, Catholics on social media are…pretty much doing the same thing they’ve been doing since January, explains very astutely the issues thoughtful Catholics are considering.



Here's the money quote (which is a quote from Cardinal Ratzinger):

[N.B. A Catholic would be guilty of formal cooperation in evil, and so unworthy to present himself for Holy Communion, if he were to deliberately vote for a candidate precisely because of the candidate’s permissive stand on abortion and/or euthanasia. When a Catholic does not share a candidate’s stand in favour of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons.] 


 Click over to his post for his explanation.

The Gospel According to our Leaders

I'm reading American Gospel, God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation, by Jon Meacham.  It's very interesting.  I find it particularly enlightening in regards to the fact that it's really Divine Providence who's in charge.  During World War II, there was a special closeness to God.

The ceremony for the signing of the Atlantic Charter is a good example.  A reading from Joshua was given, "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid...for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."  Meacham says that Churchill wept.  Three hymns were sung by a mix of American and British sailors: "Onward Christian Soldiers, Eternal Father, Strong to Save and the beginning of Psalm 90."

O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guide while troubles last,
And our eternal home.

The author, continues to conjecture that Americans were wary of this strongly Anglican service.  What if you're not Christian?  Americans prefer an ecumenical service (ministers of different faiths) but the theme of the ceremony was universally accepted: liberty, justice, and democracy.

Franklin played the part of a national pastor.  I think he looks the part.  Can't you picture him as a rabbi, minister, or priest?  On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the President led the country in prayer.  He asked that our military operation against the Nazis be blessed with success.

What I've just quoted is a good example of the book.  The theme is that religion shapes politics.  And at this particular time before the election, the book is comforting.  It's "good news" that religion shapes politics, yet doesn't control it.  Right from America's founding, our nation has struggled with faith and government.  It proves that God is in charge.  

Mother of God Monastery

Mother of God Monastery is the home of Dominican Nuns in W. Springfield, MA. I spent the weekend there to attend a Regional Meeting of the Lay Fraternity of Saint Dominic for Region One. The meeting was interesting. We had an interesting talk on St. Paul by our brother from the Clerical Fraternity of Saint Dominic. Fr. Marc Bergeron, the pastor at St. Ann's in Fall River, MA was the speaker. He spoke of the Letters of St. Paul.
Besides the educational side, we also held elections. We were to elect a new President and secretary. But nothing is that simple. First, I was told that I was unelectable. I could vote but never be elected to anything. It seems that the Provincial Council once voted that nobody from my chapter (Our Lady of Mercy Chapter, MCI Norfolk, MA) could ever be elected. I suppose they were afraid that a murderer from my chapter might be elected to be the President of our Province. How would that look? A murderer as President of the Dominican Laity! Horrors! You better believe I'm going to work to change that law.
The person we elected to be President was our Vice-President. So being elected now meant the Vice President's slot was empty.
So we elected a new Vice President. But that person was our Third Delegate to Provincial Council. Now we need a new Third Delegate.
When it came to voting for Secretary, we had to run through the voting process three time. The winner, the first time declined the office. The winner of the second election, likewise, declined the office. The time was a take. Alleluia!
Our elections make the national election inconsequential!
Because West Springfield is a two hour drive, I made arrangements to stay for the weekend at Mother of God Monastery. Finally, a good silent retreat. I needed it. I reconnected with My Beloved.