In my youth, a song by The Who was released titled Who Are You? Realizing we are headed to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 7, that is a very good question to ask ourselves before we vote.
Ultimately it is a question of identity and determining what part of our identity is inherent and what is taken on from our experiences and preferences.
I would propose four marks of our identity that are inherent, that flow from the change that took place at our baptism, when we died and rose with Christ into a restored relationship with God as a part of His family.
First, we are a people of life, an Easter people, a resurrection people. We celebrate the conquering of death and the abundant life that Jesus won for us through His passion, death and resurrection. We celebrate it in the sacraments. We celebrate it every Sunday. We celebrate its earthly echo in the joys of springtime, of births and birthdays, and in what Charles Dickens describes in A Christmas Carol as “the power to do good.”
We know that life is a true good, and that we are called to nurture and protect it. Every life is conceived in the mind of God, before it is conceived in the mother’s womb. Every life is of inestimable value, unique and unrepeatable, and meant to be a gift to the world. That is why we oppose the taking of life whether though abortion, assisted suicide, euthanasia or the death penalty.
Second, we are a people who show compassion to the suffering and the vulnerable. We have experienced the love of God, and we know that we are called to love Him and love our neighbor. Loving our neighbor means willing their good and doing what we can to bring that about. And our neighbor is anyone we encounter who is in need.
We recognize the vulnerability of a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy and her child. Many of our parishes have the Walking with Moms program. Willing the good of mother and child, we offer accompaniment and spiritual and material resources, both before and after birth. We are also mindful of those who have been affected by abortion and help them find a path to hope and healing.
Third, we are a people of truth. We know that truth is a person, Jesus Christ. We seek after it with the strength of our being. We recognize the voice of truth. In this world, we examine things thoroughly. We look under the hood and kick the tires. We recognize the difference between freedom and license – the first being the right to do what we ought, and the second, the right to do what we want.
We know about the intentional language used in state Issue 1 that conceals the truth that it is about license in that it would promote abortion through all nine months of pregnancy and threaten existing health and safety regulations, parental rights and freedom of conscience restrictions on abortion. We also know that if passed, only another state constitutional amendment could rescind it.
Fourth, we are a people who pray and act. We believe in the power of prayer and the intercession of Mary and the saints. For us, the rosary is a powerful weapon in spiritual battle. Issue 1 involves a spiritual battle. We also believe that we have responsibilities, and that one of them is to exercise a faith-filled citizenship for the true good of each person and all persons at the same time.
We remember the words of Pope Benedict XVI in the encyclical God Is Love, where he states that justice is the achievement of politics, and that the direct duty to work for the just ordering of society belongs to the laity in the Church. We register and we vote. And we encourage others to do the same.
Please, on Election Day, Nov. 7, remember who you are!
