I appreciate your points -- and was thinking much the same myself -- but if we have our marching orders, I would feel some comfort in having a banner under which to march. This was the first election in which I felt the battle lines were clearly enough drawn, and the stakes so high, that I found myself compelled to get involved and try to get the best candidate elected. Now that that candidate has lost, I feel a bit forlorn, looking for a band of comrades with whom I can carry out my "marching orders." Unfortunately, where I live, there aren't many existing groups that will help me focus my efforts. Anybody want to start one? "Catholics for the American Common Good"?

Dale, thanks for pointing out something we all need to be reminded of: You get more bees with honey. How you say and do something is just as important as what you say and do. I'd be willing to bet that more people voted for Obama because of his manner, temperment and positive rhetoric, than because of any real understanding of his positions.

Excellent, excellent article. Thank you for this.

Lisa,

I was thinking the same thing yesterday. I'm all out for Catholics for the common good. Was really thinking we need a new movement separate from these parties that Christians can pray and align with. I don't want to sound crazy, but if Pres. elect Obama keeps none of his promises, and we truly begin undergoing persecution, Christians throughout the land need some kind of support. Funny, reminds me of Left Behind even though I completely disagree with the theology (well you have to forgive me for that - I'm a recent evangelical turned Catholic!)

While I agree that we should not go quite to the extreme that the Left has done with Bush for 8 years (and continues to do by waiving Soviet flags and chanting "Convict Bush now!"), I intend to give Obama the same level of respect I gave Clinton: none. He is not worthy of respect, any more than Rodrigo Borgia was worthy of any respect as Pope Alexander VI.

Following your reasoning, German Catholics under Hitler should have sat back and smiled and said, "I owe a debt of patriotic gratitude to the motherland," and Russian Catholics under Stalin should have said, "I owe a debt of patriotic gratitude to Mother Russia."

In fact, that's what many of them did, and, today, we look back on them with shame and disgust.

We recently watched a miniseries about St. Rita. I kept thinking how the Church--in the era of alleged "Christendom"--could have sat back and allowed such monsters to run Italy as ran it in the Middle Ages.

I don't know why Catholics aren't rending our garments and wailing today.

When Hitler was on the rise, he obtained followers by talking vaguely about "values" and "change" and "family". A majority of Catholics liked his message, as it seemed to conform so well to "Catholic social teaching." When Dietrich von Hildebrand alone stood up and said, "He's dangerous," people called him a kook.

Fr. Karl Adam of _Spirit of Catholicism_ fame was the Doug Kmiec to Hitler's Obama. It didn't take long, however, for him to change his views and start openly condemning Hitler--which resulted in his classes being monitored by Nazi soldiers for the rest of the regime.

Sorry-I'm not drinking the Kool Aid.

JC -- go read your history before repeating slanders against the Church. In fact, the Catholic Church was quite vocal against Hitler and National Socialism -- that's why so many priests ended up being killed in concentration camps. Blessed Clemens August von Galen, Bishop of Münster, was especially vocal against the Nazis. And when the enemies of the Church ask why there was not even more opposition, you might inform them that speaking out is kind of hard when you have already been killed for being an enemy of the German state.

...I can't help you. 2242 of the Catechism and 1 Maccabees aren't exactly Kumbaya crossed with "Thank You Sir, May I Have Another?"

I agree with the thrust of your article, but would take issue with the above comments in terms of how Obama's campaign should be characterized. Yes, he's an eloquent speaker, but that only served to mask the bitterness of his message. Let's be clear, he ran a campaign that went on forever, and the entire time he demonized a sitting President, and undermined a war that our military seems to have won in spite of him. He played constantly on the fears of the American people, and offered his own eloquence as the only answer to it all. He turned John McCain's name into a virtual curse word five months ago. And anyone who questioned his character was called a racist. It does not help to immitate the angry left, but the arguement against his re-election must begin slowly, deliberately, and intellectually once he takes office. Let's not be taken in by the abject evil this man stands for.

August, you are illustrating my point -- you seem to be confusing the content of Obama's message with his manner, temperment and rhetorical style. Having watched these campaigns daily, I can't agree with your assessment that Obama "played on fears and called everyone a racist of they questioned his character." (Fear is something every politician plays on to some degree, btws.) A person can acknowledge abilities, traits or aspects of someone without being "taken in by abject evil."

Well, strangely enough, I agree with your post and JC's. I will pray for our new president and our country. I will do my best to be civil. I will work to keep myself and all of my friends informed of every move Obama tries to make. I will fight him tooth and nail on those I oppose. If he does anything worthwhile, I will support him, though I find this rather unlikely as I disagree with him or his plans for implementation on basically everything.

But like JC, I distrust him to my very core and I think all Catholics and people of faith must be vigilant. Righteous anger can be motivating and we so easily fall into complacency when we lose it. I also don't think taking too respectful an approach is called for. I would not want him, or more importantly my children, to think that I approve of what he stands for (unless he makes a drastic conversion), thereby giving him a legitimacy he does not deserve. I can't forget my reaction to seeing him at that dinner seated next to and laughing with Cardinal Egan. I feel it is sort of like sitting down with terrorists as equals. Like I said, I can muster some civility, but not respect.

Clinton, having grown up surrounded by evangelicals and living amidst them still and considering some of them friends, I sort of know what you mean, though I have not read Left Behind. Still, we do have the Book of Revelation and we do say we believe that Christ will come again. Looking around at the world, it is easy to see where people might have those feelings. One of my best friends is Byzantine Catholic, just returned from Medjugorje, and is convinced the time is near. I was convinced she was right when I went to bed last night knowing that it was Catholics who voted for the most anti-life candidate ever. Today...lets just say I'm not convinced she's wrong.

"Wherever politics tries to be redemptive, it is promising too much. Where it wishes to do the work of God, it becomes not divine, but demonic." Pope Benedict XVI

We have developed a cult of personality for our presidents which, as the Holy Father is warning us, can lead to gnosticism. Obama has certainly played it to the hilt. It's pretty creepy.

However, I think Republicans are guilty of the same heresy. Recent presidents like Reagan and George W. seem to get an adulation that isn't too far removed from the "worship" being showered upon Obama.

Reagan's dictum of "Trust but verify" ought to be applied to our presidents and those running for the office.

So you're just talking about style. Okay, I'll agree with you his style was effective. But his tactic was to arouse the bitterness of voters, and to stoke it until his style was seen as the only answer to our problems. The angry left picked an eloquent spokesman, but they're still the angry left, and he still stands with them. So what does that make him?

I don't think showing respect for someone's authority means agreeing with them or even going along with any of their plans.

We should feel free to point out the things Obama really does wrong, but we need to avoid the extreme liberals went to with Bush, where they treated him like worthless garbage. I don't particularly want to see swarms of rude anti-Obama bumper stickers or t-shirts. I do, however, believe that we need to oppose him on all the issues where it matters.

There is a reason Cardinal Egan can sit next to Obama and laugh. I think it might be the same reason both John McCain and Pope Benedict can congratulate him on his election. Part of it has to do with the fact that they now have to, in some way, work with this man. And if you want someone with a great deal of power to take you seriously, you probably have to show them some respect first.

It is hard to change minds if we demonize a position (unless we get the media to do it constantly), because we alienate those who hold the position. Sometimes we might have to try to understand the position first, and then show how it is wrong.

I don't know. The balance between staying respectful and putting up a good fight is a difficult one.

Bender,
I wasn't talking about "the Church." I was talking about the laity.

I was also talking about early on, before the Holocaust started.

Dale,

I'm talking about the fact that I fundamentally mistrust "patriotism." It's one of those kind of amorphous values that can easily be manipulated.

I have a great respect for the American system, in its ideal form, as the embodiment of subsidiarism. But I also see how our nation was founded by Freemasons, and that gives me pause.

I didn't like the idea that disagreement with Dubya was labelled unpatriotic (though much of it *was*).

But I just literally don't have an idea of what "patriotism" is. To me, my Catholicism comes first above any other loyalty: family, friends or country, and that's what Jesus taught. Since we have a "citizen government," I don't see why the president deserves any particular "respect" any more than any other individual, regardless of who he is.

I love this country and I think we should pray for her, for the newly elected president, and for all elected representatives and government officials. We should bend over backwards to make whatever progress we can in cooperation with the president and the House and Senate. And we should exercise our civil liberties to their fullest extent, starting today, speaking out for the issues that matter most to us. I doubt there is anything to be done about the fact that whatever tax, health insurance, and economic plans Obama supports will be swiftly passed and enacted, and how you feel about that is no business of mine. But the most serious issues from a Catholic perspective may not be a dead issue. The Freedom of Choice Act was virtually unmentioned in this campaign- of all my schoolmates who supported Obama, none of them knew what I was talking about when I brought it up. The election is over- the Probamas and McCainiacs are quieting down, and that makes this the best time for the pro-life movement to be heard. I think now is the time to speak out forcefully against FOCA, to inform fence-straddlers about how radical it really is and to galvanize its opponents in a campaign of letters to ANYONE who has a chance of preventing it. And if freedoms start to go, we need to be on the front lines.

Bitterness is unCatholic and unAmerican, but so are apathy or cooperation in injustice. I say we stand as Americans and as Catholics, united under the Cross of Christ and Old Glory, and support truth and freedom with sincere hope that we shall overcome all injustice. Whether that means we work with Obama or against him is all up to him.

Bitterness, apathy, and cooperation in injustice was voting for Obama.

Pennsylvania, the state I live in has fallen into the category of the New England states especially when it comes to national offices that are being voted on. Voting with a Catholic conscience has become impossible in my state. When I saw the length of the wait to place my vote yesterday I almost gave up so I wouldn’t be late for work.

This won’t happen again as I plan on not voting anymore. What’s the purpose? Democrat Party numbers can’t be overcome and there appears to be no end in sight. It’s a one party system here.

I’m even contemplating calling my local election board to have my name removed from their election roles.

I’m not quitting, I’ll challenge any culture of death opponent verbally or on a blog, but again what’s the purpose of standing in long lines to vote with inferior numbers.

Next election, maybe spend more time at the local abortion clinic protesting---or will Obama make this activity forbidden by then?

This is a good article. And I'm wondering how long it will take the press to turn on Obama like they turned on McCain after giving him good press prior to his running for president. Let's face it, turmoil sells. Obama will not get a break on any of his policies including from those of his own party who vote conservatively.

I'm hoping that the people are not too tough on Obama because he can use that when he runs for re-election in 2012. He is a smart campaigner, much like ol' Bill was, and don't underestimate his handlers, they did a good--great job.

I'm hoping that our bishops hold Obama's feet to the fire as well as those cafeteria catholics that voted him in.

This is for "somber in PA." Don't not vote. I live here in Arkansas and it has always been a democratic state except for Mike Huckabee who lucked into his first term when the then Governor got convicted. Mike got reelected but term limited and then ran for president. Changing politics from the Philadelphia mindset will be difficult, but it can happen. There are lots of catholics in PA, there is a start.

"There are lots of catholics in PA, there is a start."

LOL

Thanks for this, Dale. You have mirrored many of the thoughts I've been having since hearing the election results. I don't like the doom-and-gloom, embittered approach or hurling disrespect toward the President of the United States, but we cannot be silent and give Obama or any politicians a free pass.

Also, what CrissyG.had to say is definitely worth repeating:


I've also found that clinging to the virtue of hope, as touchy and feely as it sounds, is critically important during these uncertain times.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

“Hope is the theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit. 'Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.'

The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the heart of every man; it takes up the hopes that inspire men's activities and purifies them so as to order them to the Kingdom of heaven; it keeps man from discouragement; it sustains him during times of abandonment; it opens up his heart in expectation of eternal beatitude. Buoyed up by hope, he is preserved from selfishness and led to the happiness that flows from charity.” (CCC 1817-1818)

Let hope inspire us all to embrace our "marching orders," to keep up the good fight, and to remember that it's ultimately in God we trust.

God bless America!

~Kate

Chrissy's point early is well put - we must ACT. Father Pavone says that abortion will not end until America sees it. I say we start a campaign locally of flyers first with that great picture of the surgeon's finger being grasped by the tiny baby still in the womb. Start there, then get out the other stuff - the pictures of actual aborted babies. Put pictures in our yards, in the neighbors mailboxes, hand them out to everyone we know who is pro-choice. It might scare some kids, but at least they're alive to be scared.

to focus on abortion as if it's the only issue here. Catholics won't truly vote or interact among their fellow citizens as Catholics until they discover that living as a Catholic includes a proper, reverent liturgy, recognition of Catholic tradition, including the ecclesiastical tradition, respect for the voices of our bishops and the Pope, less emphasis on the "rights" of the laity, most of whom carry political agendas, decent Catholic schools that cater to Catholic students at a decent price, Catholic hospitals that stand up and refuse to perform procedures or dispense medications that are inimical to Catholic teaching, etc.

Obama is an avatar for what orthodox Catholics should be wary of. We should wish him well because he's the President-elect. But focus on what we, as Catholics, can do. Don't waste time castigating Mr. Obama.

Bender and JC,

You're both right. JC, you're right that many Catholics in Hitler's Germany went along with and even supported his rise. Bender, you're also right that many other Catholics in Hitler's Germany opposed the regime even to the point of death.

In today's Obam-erica, we have a duty to both pray for him and our civic leaders to govern according to the truth set in natural law and revelation and also to fight him and them when they inevitably govern against natural law and divine revelation (ie, the life and family issues). We must fight charitably though, aided by supernatural grace coming from the life of prayer and sacraments. I fall short in this matter, but I'm ramping up the prayers as much as I can in my state of life.

Our tone must rise above the bitter left's tone for the last 8 years with Bush. That's why yesterday morning I removed my "No thanks, I already have a Messiah" anti-Obama bumper sticker from my car as well as my McCain/Palin sticker. I live in Massachusetts, and for the past 8 years I've seen countless bitter left anti-Bush and "Kerry/Edwards" stickers on their Priuses (Prii?), Volvos, Outbacks, etc. We can't stoop to their level.

I do not wish Obama well and pray that he is not successful. Success for him is to implement his agenda/policies(e.g. signing FOCA and removing the DOMA).

Sam-

You said:

"We must fight charitably though, "

I don't suppose you can help me understand just how this would look? Would it look much different from fighting "uncharitably"?

If you're going to fight at all, you don't pull punches and avoid "too much victory". That's a recipe for failure. Might as well not fight at all.

As someone who lives in a New England state (Massachusetts), I still vote because even though the odds are currently impossible for a culture of life candidate to win that doesn't mean that it will always be that way. In my state, I leave blank the offices where only a culture of death candidate is running. But if there's an alternative candidate, I will still vote for him even if he has little to no chance of winning. I won't let the current culture climate deter me.

Unlike the bitter liberals I see who hate Bush the man or Palin the woman, fighting charitably means you fight the substance or lack of substance of the issue in front of you. You fight the policies without demonizing the person implementing them. I think that's what Dale Price was saying.

We must as Catholics lead by example. Not follow what liberals did to President Bush. If we are to change society, we shouldn't let society change us. It's difficult, but it's certainly attainable (praying the Rosary helps a lot).

I echo the sentiments of Zoe, ChrissyG, and Kate Wicker. Your (Dale) column is an excellent starting point for all Catholics. We certainly will attract more with honey than with vinegar.

In Jesus, Mary, & Joseph,

Tito

The words that jumped out at me from the Cat. 2239 citation concerning citizen duty; "submission to legitimate authorities" is of paramount importance in discerning allegience to authority & charitable action.

Positions of governmental authority do warrant respect for the positions themselves and also the right to respectfully challenge the persons & ideaologies filling them.

This goes for Ecclessial (Church) positions as well, with one difference; if the Bishop is speaking the Truth of Christ then there is no right to challenge his teaching (ie gay marriage). Catholics who have tried to bring the democratic system into the Church have forgotten this and lead many to widespread dissent & disobedience to vows taken.

It is difficult to judge people's actions under severe & life-threatening oppression. Only by God's grace does any martyr die for the Faith. German Catholics who had not made Church vows to Christ in uncompromised service such as priests, even though labled as Christians often fell short of allegience through fear (keeping silent). It's like domestice violence of women & children in the home...sometimes outside family intervention only gains the innocent victims more frequent & harsher beatings. It is a very delicate matter and does warrant a cautious charitable response tailored to the situation of those involved. Remember the words of our Lord: Render unto Ceasar...

I really appreciate the excellent quote from Pope Benedict XVI!

My husband had an idea for a faithful Catholics group under which to unite in carrying out our "marching orders" called (PALADIN) People Against the Liberal Agendas of Democrats Infiltrating Our Nation.
A paladin is a defender (champion-knight) of the rights of the oppressed.

A more grassroots approach through the Church could be a group called (LOVE)Laity for Orthodox Values Education; based on a catechesis model. Action through Charity.

I'm just glad you're writing for Inside Catholic now.

And I agree. We don't need to imitate the loony hate-filled tantrums of our opponents. Besides, who wants to sit around making stupid paper-mache heads?

although the March for Life is coming up....

Great piece Dale,

We don't need Obama Derangement Syndrome. Though I do not doubt there will be plenty that can be correctly criticized in the new administration.

Threads like this, and similar at ones on other boards, have got me thinking about the whole *point* of the American system.

*Why* do we "owe" any special "respect" to the "office" of president?

We are supposed to be a citizen government.

The president of the United States is just another citizen. At least that's how it's supposed to work. He's a guy who does a job for us for a few short years of his life. In theory, he's supposed to be working *for* us. We're not his subjects. he's not a dictator. He's just a guy.

When it comes down to it, he's not "my" president in the sense that I don't work for him. I am not an active member of any orgaization right now, so, by my count, I have two presidents: the presidents of the two colleges I work for.

If I worked for the federal government; if I were in the military or the Post Office or the FBI or whatever, then he would be "my" president, "my boss."

But he's not my boss. Whether he's Republican, Democrat, Whig or Libertarian or Green or Constitution, the President of the United States is not my boss.

If our constitution means anything, we are all his "bosses."

It was bad enough when dissenting Catholics were telling us that we could vote for Obama.

"Anyone who dares to defend that they [unborn children] may be legitimately killed because another human being “chooses” to do so or for any other equally ridiculous reason should not be providing leadership in a civilized democracy worthy of the name."
Edward Cardinal Egan

Forget about the slippery slopes of the past, we have finally arrived at the Abyss of Oblivion (the Presidential Election of 2008). http://tinyurl.com/5c4fgf

I feel so much remorse over the majority of Americans who did not cast their vote to prevent this catastrophe.

Those among them who supported the murder of children in the womb (or born alive after a botched abortion) for the presumed benefit of their financial prosperity, deserve to go broke!

When will we, as a people, stand up and refuse to take anymore?

This Catholic will not be complicit in crimes against humanity.

Yes, we do have a higher standard, but we also have a higher duty.

Whether we like it or not, we are engaged in a civil war (and of course a spiritual one as well), but the only persons dying are those who can’t defend themselves, the children in their mothers’ wombs.

Let's give them our respect. ABOLISH ABORTION NOW!

Responding Like Catholics

If so-called Catholics had responded like Catholics on election day, there would be no President-elect Obama.

How many more children will Obama be responsible for murdering all the while [we're] remembering that November 2010 and 2012 will be here quicker than we think.

While a minor point, I think those 1.20.13 bumper stickers are more of a sarcastic, poking fun at response to the Bush haters, rather than a sign of Obama Derangement Syndrome. I couldn't help but smirk when I saw one.

If Catholics responded like real Catholics, we would have already a very strong third party that espouses completely Catholic values.

Father Corapi suggested a novena of saying the rosary before the election. The day before the election my husband and I decided to continue saying the rosary everyday, either in thanks or to continue so that good comes out of this "choice" that Americans made, unfortunately most of them Catholics following their pocketbooks. At least here in California Prop. 8 passed, but to what avail? The courts will probably overturn it anyways. However, we can hope and we must all pray.

Where can I get a 1-20-13 bumper sticker?

JC and others:



I understand where you're coming from JC, but you need to balance that view, a bit.

The President is our employee. Similarly, the Pope is the Servant of the Servants of God; that is, our servant.

So, remind me: In Christian morality, how disrespectful, slanderous, or abusive may we be to our employees, or to our servants?

Put that way, the answer is: Not at all. Obviously.

In fact we give them respect due our fellow man, and gratitude for the service they render, just for starters.

And then, because of the centrality and importance of the office, we offer additional respect beyond that accorded our other employees or servants.

Which I know that you probably know! I don't mean to sound lecture-y. But clarity on such matters is good: Respect is due the man as a man, and as an employee. Respect is furthermore due the office.

What then? Is there to be no retribution for the evil behavior of the left, over the last eight years, in their repeated slander of Bush, Cheney, Rice, Palin, the troops, and so on?

Well, there is: But not by us. It's truthful enough that the left's vituperation of those folks has been on par with Goebbel's vituperation of the Jews. (The part about "if you repeat a lie often enough" is particularly apropos.)

And it's true that we can say with the Psalmist, "How long, oh Lord?!" (# 94, I think.) God's law is written in our hearts, not least in our instinctive desire for the bad guys to get their comeuppance.

And don't we resent always having to be the good guys who always finish last, with the dubious benefit of being able to say, at the end, that we were the good guys?

I mean: Outrageous slander? "Take it on the chin, old chap." Contempt from the glitterati? "Be stoic; thus always 'twas." Media bias so egregious that the IRS starts charging the DNC for half of Chris Matthews' FICA? "Smile and try to rise above it." ACORN does so many fraudulent and repeat registrations that in some districts there are more registered voters than adult eligible residents? "Say tsk-tsk and try to criticize constructively." The other guy intentionally enables credit-card fraud on his website? "Well, he probably didn't know about it himself." And so on.

After a while doesn't being such a lamb make you grit your teeth?

I wonder, in fact, if that isn't the reason that so many otherwise small-gov conservatives, including Bush himself, became less-than-concerned about rendition and "extreme duress" interrogation and so forth. It gets tiring being the good guy, always fighting with one hand tied behind your back. You get tired of losing, or winning Pyrrhic victories undone by the other guy's next underhanded tactic. You get tired of hearing that the terrorist or drug dealer, when captured, immediately said, "Now bring me my lawyer" with a big fat confident s*** eating grin on his face.

Pardon the crudities. But I think you all recognize the feeling to which I refer.

Now, here's our answer: "Vengeance is mine," He says. And, "Will not the Judge of All the Earth do right?"

So, never fear. The bad guys get their comeuppance, in the end. They always do, without fail.

Our job is, heroically, and sometimes maddeningly, to never be the bad guys.

So, YES, we're going to respect Obama, as a man, as our employee, and for the sake of the office.

When he abuses the office, as seems likely, that's another matter: Then is the time for vocal opposition. But until that day, make it clear in your demeanor that your opposition is not aimless political gainsaying.

Be the good guys.

I disagree. I have eyes and ears. I have looked around and heard. The cult-worship of Obama is unique among American politicians in the present age. One would have to go back to Huey Long and Franklin Delano Roosevelt to find politicians with comparable cultish followers that are within the American experience.