When I was an undergraduate English major, one of my professors was a Georgia native and a true daughter of the Old South. She once spoke about her admiration for Senator Walter George, who had represented Georgia in the Senate from 1922 to 1957, the year of his death. It was the custom in the South until very recent time to return Senators to office over and over again. This enabled them to gain seniority on Senate committees and control what came to the Senate floor. They were able bat away legislation that was unpopular with a majority of their constituents, like civil rights. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, for example, served in the Senate for 49 years, until his death at 92 in 2010; and Strom Thurmond from South Carolina was in the Senator from 1954 to 2003, when he actually chose not to run for reelection at the age of 100. Well, in the late 1940’s, when Senator George was running for reelection, he actually had a primary opponent, which my professor considered an insult to the Senator and to the people of Georgia. She recalled a public debate, when his younger opponent laid out his platform and proposals for change in a long and passionate address. Then Senator George got up and said, “Ladies and Gentlemen,” She said, “That was all he really had to say. Hearing a familiar and authoritative voice, the crowd was won over.” Senator George was reelected by a large margin that year.  

Times have certainly changed, While we may applaud the end of the era when white politicians from the South held a stranglehold on progress, the lack of respect for those who hold differing political views has become not only a political problem but a moral problem in our country today. However strong our opinion may be on an issue, those who believe something else are still “ladies and gentlemen.” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which issues lots of documents, put out a brief statement in 2021 called Civilize It. It says, “As a Church and a nation, we are polarized and divided. But as Pope Francis writes in Frateli Tutti, we can seek ‘a better kind of politics, one truly at the service of the common good.’” The document then invites us to take a pledge to be civil in our political discourse. Among other things each of us is invited to do is, “to affirm through my words and actions the dignity of every person, each made in God’s image. Even those with whom I disagree are made in his image; To engage in critical examination to ensure that my perspectives are rooted in truth, that my sources of information are unbiased, and that I do not open myself to manipulation by partisan interests; To form my conscience through prayerful reflection, study of scripture and Church teaching; To reflect on my own values and seek, with others, to identify shared values; To be a bridgebuilder who participates in constructive dialogue based in shared values, a mutual exchange of gifts, and the humility to together seek the good; To see difference in perspective as opportunities for creative tension which can yield solutions for the common good.”

Every so often the USCCB updates a document called Faithful Citizenship. The document covers a number of issues important to Catholic voterss, including religious liberty, immigration, the environment, and the pre-eminent concern for protecting the unborn. We have some brochures in the back of church entitled “A Guide to Catholic Voting,” which does a good job of presenting and interpreting the document.

In a column in a recent issue of America, Chris Crawford says that it is not just political discourse that is under stress, it is the political process itself. “All of the freedoms that we enjoy, including our religious freedom, are protected by our democratic institutions . . . and the hallmarks of democratic form of government in the United States are less certain than they have been in recent memory.” He suggests that those who have the freedom to do so should volunteer to work at the polling places, to ensure polling places are fully and competently staffed. “Our elections depend upon approximately one million people to serve as poll workers or election judges at our polling locations.” Greeting voters in a friendly manner and making sure that our work is accurate is an important non-partisan way that Catholics can support the democratic process. He also points out that churches play a role in supporting democracy by providing accessible space for voting. Assumption’s Parish Hall now serves as the voting location for two different precincts. This is also a way of showing hospitality to our neighbors. It is not at all unusual for voter, once they have cast their ballot, to want to look at the church upstairs.

                                                  Fr. Joe