Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Back in 2008, in the weeks leading up to the Obama-McCain presidential election, two young men visited me in Denver. They were from Catholics United, a group describing itself as committed to social justice issues. They voiced great concern at the manipulative skill of Catholic agents for the Republican Party. And they hoped my brother bishops and I would resist identifying the Church with single-issue and partisan (read: abortion) politics.
It was an interesting experience. Both men were obvious flacks for the Obama campaign and the Democratic Party — creatures of a political machine, not men of the Church; less concerned with Catholic teaching than with its influence. And presumably (for them) bishops were dumb enough to be used as tools, or at least prevented from helping the other side.
Yet these two young men not only equaled but surpassed their Republican cousins in the talents of servile partisan hustling. Thanks to their work, and activists like them, American Catholics helped to elect an administration that has been the most stubbornly unfriendly to religious believers, institutions, concerns and liberty in generations.
[hotblock]
I never saw either young man again. The cultural damage done by the current White House has — apparently — made courting America’s bishops unnecessary.
But bad can always get worse. I’m thinking, of course, of the contemptuously anti-Catholic emails exchanged among members of the Clinton Democratic presidential campaign team and released this week by WikiLeaks. A sample: Sandy Newman, president of Voices for Progress, emailed John Podesta, now the head of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, to ask about whether “the bishops opposing contraceptive coverage” could be the tinder for a revolution. “There needs to be a Catholic Spring, in which Catholics themselves demand the end of a middle ages [sic] dictatorship,” Newman writes.
Of course, Newman added, “this idea may just reveal my total lack of understanding of the Catholic church, the economic power it can bring to bear against nuns and priests who count on it for their maintenance.” Still, he wondered, how would one “plant the seeds of a revolution”? John Podesta replied that “We created Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good to organize for a moment like this . . . likewise Catholics United” (emphasis added).
Another Clinton-related email, from John Halpin of the Center for American Progress, mocks Catholics in the so-called conservative movement, especially converts: “They must be attracted to the systematic thought and severely backwards gender relations and must be totally unaware of Christian democracy.” In a follow-up, he adds “They can throw around ‘Thomistic’ thought and ‘subsidiarity’ and sound sophisticated because no one knows what . . . they’re talking about.”
On the evening these WikiLeaks emails were released, I received the following angry email myself, this one from a nationally respected (non-Catholic) attorney experienced in Church-state affairs:
“I was deeply offended by the [Clinton team] emails, which are some of the worst bigotry by a political machine I have seen. [A] Church has an absolute right to protect itself when under attack as a faith and Church by civil political forces. That certainly applies here …
“Over the last eight years there has been strong evidence that the current administration, with which these people share values, has been very hostile to religious organizations. Now there is clear proof that this approach is deliberate and will accelerate if these actors have any continuing, let alone louder, say in government.
“These bigots are actively strategizing how to shape Catholicism not to be Catholic or consistent with Jesus’ teachings, but to be the ‘religion’ they want. They are, at the very core, trying to turn religion to their secular view of right and wrong consistent with their politics. This is fundamentally why the Founders left England and demanded that government not have any voice in religion. Look where we are now. We have political actors trying to orchestrate a coup to destroy Catholic values, and they even analogize their takeover to a coup in the Middle East, which amplifies their bigotry and hatred of the Church. I had hoped I would never see this day — a day like so many dark days in Eastern Europe that led to the death of my [Protestant minister] great grandfather at the hands of communists who also hated and wanted to destroy religion.”
Of course it would be wonderful for the Clinton campaign to repudiate the content of these ugly WikiLeaks emails. All of us backward-thinking Catholics who actually believe what Scripture and the Church teach would be so very grateful.
In the meantime, a friend describes the choice facing voters in November this way: A vulgar, boorish lout and disrespecter of women, with a serious impulse control problem; or a scheming, robotic liar with a lifelong appetite for power and an entourage riddled with anti-Catholic bigots.
In a nation where “choice” is now the unofficial state religion, the menu for dinner is remarkably small.
God is unchangeable. In Romans it warns to be on guard against those who encourage trouble or puts us in the way of difficulties in the way of the doctrine we were taught. People like that are not slaves of Christ., they are slaves of their own appetites, confusing the simple-minded with their pius and persuasive arguments.
Thank you, Your Excellency, for standing up for truth and expressing clear Catholic church teachings with conviction!! It is clear that we must do everything we can to stop the hostility toward religious organizations, and especially stop the hostility to the threat of human life itself through abortion and euthanasia. We have always promoted candidates that promote the most basic right we have, the right to live. Thank you again, Archbishop Chaput.
As a Catholic woman who actually read Theology of the Body and other writings. I understand the beauty of Catholic teaching. I have seen the pain caused by the sexual revolution and contraception. The Church has had it right all along.
This information cannot be limited to just e-mails. It needs to be broadcast LOUDLY for ALL to know what is really happening to our basic beliefs. How can we get this on the airways instead of all the garbage that we have been bombarded with? The politicians are very clever in wording and presenting their ideas in such a way that people are buying what they are saying even though it goes against what our founding fathers wanted for this country. Our religious rights and beliefs are being attached! We cannot allow this to happen if we want to live wholeheartedly under the freedoms this country was founded on and we depend on. Our moral beliefs need to be upheld and respected.
I do beleve in the separatiom of church and state. I feel we have been mixing religion and politics for far too long. Our ancestors left the Old World to be free of a powerful state church that ruled from Rome. We are still backward in regard to women’s status in the modern day church. Sometimes the truth is hard to hear. But we should learn from those who see us from the outside and take their thoughts and concerns to heart and learn from them.
I do feel our church is very backward in regard to women and
If you call the demand for new thinking in our church or a new focus for our church a “Catholic spring”, count me in. The Catholic church needs dramatic change. After 16 years of Catholic schools and over two decades of hoping for our clergy leaders to fully reconcile for their collusive abuse of children, change is long overdue. I am glad to see inside and outside forces challenging our church to revisit Christ’s example. My suggested first change: puts the nuns in charge because the men don’t get it!
God bless you Archbishop Chaput ! Your moral courage, insights and strong arguments upholding true Catholic teaching are an inspiration to me!!!!
The Catholic Church needs to be training up statesmen within their ranks. Pope Pius IX in his Syllabus of Errors stated the kind of opposition that the church would be receiving and that it would be an aggressive attack against the Scriptures and the Church and all that is held dear. This would be a great addition to the content needed to train up a generation of statesmen!
Catholics must continue to be true to the religious teaching of the Catholic Church and be willing to speak out explaining them even when there is hostile environment. This is no time for private views and public views. Following Christ’s teachings is what it is all about.
I have always contended that God is ultimately in charge. I’ve heard that all authority comes from God, when God’s chosen people in the Old Testament obeyed and prayed they received good leaders, when they didn’t they received the opposite. My prayer is that God will send us a leader that we need and not one we deserve. Since the platform on one side is so diametrically opposed to many major Catholic issues, what we need is clear to me.
Archbishop Chaput, bless you for your work for the faithful. I send my effusive thanks and support for your courageous letter.
I am appalled at the actions of these political people to distort the Church’s mission and confuse and deceive faithful Catholics. We must pay attention to what is going on in our country in order to preserve our Catholic traditions. While there are forces at work that would try to silence our teaching of Catholic faith, there is still time for us to throw off these destructive forces.
Catholics of faith want to defend our Church and our traditions!
If the Catholic Church is silenced by political persecution, I fear not only for our community but for the moral foundation of our nation. I am doing my best to your letter with my friends and faithful of other denominations.
I pray that Our Lord Jesus will renew our harts and minds. This I pray so the person of true faith will get in. Our country needs the Sheid of Jesus real bad. God bless!
Ask that everyone get on their knees and pray God he gives this country a second chance to open no
Thank you, Bishop please remind everyone to get on their knees and ask God for a second chance for this country
This is my fourth attempt to offer a comment to Bishop Chaput article above.
The othrs went off into cyberspace somewhere. I’m always impressed how he
can hit the nail on the head. October 15, 2016 was the day Catholics were
to come together to pray the Rosary in the public square. A beautiful crowd
showed up at our local town square at noon Saturday and did so, –even though the weaather was uncooperative in Michigan. Our nations problems are far
beyond any human solution, as Good is called evil and evil is called Good.
Thank you again, Archbishop Chaput.
weather was un-cooperative in Michigan.
I think it’s belittling to Hillary Clinton to not even mention her more “Christian” works like her creation on the CHiP which insurances 8 million of the countries poorest children, her anti-death (only in cases of terrorism) stance, her desire to continue to continue Obamacare which has insured millions of our poorest families, her pro-family/anti-wall immigration plan, and her advocacy for educating girls in some of the world’s most desolate areas.
I understand some of those who worked with her emailed belittling comments about Catholics and certainly the Cardinal would never advocate for a pro-Choice candidate, but don’t reduce her career to two emails she didn’t even write. In the name of fairness the woman has done some good work that should be taken into account when Catholics are voting – even if she is “robotic.”
Bravo! This should be read from every pulpit. Unfortunately, the so called Catholic vote resembles the vote of the general population.
If all Catholics were guided by their faith when voting, we would not be in such a mess: trying to choose between two lousy candidates for president. I will hold my nose and vote for Trump, since not voting will bolster Clinton’s chances and her anti-Catholic agenda.
Dear Archbishop Chaput:
There is an alternative explanation for the Clinton team analysis: they have correctly identified a major failing in the contemporary Catholic Church. By not allowing women to become priests, by being opposed to artificial contraception (even though a large majority of parishioners use it), by not being open to the LBGT community, and by covering up decades of sexual abuse, the church has not allowed its self to fully embrace Jesus’ teachings. For this reason educated people in the U.S. continue to leave the church.
This is deeply alienating. Those of us who grew up Catholic but cannot reconcile our desire for gender equality, for example, with the church’s teachings, feel deeply disappointed and removed from the body that once sustained us. As the priesthood attracts ever more conservative men who are more shut off from the world, we grieve. We grieve the loss of an open church that moved with its parishioners instead of against them, one that was open and embracing of all.
Dear Archbishop Chaput,
Catholics have faced bigotry in the past from the “Know Nothing” party and other nativist movements. One of the strengths of the Catholic community is that it is not an American institution but a universal (catholic) community that can stand as a witness sometimes with but also against a particular cultural phenomenon. Thanks for expressing clearly Catholic teaching in an environment that is becoming more and more hostile to the Catholic community. I sometimes feel that the last group of people in the US that can be attacked without apology are those of us in the Catholic Church. But Jesus has reminded us that we are not to put a light on a lampstand, only to cover it over. Thank you again and as Francis said “pax et bonum..”
Al Sagel
Your Excellency. Thank you for the response! You are the only one out of our shepherds!
I need to ask a very tough question. As I understand, Mr John Podesta is a Catholic.
Would you, for the sake of Christ, and the salvation of Mr John soul, excommunicate him (refused to give the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ) if he presented himself for the Eucharist? I hope you would do, so Mr Podesta could make decision what is more important – eternal life or eternal damnation. I hope he would choose the first one. Now, he is not confronted with this. It would be the only charitable to do that.
Thank you for your COURAGE !!!!!!!!!!!
Although some say Trump is a “boorish lout”, I could NEVER conceive of voting for a serial liar (under oath) like Hillary Clinton that has no interest in and, in fact, has pure hatred for the Christian faith in general and Catholics in particular. Trump would be a welcome change from what we have endured for the past eight years and, I assure you, It is only will get progressively worse. God help us if she wins because the Supreme Court will become another arm of the effort to destroy religion and what is left of our Constitution.
Thank you for this wonderfully said statement. I will share it with everyone I know. God Bless you, God protect the United States, and all people of faith from evil. I pray we can make the best choice for our freedoms and God’s plan for His Glory.
Dear Archbishop Charles Chaput,
Unfortunately you are one of a handful of American Bishops who serve Christ first and foremost with courage, steadfast faith, and truth! I heard about you five years ago and have been praying for you ever since. I have been a speaker on Catholicism for 14+ years and also taught Theology at a “supposedly” Catholic University and I discovered that the majority of Catholics do not know their faith and truly believe they only have to practice their faith in Church! I do admonish the Church hierarchy for their liberal attitudes and stances and their lack of courage to voice all Catholic teachings. Many American priests are priests for the people and not for Christ. If the majority of priests were priest for Christ we would have a very different Church, nation, and world.
You are spot on regarding Catholics (including priests) electing Obama and they continue to embrace the Democrat Platform (abortion, partial birth abortion, same sex marriage, euthanasia, etc.) every issue the Catholic Church is against they find acceptable. Please continue to stand firm for Christ – you are not alone!
God bless you, Bishop! Thank you for courageously speaking the Truth.
I love the gentleness of the remark made by Archbishop Kurtz. Catholics need not get into the weeds with evil doings by anyone be it Trump or Clinton. We must always appear Christ-like even in our discourse.
There are certainly other choices, but neither party wants you to believe that. If either of these choices is elected, I don’t see a future for freedom in this country – freedom of religion or freedom of choice or freedom from violence. The current administration has not only shown disdain for religious freedom, but has also consistently put labels on groups of individuals and used those labels to further divide the country. It’s sad.
Gary Johnson is not perfect and doesn’t seem to have the personality to gain momentum at a time when it should be EASY to elect a “third party” or non-party candidate. But he will get my vote bc I need to be able to look myself in the mirror every day.
Why wasn’t this brought up at the Sunday mass sermons this weekend?! Catholics need to be made aware of this. We can’t rely on the media to get this information out!
Archbishop:
You have left out two pieces of information. First, these emails are several years old. Second, Sandy Newman is not a member of the Clinton campaign organization. Those two things together undercut your claim that these emails amount to evidence of an anti-Catholic bias in the Clinton campaign. Furthermore, your characterization of the emails as contemptuous of Catholicism is a tad overheated. There are plenty of people, even in the church, who believe the church’s teaching on contraception is wrongheaded. And there are more than a few who think the church’s top-down authority structure could use a little retooling.That hardly means they hold the church in contempt; in fact, it means they see it as a force for good that they think could be even better.
This is a brave letter and have never been more proud of the Catholic establishment in Philadelphia. The decision for whom to vote is not a conundrum for me. When it comes to a choice between a candidate (and party in general) with bad manners and a candidate (and party in general) which denigrates my the core tenets of my spiritual life the answer is obvious. The Democratic Party is certainly NOT the party of my grandparents.
Many people are struggling with the decision of who to vote for.. Some are saying they may not vote at all; due to the poor choice of presidential candidates, or the outcome has already been determined by pollsters and the media Despite how it appears the results may be shaping up, it is more important than ever to vote for candidates that will represent us in the new congress. They will be our hope in changing the course this country has taken. It also helps to have leaders like archbishop Chaput.
Thank you, Your Eminence. Would that more of your brother bishops would defend the Faith and faithful against the wolves at the gates. As the psalmist wrote in today’s readings: “our help is from the Lord…” The shepherds of the Church need to instruct the faithful of the grave consequences of the election- the political class/Machine is ready to devour us at a moment’s notice. Please keep shouting at those who have ears and do not hear. Holy Mother of God, pray for us, protect us.
A great reply, Archbishop.
Freedom of religion, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression are all the most valuable and the same ‘freedom’.
Those cheering for religious persecution should remember that.
The only realistic approach is continued divided government. Both major parties are in the hands of persons who worship power through money. Making governing impossible for both seems to be the only way to limit their rapacious lust for worldly gain. The Church has been down this road before, in Spain, Mexico and Poland. Holy Mother Church will ultimately prevail.
As a pro-life activist who has seen my efforts undercut by the lack of support from the Church, except for speeches at the annual January rally with the bishop, watched the Kennedy “coronation/funeral”,
told by the Pope not to be “obsessed” with abortion, and watched Catholic politicians get free passes to continue their advocacy of abortion for nearly half a century, this kind of outside attack on the Church is not news. I’ve been watching the inside attacks for a long time.
It’s sad that Catholics would have ever been behind this hate and bate group to begin with. I have lots of friends (catholic) that have bought into this new “progressive” way of thinking. I do believe in progressing the world, but in ways that better lives, such as living in peace, make no life better for everyone as far as feeding, housing and protecting life not murdering our babies and saying it doesn’t matter because they’re not protected by law! This is insanity and evil at its finest!
The election is in God’s hands. Let you conscience be your guide.
Thank you Archbishop Chaput for your response to the Wikileaks emails. My family and I will continue to pray for strong Catholic bishops and cardinals in what may very well become a dark time for the Church in America. Here in Philadelphia we are very blessed and grateful to have a strong and alert leader. God Bless You!
We are passed making a choice between the lesser of two evils. While I find it scary and extremely disconcerting to vote for a man like Trump, voting for democratic candidate is voting against constitutional right of freedom to practice my religion. I believe it is now time for church leaders to take a definitive stand.
Dear Archbishop Chaput,
You are a man of deep faith and conviction. You are fighting a challenging battle culturally, but I believe that “all things are possible with God.” May your faith-filled insights change minds and hearts. I admire your courage to so eloquently defend the faith! As a lifelong Catholic, I will be voting my conscience and true to the teachings of the Church. Right to life is dear to my heart. You are a blessing to the Archdiocese and all of Philadelphia. God bless you!
Would the archbishop recommend we vote for a sexual predator like Donald Trump because he is (expediently) pro-life?
You have to vote based on the PARTY PLATFORMS, NOT personalities. See the comparisons at: http://www.priestsforlife.org
You cannot vote for a pro-abortion candidate like Hillary.
I strongly agree with our Archbishop. The secularists consider us impotent. They only know power and money. It is time for us to act like Ghandi and Rev. King and show resistance that hurts .
Perhaps many did not. Know that today, October 15, 2016, was the day that faithful Catholics
Across America, came together in public squares to pray the Rosary. for the most part we were
Ignored by the public. I can assure you that in Michigan the weather did not cooperate as it
Was windy, cool, and damp. Most of us came in winter clothes. But one thing we all knew
Is that only Heaven can change the course of history now. Satan was released to harass the
Church in the twentieth century and it seems the next century also since we did not turn away
I am looking past the persons to what either party supports in their platform. Then things become very clear and I recall scripture where Moses tells the people, this day I put before you blessing or curse, life or death, choose life…..one party and one candidate supports abortion (death). The other supports life. I am trusting that God will give those who choose life, the wisdom to make the right choices for our country. God will not bless the efforts of a godless country. Thank you for being a voice to the faithful. I am praying for all bishops to speak out forcefully.
There is another option! Check out Evan McMullin! He is prolife and pro religious liberty! EvanMcMullin.com
When given the choice of a Pro-Life lout or an anti-Catholic robot, I choose the lout. Choose Clinton at the peril of our entire country.
Thank you some much for the above message. I hope to hear some of the same at Mass this weekend.
God Bless You!
Catholics need to stand together to resist political brainwashing. They can’t get rid of us but perhaps they can mold our beliefs into conformity of thinking. Our churches need to hold workshops to make parishioners aware of what is happening as you are doing Bishop.
Archbishop Chaput what are we to do with this pitiful menu? It’s clear to me. Catholics can survive the temporary disorder and sadly neither candidate is really pro life so we have to elect the one with the most knowledge and experience. God save us!
Hillary says make your own choice when it comes to having children. Trump says I am against that kind of thinking. Who can you believe?
I think your editorial is bias and unworthy of you. I should elect a man who dehumanizes women! Doesn’t the church do the same? Women are really high up in the church and hold positions of regard. I don’t think so.
The political left fears Archbishop Chaput and would love nothing better than to neutralize him as a factor to be considered. It won’t work because the good archbishop possesses what the others do not: character and integrity.
You state that Hillary (and apparently Hillary alone) has an entourage riddled with anti-Catholic bigots. Donald Trump’s spokesperson, Katrina Pierson, made the following anti-Catholic statement and, to the best of my knowledge, has never apologized for it:
http://www.catholicleague.org/trumps-spokeswoman-must-apologize/
Moreover, have you completely forgotten Donald Trump’s attacks on Pope Francis? That’s not Trump’s entourage, that’s Trump himself.
Best to remember the Pope’s words: the statements that Trump made regarding immigration are not Christian.
This, my dear friends, is an example of information rather than entertainment (although he does manage to spin a bit of entertainment in their, but just enough.) Do we know the difference any more?
Excellent letter!
Only Good Catholics vote for candidates who are pro-life no matter what sins that person may have committed. Pro-Abortion candidates like Clinton should never be considered. If you are Democrat and Catholic you need to look at your Church’s teaching on life a little closer.
Well done, Archbishop Chaput! Thank you for this excellent piece.
Having read through these comments I was amazed that no one mentioned that we do have an excellent pro life candidate running as an Independent third party by the name of Evan McMullin. I encourage to take a few minutes to do this research. And I believe you will be hearing his name frequently as he is getting endorsements from many conservatives. Donald Trump is not a long time or a committed pro life individual, check his history.
Thank you for your words. I pray for the church and our country that the Lord will intercede when faced with such soridd choices and that Catholic families will commit to attending mass and the values of the church.
Thank you for your words. I pray for the church and our country that the Lord will intercede when faced with such sorid choices and that Catholic families will commit to attending mass and the values of the church.
Thank you, Your Excellency. If anyone was in doubt you clarified the “choice” to be made. Not happily, but with prayers, prayers, prayers.
Thank you for posting this. I am not a Catholic but I found those emails and the political maneuvering they implied to be very offensive.
The type of outdated bigotry masked as Christianity I’m reading in this message board is one of the primary reasons for the secularization of this country. I am proudly a Christian and will not be reduced to single-sided voting like many of you seem to be. This is narrow minded and neglects so much of the good that can be done in the world if we avoid this type of partisan nonsense. Although Hillary is who we think she is, I will proudly cast my vote for her over almost anyone the Republican party trots out and tries to cast as the right candidate for the racist GOP (God’s Own Party?). I believe in God…and science…and the separation of church and state. Some of you should consider this as well.
If Hillary is elected and stacks the Supreme Court, it will only be a matter of time before the government mandate comes down….. Perform gay marriage ceremonies or feel the full weight and wrath of the U S government.
Wow! I am speechless. Some of the comments that I read are indeed troubling. That we are prepared to settle for the lesser of the two evils. The one that makes fun of the disabled, demeans women and immigrants. What a shame? Are some of these not members of our congregations? I hope politics is not remotely at the center of our emotionally charged compositions. In my opinion, Hillary and Trump are not viable presidential options. But to settle for Trump because of claims that he is a champion of religious freedom is certainly comical. May God bless us all.
My questions is, why call Trump a boorish lout? His style seems to be bombastic, however he cannot be called stupid or a lout, he did in fact make millions in the tough New York real estate market. He must have something upstairs. Clinton by contrast has done nothing by herself. Her whole career has been created riding on her husbands coat tails, and she’s screwed up every thing she has touched. She’s corrupt, an anti Catholic member of the political oligarchy, who’s God is Money and Power. To somehow equate the two … just plain wrong.
Thank you Archbishop Chaput for stating the facts of what Americans are facing with this upcoming Presidential election. I am so glad I was listening to the radio today to hear what you wrote in this column. When I got home I looked it up and shared it with many of my friends both Catholic, other Christian believers and those of the Jewish faith.
Keep the faith and continue to spread the truth of what we have to loose if we do not pay attention to the details and facts instead of the personal attacks which hide what the true issues are in this election.
As a new Catholic, I love my faith. Clinton and the whole Democratic machine are offensive to me for being for abortion on demand and late term abortion. Ican’t believe that Tim Kaine has hitched himself to this whole mess. Thank you Archbishop Chaput for your valuable information. God Bless you!
I think Tim Kaine hitched his wagon to Hillary because it’s quite clear she wants to help the poor, the immigrants, and the refugees, while Donald Trump does not. Seems like Tim Kaine’s core is all about helping those in need.
Archbishop,
It’s about time that Catholics wake up! The persecution has arrived and will only get worse. God bless you!
While I am a fervent Catholic, I just don’t see how we are being persecuted in the United States. If you want to understand real persecution I think you need to look to countries in Africa and the Middle East where people are killed because they are a different type of Muslim. Persecution is a big word to use for the current Catholic American experience.
Why has it taken the evidence of such blatant anti Catholic actions to awaken the Catholic leaders? I am 85 years old and this has gone on as long as I can remember. Vote Pro Life!
Thank you Archbishop for your statement and leadership. You will be in my prayers, may other prominent religious join this chorus against this blatant bigotry.
Your Excellency, it is time for a catholic spring. We as Catholics need to work everyday to dispell myths, and do all we can to remain strong in this time of persecution. Jesus said this would happen. Peace.
Thank you Archbishop Chaput . Your courage is refreshing. I stand with you. May God continue to bless your ministry in Philadelphia.
Thank you Your Excellency. You are one of the few Catholic leaders who dares to speak out at a time when we seriously need shepherds. I just read a statistic a few days ago – 54% of Catholic polled stated that they will vote for Clinton. Even in this month of October (Respect Life month) we are not hearing much from the pulpit in our church. It reminds me of 2012 – Conservative Catholics warned against 4 more years of Obama, but not a word from the pulpit. One does not have to mention any political names or parties – we all know enough to know that the priest is referring to when he speaks out against abortion. The Democrat party obviously thinks we’re like clay in their hands but the reality is, although we try diligently, if our leaders are choosing to sweep all of this under the rug, we are defeated.
I am not surprised that the Clinton machine is against Catholicism. I am fearful for our rights as citizens when she wins in November. It is all about the corporate greed and an agenda of control and domination. Our democracy is lost when the cornerstone of journalism is corrupted by the money and power of the Clintons.
What a great read. I am sure a majority of Americans, regardless of whether or not that are Catholic, southern, or belong to “certain Latino communites” would agree on our choices for Democrat and Republican leadership. I personally will be voting for Gary Johnson, slightly too liberal for me in some aspects, but certainly a far better choice when it comes to “whats for dinner.”
I think you are neglecting the fact that elections are about more than a single issue. Yes, you can say this is the most important issue. Is it really?
Is it important to the man who gets beaten because he “looks like a Muslim?”
What about the woman who makes considerably less than her male counterpart?
What about the parent that can’t afford to take their child to the hospital or may not be able to afford food?
I’m not pushing a certain candidate here. I’m just trying to say thay there is more to this election than just one issue. Trying to get a congregation to concentrate on only one issue is, frankly, an insult to the intelligence of the people in that congregation.
Thank you for your courage Bishop. Although I agree with others that you must be more clear that the boorish lout is the only choice for a true Catholic. He says he is going to defend what Catholics believe and who are we to assume he is not. Can’t Our Lord choose a sinner to bring about good? Trump is unquestionably the better choice and you need to make that more clear. Catholics need your guidance.
Thank you so much bishop for your bold comments!!!!! As a Catholic, I am tired of being referred to as backward because I am a member and believer in Christ’s Church. Catholics need to join and be counted and vote against this evil culture of relativism and death.
Be Bold, Be Catholic !!!!!!!
Well I don’t want a liar or a narcissist as my president I believe the priests and Bishops of our diocese feel the same way but are afraid if they mention it from the pulpit they will lose parishioners that is very sad because our Lord never backed off from any such challenge I hate to see our church not follow his precepts
Your Grace, thank you for your courageous leadership and incisive assessment. As St. Paul reminds us, “our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens” (Ephesians 6:12). May we turn to the Lord in prayer and in sacrament, seeking His wisdom, strength, and guidance to confront the challenges at hand. And may we ask for the grace to see through anger and bigotry, reaching out in love even – and especially – to those who despise us: “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
I don’t know many Catholics, and am not Catholic myself, but the few I know are people I respect. One in particular is in my memory as a man who has sacrificed much for others and our country and holds the good of our future as a people close to his heart. It’s heartbreaking and scary that our potential leadership believes this kind of behavior is acceptable. I’m standing up to fight in my own way by joining and supporting Evan McMullin and Mindy Finn in their efforts to provide something better in this race and a small glimmer of hope, not to mention civility, to times such as these. I wouldn’t dream of telling anyone what to do, but I invite you to look into what they are working for and stand with us if it’s something you can support. We’re stronger together, and I believe that it’s still possible to get things back on track. Much love and respect to all of you, however you choose to fight for what’s right.
Thank you for your considered words. You came and spoke at my university and I was very impressed with your thoughts. Even though I am not Catholic, my church has worked with yours in many humanitarian projects. My Grandpa worked with Catholics in Africa and he spoke highly of the faith and service of your members. It’s true– we need to be looking for better leaders that respect all.
I am Anglican and my wife is devoutly Roman Catholic (married 51 years). Although from slightly different viewpoints, we ask the question “how can Roman Catholics in good faith vote for a socialist candidate and party that are so much against everything our religions stand for?”. The Democrat VP nominee professes to be a devout Roman Catholic himself, but loudly (and obnoxiously) trumpets a platform that condones partial birth abortion. Clinton, about a year ago, said that Christians would have to revise their religious views if she were elected. Voters of all faiths must wake up and see the threat – and vote accordingly.
Who is deplorable now . I have experienced in my short lifetime the struggle we face as families struggle with all that goes with trying to raise a family in a safe neighborhood , provide health care , education , spend time to implant family values into our kids etc . It takes jobs that are leaving our country componded by immigrants coming and competing for the jobs that are left . When you add the fact that our family size is reduced our culture is being replaced , the same culture that attracted imigrants to begin with. By the time our children are able to start a family they have a 100k education mortgage in place of a home .
Thank you Archbishop Chaput for placing this on FaceBook. I hope that this weekend at all the Masses our priests will discuss your comments regarding the leaked emails. I was never a fan of Donald Trump but since we have no one else running who could possibly beat Hillary Clinton at the Polls, I will vote for him and pray that God will bless our country with a leader who respects life.
This has been 50 plus years in the making. There hasn’t been a pro family Bill passed or progressive workers rights advance in as long a time. The only thing we can do is begin by bringing politics close to home and hammer our reps with our concerns. Sooner or later the message gets through. But the trust problem began with the 100 year old Monkey Trial which permitted schools to teach evolution. My advice is to publicly and loudly reject progressive media, because this hits them right in the wallet. We also need to partner more with Jewish congregations locally to stress our common virtues.
Thank you Your Excellency! May the Saints preserve us.
I think you missed one great point. How about voting for the one who is pro-life as opposed to the one who is pro-death. As a woman, I think the choice is very clear.
Bravo, Your Excellency..
Frank
The Knights may not discuss politics during our meetings, but we are unashamedly PRO-LIFE. So we know where to stand and how to vote. Thank you Archbishop for the reminder.
Vivat Jesus!
Actually, the election is between someone who will put in pro-life judges and the other who will put in anti-life judges. I’m voting for the package deal that includes the pro-life judges.
Archbishop, I chose to come to the diocesan site rather than respond to the New Advent or Catholic Register sites since the comments there were so unbelievably uncatholic! I am sorry, but not surprised, that you did not receive the red hat. Sadly, the choices reflect the “let’s all be nice” trend that is also reflected in the not so nice comments to your article. Cardinal George was quite prophetic in his “I will die in bed, my successor will die in jail (but not the current one I’ll bet!), etc.”
Hopefully you will continue to have the courage to follow the magisterium and encourage the laity to LEARN the faith – the real, true, faith! The dumbing down of the past 40 years, and the cumbaya attitude is coming home to roost.
We who have been and are currently truly faithful to the magisterium are desperately in need of leaders – especially Bishops- who will speak out and risk the backlash of our current greatly deluded society. My own parish and diocese have yet to even mention the election or the topics that should govern a Catholic re voting. And I don’t think I will live long enough to see Bishops and clergy with the guts to deny communion to Catholics openly espousing contraception, abortion, same sex unions, and on and on and on, to say nothing of toleration gay priests who openly celebrate “gay” everything and teach their congregations to do likewise.
Personally, I have chosen to vote for ego over evil, and pray that this experience has opened his eyes and his heart to realize he cannot do all he says on his own. He needs God to lead him, not just God’s followers to vote for him.
And we need you and others in the hierarchy to help us compassionately Stand for absolute Truth in the face of a society the will Fall for Anything fashionable!
God bless and Mary Keep you close!
Seems to me a bishop remarked that he expected to die in his bed but that his successor would die a martyr!
Let’s hope Cardinal George didn’t wish bad luck on soon-to-be Cardinal Cupich with that remark. Hopefully, Cardinal Cupich dies peacefully in bed after a long and rich life.
Your Excellency,
Couldn’t you come out and say voting for a pro-abortion candidate should prevent a person from worthily receiving Holy Communion until they repent and confess their sin? Surely, it must be a mortal sin to vote that way for the purpose of sustaining illegal abortion. Shouldn’t it also be a mortal sin if a person votes for a pro-abortion candidate knowing they support abortion and so called same-sex marriage?
Wikileaks email provide a textbook example of Pope Benedict XVI’s Dictatorship of Moral Relativism. Sandy Newman’s “spring” already happened; it’s called the sexual revolution. It has produced nothing but dead and wounded. Catholic doctrine is its antidote. One understands the Establishment minions’ Zen solution of just selling the revolution’s teaching as that of the true Catholic believer’s, but for some strange reason the nagging suspicion remains that such “faithful” are but a fifth column who serve as props to spin the persecution of the sexually moral into a “liberation” narrative. Be free… to do what the Elites say.
The Church always knew and warned that the evils rebranded as “Women’s rights” are for conquered peoples; we won’t get out from under the oligarchs’ oppression until we do too.
Thank you Archbishop Chaput, this proves there are still faithful clergy in our church. We will pray for you and for all of those, who like you, remain truly faithful and not afraid to speak the truth of our One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Faith! May Our Lady of the Rosary (Victories) watch over you and continue to keep your mind clear in the midst of so much confusion. God Bless You!
I in good conscience can not vote for either.
Then go ahead and waste your vote, instead of helping the Church. God gave your that freedom. Your response assumes we’re in the primaries. You’re down to two choices. There are stark differences in the policies between Hillary and Trump. It doesn’t even come close. If your conscience wants to focus on words, not actions, on words instead of policy positions each plans to implement, then you’ll become part of the problem by your, in effect, abstaining for voting. Think about it, helping the poor with a robust economy, appointing judges who respect the Constitution, voting pro-life, repealing the Johnson Act, making progress in school choice to conquer poverty through education, doing away with Obamacare and the HHS mandate that forces us to pay for abortions in Obamacare, strong foreign policy to help stabilize the Middle East that will also help protect our Christian brothers there who are in the victims a genocide, lowering the tax burden on families that just keeps growing, shrinking the size of government that helps save you needless taxes and helps us all prosper, etc. etc. It doesn’t even come close as to the policies either candidate promises to implement. A well-formed conscience builds society and the Church. Uninformed or deformed consciences corrupt societies and cultures. Christ is the answer. We must order society according to Gospel values, and we have a moral obligation to vote for the lesser evil at election time. I’ve been voting for the lesser evil all my life. I’ve seldom seen a worthy candidate. This election is no different, yet the choice is very clear which candidate will do the most good. It doesn’t even come close.
Check out the American Solidarity Party and write Maturen and Muñoz in on your ballot.
……..You…..Did…..It…..Again…………
You steer people to either not vote or vote third party by not accepting the cultural sinner, Donald J. Trump. He has promised fidelity to our religious freedoms and conscience freedoms. Yet, you will not accept his apology or letters of solidarity.
You will not state that DJT is clearly the better candidate to vote in. Better for our Church and better for our country.
I am not a Bishop and I respect you, but for decades there has been an absence of the harmful spiritual affects of contraception, abortion, acting homosexual activity, rampant divorce, premarital sex, premarital living arrangements, and SSM. Only a handful have made their voice heard by the faithful. W
The Democrats are trying to exploit the rejection of Humanae Vitae by laity to drive a wedge between them and the bishops. The goal clearly is political power.
As long as Catholics continue to reject Humanae Vitae, we will be weak and easily exploited.
It is beyond time that Catholics be taught Church teachings and be told they must form their consciences according to these teachings. Saying to “just follow your conscience” is inadequate.
When we live moral lives of integrity we will vote for the candidate the most supports those beliefs.
Humanae Vitae needs to be embraced.
Thank you, Archbishop Chaput, for speaking out as a leader of our Church. As a woman, my conscience dictates my dinner choice to be for the vulgar lout as opposed to the lying robot pro-abortion politician.
God bless you Archbishop
If you don’t know that the Catholic Church is under heavy attack (as in a war) by secularism, you need an expresso and wake up!
Religious Liberty and Freedom of Speech are not mutually exclusive. Everyone please share with everyone you know asap. The hidden veil has been lifted. Thank you Archbishop Chaput for your pastoral leadership. Your statement should be read from every pulpit in America this weekend (but will it?) Pace e Bene, Vivat Jesus!!!
A vulgar boorish Defender of Life is my choice.
Thank you, Bishop Chaput, for your courageous words and concise explanation. We Catholics are not “backward” at all. One of my favorite books is by Thomas Woods “How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization”. While so called “liberals” were fascinated by the violence of the French revolution or the so called “Dark Ages” the Catholic Church has been consistent in it’s teachings about Jesus Christ, His Mercy and Grace, and providing direction for the real progress of mankind toward the Kingdom of God while caring for those who truly are in need.
The best of the worst is still bad! But we have to remember ” Judges ” ” Judges ” “Judges ” and vote for LIFE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM issues. May God have mercy on our Nation.
Please consider a parish hand-out with an explanation from the pulpit by priests on how to vote with a correctly formed Catholic conscience. It is rather unfortunate that many Catholics voted for Obama & a good number will be voting for Clinton. Even among the regular church goers, many are not voting w/ a correctly formed conscience. A Clinton administration will give us more of the same, or worse since the appointment of Supreme Court Justices will hang in the balance. Our religious liberty is at stake and America is on the threshold of a rejection of moral absolutes. A very scary scenario.
When we look at that small menu we must be sure to pick the entre that may give us an upset stomach rather than the one that will kill us!
I’ll take my chances with the vulgar, boorish lout at least he is a patriot and he isn’t trying to destroy my religion.
Your Excellency, you have a rare gift for reading the writing on the wall and relaying it with equally abundant measures of charity and clarity. Thank you.
Maybe once you realize that one candidate wants to enshrine abortion and gay marriage through the Supreme Court and is calling upon certain religions (guess which ones) to change their beliefs to accommodate her agenda, you’ll stop equivocating on this election.
Therefore Archbishop … it is time to choose ….. the baby killer or the prodigal son who has repented and is contrite …. how long will you bishops straddle the issue? Either God is God or Baal is God …..
There is time for Catholics to save America … all that is needed is some clear direction (see Father Lanketts homily: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=881aDDE5qFY God Bless Bishop Olmstead) and a healthy dose of clerical testosterone.
Quis ut Deus? Serviam!
Bishop Chaput
Years ago you taught me one of the greatest lessons that I’ve passed along to my family and many friends. I asked you one night after playing racquetball as a teenager would
“What’s the deal with gays?” Your response has guided me in how I look at every individual I’ve met since. “First and most important they are human beingings deserving the dignity and respect placed upon us by Christ’s sacrifice and Gods love for everyone” ” Second, we all have differences that we must be accepted and sometimes be tolerant of” I’ve missed your wisdom over the years, especially when my Dad passed.
Mo Trujillo, another giant in my life. A Korean War veteran Marine, a man who walked a Christian path his entire life. And yes a Democrat.
“Democratic Party — creatures of a political machine, not men of the Church; less concerned with Catholic teaching than with its influence.”
Mo never agreed with the aggressive and devicive approach to social issues in politics. They lead to the type of separation and “sides” in this statement. He did what Christ commanded and prayed as I do everyday knowing that this, and not false influence will make the biggest difference.
There will be a lot of Chathlic Democrat men possibly struggling with a political vote, but never with wether men of the Church or Christ. As a mentor once told me, differences should be tolerated.
I’m voting with what I believe is the conscience of a man who respect all life. Thanks you again Bishop for this and many lessons I live by today.
God bless you, Archbishop Chaput for always speaking The Truth, even when (especially when!) it’s not politically correct! You should have been named Cardinal, yet we know God is in control and He has His Divine Plan! Jesus, I trust in You!
Brilliantly articulated!
There is no choice here. The choice is obvious.
It is disappointing and unhelpful for a Prince of the Church to continue to draw lines of moral equivalence betwwen these rwo candidates and, especially, to cast stones and disrespectful names at an imperfect man who shows no contempt for the Church. Shameful, really. Couching it as the words of an unnamed “friend” is like throwing these stones from behind the safety of a brick wall.
With all due respect….We deserve better from our Shepherds.
Sadly our churches favored the influence of the political class, far more then they did in adhering to the word of God. So many so called Catholics in name only got away with using Christ’s Name while they supported abortion…where are the clergy then and now…when a Kaine or Pelosi brag of their Catholic title…and are not stripped of it…for not even knowing Christ means Life!
“Thanks to their work, and activists like them, American Catholics helped to elect an administration that has been the most stubbornly unfriendly to religious believers, institutions, concerns and liberty in generations.”
No, excellency… Credit goes first to decades (and now generations) of poor spiritual leadership from Catholic bishops. Without the systemic lack of pastoral guidance, the wolves would never have been able to influence a majority of the flock…
In the 20th century the prince of this world, through Frankfurt socialism and Gramscian socialism, was able to take the Catholic prelates’ gaze away from heaven and turn it toward the earth (aversio a Deo). When the flock is no longer facing ad orientem with their prelates and priests (both figuratively and literally) the focus is on the temporal -the social. Proof of this temporal focus can be found during this extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy with empty confessionals and parishes that only offer confession 15-30 minutes a week before a Mass on Sunday (not even enough time for all of a parish’s extraordinary ministers to confess and be in a state of grace).
You can blame “servile partisan hustling”, but a Church militant with its gaze fixed on heaven, a Church militant in a state of grace would be immune to such hustling. If there is no such immunity to the influence of wolves, it is first the shepherds fault as the failure is theirs.
Thank you, I needed this. My mother sat next to you at a dinner years ago. She told me to keep tabs on you. That you were so blessed and a great man and the church was lucky to have you as such a strong member. Thank you for putting this so perfectly for the Catholic community. Prays to you and for all of us in this dark difficult time for our church and our species.
Your Excellency,
I would like to thank you for this cogent, thoughtful response to this whole unfortunate situation. I hope that your wise counsel will be the beginning of a serious reconsideration by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in the United States of its association with, and relation to, the Democratic party. I myself have looked with great concern in that party’s gradual change from the support of the working class to the espousal of policies which are opposed both to that class and our Church.
Yours sincerely in our Lord Christ,
Bernard Brandt
As a Catholic there is one we cannot vote for, it would be like trying to commit suicide for Christians, while the other choice has signs of conversion and faults far less grevious than the other. As bad as the choices are there is still almost a night and day difference. God Bless you Archbishop Chaput.
Peace and Blessings, Your Grace. – Thank you for fighting the good fight.
Amen