Whoops!
I wrote the following for you to read on Sunday but I forgot to send it.
But it’s still worth the read!
In Christ, Jeff
I
encourage you to spend part of your weekly Sabbath Rest, slowly reading and
reflecting on Pope Francis’ speech to the Congress of the United States on
Thursday.
You will be thrilled at some things he says and you will disagree with
others.
Each of us will agree and disagree on different things.
However the Christian way to read the Pope’s speech is to ask, “How
does what Pope Francis says square with what I read in the Bible?”
(doing so without picking and choosing passages that support what you
want the Bible to say!).
I think doing this will provide some real surprise for many Christians.
May
God use the words of the Pope to bless on this, God’s Holy Sabbath.
“Mr.
Vice-President,
Mr.
Speaker,
Honorable
Members of Congress,
Dear
Friends,
I
am most grateful for your invitation to address this Joint Session of Congress
in "the land of the free and the home of the brave". I would like to
think that the reason for this is that I too am a son of this great continent,
from which we have all received so much and toward which we share a common
responsibility.
Each
son or daughter of a given country has a mission, a personal and social
responsibility. Your own responsibility as members of Congress is to enable this
country, by your legislative activity, to grow as a nation. You are the face of
its people, their representatives. You are called to defend and preserve the
dignity of your fellow citizens in the tireless and demanding pursuit of the
common good, for this is the chief aim of all politics. A political society
endures when it seeks, as a vocation, to satisfy common needs by stimulating the
growth of all its members, especially those in situations of greater
vulnerability or risk. Legislative activity is always based on care for the
people. To this you have been invited, called and convened by those who elected
you.
Yours
is a work which makes me reflect in two ways on the figure of Moses. On the one
hand, the patriarch and lawgiver of the people of Israel symbolizes the need of
peoples to keep alive their sense of unity by means of just legislation. On the
other, the figure of Moses leads us directly to God and thus to the transcendent
dignity of the human being. Moses provides us with a good synthesis of your
work: you are asked to protect, by means of the law, the image and likeness
fashioned by God on every human face.
Today
I would like not only to address you, but through you the entire people of the
United States. Here, together with their representatives, I would like to take
this opportunity to dialogue with the many thousands of men and women who strive
each day to do an honest day's work, to bring home their daily bread, to save
money and --one step at a time -- to build a better life for their families.
These are men and women who are not concerned simply with paying their taxes,
but in their own quiet way sustain the life of society. They generate solidarity
by their actions, and they create organizations which offer a helping hand to
those most in need.
I
would also like to enter into dialogue with the many elderly persons who are a
storehouse of wisdom forged by experience, and who seek in many ways, especially
through volunteer work, to share their stories and their insights. I know that
many of them are retired, but still active; they keep working to build up this
land. I also want to dialogue with all those young people who are working to
realize their great and noble aspirations, who are not led astray by facile
proposals, and who face difficult situations, often as a result of immaturity on
the part of many adults. I wish to dialogue with all of you, and I would like to
do so through the historical memory of your people.
My
visit takes place at a time when men and women of good will are marking the
anniversaries of several great Americans. The complexities of history and the
reality of human weakness notwithstanding, these men and women, for all their
many differences and limitations, were able by hard work and self-sacrifice --
some at the cost of their lives -- to build a better future. They shaped
fundamental values which will endure forever in the spirit of the American
people. A people with this spirit can live through many crises, tensions and
conflicts, while always finding the resources to move forward, and to do so with
dignity. These men and women offer us a way of seeing and interpreting reality.
In honoring their memory, we are inspired, even amid conflicts, and in the here
and now of each day, to draw upon our deepest cultural reserves.
I
would like to mention four of these Americans: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther
King, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton.
This
year marks the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of
President Abraham Lincoln, the guardian of liberty, who labored tirelessly that
"this nation, under God, [might] have a new birth of freedom".
Building a future of freedom requires love of the common good and cooperation in
a spirit of subsidiarity and solidarity.
All
of us are quite aware of, and deeply worried by, the disturbing social and
political situation of the world today. Our world is increasingly a place of
violent conflict, hatred and brutal atrocities, committed even in the name of
God and of religion. We know that no religion is immune from forms of individual
delusion or ideological extremism. This means that we must be especially
attentive to every type of fundamentalism, whether religious or of any other
kind. A delicate balance is required to combat violence perpetrated in the name
of a religion, an ideology or an economic system, while also safeguarding
religious freedom, intellectual freedom and individual freedoms. But there is
another temptation which we must especially guard against: the simplistic
reductionism which sees only good or evil; or, if you will, the righteous and
sinners. The contemporary world, with its open wounds which affect so many of
our brothers and sisters, demands that we confront every form of polarization
which would divide it into these two camps. We know that in the attempt to be
freed of the enemy without, we can be tempted to feed the enemy within. To
imitate the hatred and violence of tyrants and murderers is the best way to take
their place. That is something which you, as a people, reject.
Our
response must instead be one of hope and healing, of peace and justice. We are
asked to summon the courage and the intelligence to resolve today's many
geopolitical and economic crises. Even in the developed world, the effects of
unjust structures and actions are all too apparent. Our efforts must aim at
restoring hope, righting wrongs, maintaining commitments, and thus promoting the
well-being of individuals and of peoples. We must move forward together, as one,
in a renewed spirit of fraternity and solidarity, cooperating generously for the
common good.
The
challenges facing us today call for a renewal of that spirit of cooperation,
which has accomplished so much good throughout the history of the United States.
The complexity, the gravity and the urgency of these challenges demand that we
pool our resources and talents, and resolve to support one another, with respect
for our differences and our convictions of conscience.
In
this land, the various religious denominations have greatly contributed to
building and strengthening society. It is important that today, as in the past,
the voice of faith continue to be heard, for it is a voice of fraternity and
love, which tries to bring out the best in each person and in each society. Such
cooperation is a powerful resource in the battle to eliminate new global forms
of slavery, born of grave injustices which can be overcome only through new
policies and new forms of social consensus.
Here
I think of the political history of the United States, where democracy is deeply
rooted in the mind of the American people. All political activity must serve and
promote the good of the human person and be based on respect for his or her
dignity. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created
equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights,
that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness"
(Declaration of Independence, 4 July 1776). If politics must truly be at the
service of the human person, it follows that it cannot be a slave to the economy
and finance. Politics is, instead, an expression of our compelling need to live
as one, in order to build as one the greatest common good: that of a community
which sacrifices particular interests in order to share, in justice and peace,
its goods, its interests, its social life. I do not underestimate the difficulty
that this involves, but I encourage you in this effort.
Here
too I think of the march which Martin Luther King led from Selma to Montgomery
fifty years ago as part of the campaign to fulfill his "dream" of full
civil and political rights for African Americans. That dream continues to
inspire us all. I am happy that America continues to be, for many, a land of
"dreams". Dreams which lead to action, to participation, to
commitment. Dreams which awaken what is deepest and truest in the life of a
people.
In
recent centuries, millions of people came to this land to pursue their dream of
building a future in freedom. We, the people of this continent, are not fearful
of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners. I say this to you as the
son of immigrants, knowing that so many of you are also descended from
immigrants. Tragically, the rights of those who were here long before us were
not always respected. For those peoples and their nations, from the heart of
American democracy, I wish to reaffirm my highest esteem and appreciation. Those
first contacts were often turbulent and violent, but it is difficult to judge
the past by the criteria of the present. Nonetheless, when the stranger in our
midst appeals to us, we must not repeat the sins and the errors of the past. We
must resolve now to live as nobly and as justly as possible, as we educate new
generations not to turn their back on our "neighbors" and everything
around us. Building a nation calls us to recognize that we must constantly
relate to others, rejecting a mindset of hostility in order to adopt one of
reciprocal subsidiarity, in a constant effort to do our best. I am confident
that we can do this.
Our
world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since the Second World
War. This presents us with great challenges and many hard decisions. On this
continent, too, thousands of persons are led to travel north in search of a
better life for themselves and for their loved ones, in search of greater
opportunities. Is this not what we want for our own children? We must not be
taken aback by their numbers, but rather view them as persons, seeing their
faces and listening to their stories, trying to respond as best we can to their
situation. To respond in a way which is always humane, just and fraternal. We
need to avoid a common temptation nowadays: to discard whatever proves
troublesome. Let us remember the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would
have them do unto you" (Mt 7:12).
This
Rule points us in a clear direction. Let us treat others with the same passion
and compassion with which we want to be treated. Let us seek for others the same
possibilities which we seek for ourselves. Let us help others to grow, as we
would like to be helped ourselves. In a word, if we want security, let us give
security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us
provide opportunities. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick
which time will use for us. The Golden Rule also reminds us of our
responsibility to protect and defend human life at every stage of its
development.
This
conviction has led me, from the beginning of my ministry, to advocate at
different levels for the global abolition of the death penalty. I am convinced
that this way is the best, since every life is sacred, every human person is
endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the
rehabilitation of those convicted of crimes. Recently my brother bishops here in
the United States renewed their call for the abolition of the death penalty. Not
only do I support them, but I also offer encouragement to all those who are
convinced that a just and necessary punishment must never exclude the dimension
of hope and the goal of rehabilitation.
In
these times when social concerns are so important, I cannot fail to mention the
Servant of God Dorothy Day, who founded the Catholic Worker Movement. Her social
activism, her passion for justice and for the cause of the oppressed, were
inspired by the Gospel, her faith, and the example of the saints.
How
much progress has been made in this area in so many parts of the world! How much
has been done in these first years of the third millennium to raise people out
of extreme poverty! I know that you share my conviction that much more still
needs to be done, and that in times of crisis and economic hardship a spirit of
global solidarity must not be lost. At the same time I would encourage you to
keep in mind all those people around us who are trapped in a cycle of poverty.
They too need to be given hope. The fight against poverty and hunger must be
fought constantly and on many fronts, especially in its causes. I know that many
Americans today, as in the past, are working to deal with this problem.
It
goes without saying that part of this great effort is the creation and
distribution of wealth. The right use of natural resources, the proper
application of technology and the harnessing of the spirit of enterprise are
essential elements of an economy which seeks to be modern, inclusive and
sustainable. "Business is a noble vocation, directed to producing wealth
and improving the world. It can be a fruitful source of prosperity for the area
in which it operates, especially if it sees the creation of jobs as an essential
part of its service to the common good" (Laudato Si', 129). This common
good also includes the earth, a central theme of the encyclical which I recently
wrote in order to "enter into dialogue with all people about our common
home" (ibid., 3). "We need a conversation which includes everyone,
since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots,
concern and affect us all" (ibid., 14).
In
Laudato Si', I call for a courageous and responsible effort to "redirect
our steps" (ibid., 61), and to avert the most serious effects of the
environmental deterioration caused by human activity. I am convinced that we can
make a difference and I have no doubt that the United States -- and this
Congress -- have an important role to play. Now is the time for courageous
actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a "culture of care"
(ibid., 231) and "an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring
dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature" (ibid.,
139). "We have the freedom needed to limit and direct technology"
(ibid., 112); "to devise intelligent ways of... developing and limiting our
power" (ibid., 78); and to put technology "at the service of another
type of progress, one which is healthier, more human, more social, more
integral" (ibid., 112). In this regard, I am confident that America's
outstanding academic and research institutions can make a vital contribution in
the years ahead.
A
century ago, at the beginning of the Great War, which Pope Benedict XV termed a
"pointless slaughter", another notable American was born: the
Cistercian monk Thomas Merton. He remains a source of spiritual inspiration and
a guide for many people. In his autobiography he wrote: "I came into the
world. Free by nature, in the image of God, I was nevertheless the prisoner of
my own violence and my own selfishness, in the image of the world into which I
was born. That world was the picture of Hell, full of men like myself, loving
God, and yet hating him; born to love him, living instead in fear of hopeless
self-contradictory hungers". Merton was above all a man of prayer, a
thinker who challenged the certitudes of his time and opened new horizons for
souls and for the Church. He was also a man of dialogue, a promoter of peace
between peoples and religions.
From
this perspective of dialogue, I would like to recognize the efforts made in
recent months to help overcome historic differences linked to painful episodes
of the past. It is my duty to build bridges and to help all men and women, in
any way possible, to do the same. When countries which have been at odds resume
the path of dialogue -- a dialogue which may have been interrupted for the most
legitimate of reasons -- new opportunities open up for all. This has required,
and requires, courage and daring, which is not the same as irresponsibility. A
good political leader is one who, with the interests of all in mind, seizes the
moment in a spirit of openness and pragmatism. A good political leader always
opts to initiate processes rather than possessing spaces (cf. Evangelii Gaudium,
222-223).
Being
at the service of dialogue and peace also means being truly determined to
minimize and, in the long term, to end the many armed conflicts throughout our
world. Here we have to ask ourselves: Why are deadly weapons being sold to those
who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the
answer, as we all know, is simply for money: money that is drenched in blood,
often innocent blood. In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is
our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade.
Three
sons and a daughter of this land, four individuals and four dreams: Lincoln,
liberty; Martin Luther King, liberty in plurality and non-exclusion; Dorothy
Day, social justice and the rights of persons; and Thomas Merton, the capacity
for dialogue and openness to God.
Four
representatives of the American people.
I
will end my visit to your country in Philadelphia, where I will take part in the
World Meeting of Families. It is my wish that throughout my visit the family
should be a recurrent theme. How essential the family has been to the building
of this country! And how worthy it remains of our support and encouragement! Yet
I cannot hide my concern for the family, which is threatened, perhaps as never
before, from within and without. Fundamental relationships are being called into
question, as is the very basis of marriage and the family. I can only reiterate
the importance and, above all, the richness and the beauty of family life.
In
particular, I would like to call attention to those family members who are the
most vulnerable, the young. For many of them, a future filled with countless
possibilities beckons, yet so many others seem disoriented and aimless, trapped
in a hopeless maze of violence, abuse and despair. Their problems are our
problems. We cannot avoid them. We need to face them together, to talk about
them and to seek effective solutions rather than getting bogged down in
discussions. At the risk of oversimplifying, we might say that we live in a
culture which pressures young people not to start a family, because they lack
possibilities for the future. Yet this same culture presents others with so many
options that they too are dissuaded from starting a family.
A
nation can be considered great when it defends liberty as Lincoln did, when it
fosters a culture which enables people to "dream" of full rights for
all their brothers and sisters, as Martin Luther King sought to do; when it
strives for justice and the cause of the oppressed, as Dorothy Day did by her
tireless work, the fruit of a faith which becomes dialogue and sows peace in the
contemplative style of Thomas Merton.
In
these remarks I have sought to present some of the richness of your cultural
heritage, of the spirit of the American people. It is my desire that this spirit
continue to develop and grow, so that as many young people as possible can
inherit and dwell in a land which has inspired so many people to dream.
God
bless America!"
For
more:
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