Priests and Protests

Some people use Separation of Church and State to tell the Catholic Church to stay out of politics.  Although the words, "Separation of Church and State" is not found in the United States Constitution, the First Amendment does make clear that Government is not supposed to establish a national religion or national church.  It is the American people who chooses their religion.

     

Separation of Church and State is an advantage to the Church because it protects the Church from state control and interference.  The Church can carry out its mission in proclaiming the Gospel and moral values, in denouncing the evil in society, in serving the common good, in working for the defense of life and the environment, in struggling for justice and peace, and in operating social action projects that benefits the poor.  It does not prevent the Church from being involved in the social and political field.  In fact, there is no public law prohibiting church members to run for public office.  Church law prohibits the clergy from running for public office or endorsing a political candidate, but the clergy still have the right to express their views on government policy, such as the closing of churches.  According to Pacific Daily News:

In an interview with Newstalk K57, Fr. Mike Crisostomo, St. Anthony's Church Pastor, said: "As Church people, we want to be able to cooperate...but don't push us too far."

Fr. Crisostomo made the statement before the governor announced she’d allow indoor religious service to resume this weekend. 

Freedom of expression and the right to peaceably assemble in a protest is under the First Amendment.  Everyone has a right to express their social and political views.  This right of free expression also extends to the Church.  

So a big kudos to Archbishop Michael Byrnes for having the courage to open the doors of the parishes, even without government approval.  A big kudos also to Father Mike Crisostomo for publicly speaking out, standing up for his flock in the Tamuning Church and for all the Catholic faithful on opening the parish doors.  And a big kudos to the Catholic faithful who stood at the protests announcing to the Governor to open the doors of their parishes.  Truly, those parishioners love the Mass in their parishes, which is highly evident.  This love for their parish Mass gave them the courage to speak the truth through their peaceful protests and most especially through social media.  It is even more amazing to see some elderly folks standing (and social distancing) in the protest.  Truly, the Holy Spirit is in these people giving them courage despite COVID-19.    

Father Gordon also wrote something similar last week. His article entitled, Police, Politics, Priests, Protests, and The Purge" can be found here.  It is unfortunate that bishops are divided in their opinions regarding Father James Altman who stood up for the truth. Quoting from his blog, Father Gordon stated: 

I wrote a post some weeks ago entitled, “The State of Our Freedom, the Content of Our Character.” It was somewhat mildly critical of Archbishop Wilton Gregory of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, because I believed (and still believe) he mischaracterized the reason President Trump appeared holding a Bible in front of St. John Episcopal church in Washington. On the previous night, mobs had virtually destroyed the façade of that church. Neither CNN nor MSNBC nor the major news networks would film the damage so Trump went to stand in front of it bringing the news cameras with him. Even then, CNN zoomed in on Trump so as not to display the damage from the previous night’s “peaceful protest.”

After I wrote about this, one of our readers posted it on one of several Catholic Facebook groups that share posts from These Stone Walls. I have never actually seen any of these groups. I have never seen Facebook either, but I am told that almost instantly someone posted in screaming caps, “YOU’RE A PRIEST! STAY OUT OF POLITICS!” My response to that would be, “Ummm, No.” I should not run for political office, and I should not use my proclamation of the Gospel to endorse a political candidate, but ordination to Catholic priesthood does not cancel out my First Amendment rights.

This came to the fore recently when an outspoken and rather courageous priest, Father James Altman, was disciplined by his bishop for statements that his conscience (and Catholic moral teaching) concluded were true. Then two other bishops entered the fray in defense of Father Altman. Some Catholics pitched their tents at opposite ends of the fray, but the whole affair left me feeling that the Church is alive and well in America, even if suppressed by the growth of socialism. Father Altman concludes that resistance is not futile, and I agree with him. A lot of readers very much liked our recent graphic in “Kamala Harris, Knights of Columbus, Threats to Democracy”:

• “Our duty as Catholics is to know the truth, to live the truth, to defend the truth, to share the truth with others, and to suffer for the truth.” (Servant of God Father John Hardon, S.J.)

Father James Altman now suffers for the truth.