Hudson & Fournier: Catholic Countdown, Day 12: Shock Claim? We are Catholics Before we are Americans

By Deal W Hudson and Keith A Fournier
10/25/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Was Archbishop Chaput predicting the future in the interview?

We're Catholics before we're Democrats. We're Catholics before we're Republicans. We're even Catholics before we're Americans because we know that God has a demand on us prior to any government demand on us.... and this has been the story of the martyrs through the centuries

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia

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WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - "We're Catholics before we're Democrats. We're Catholics before we're Republicans. We're even Catholics before we're Americans because we know that God has a demand on us prior to any government demand on us.... and this has been the story of the martyrs through the centuries."

This line from Archbishop Chaput's video interview with the Catholic News Service prompted one reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer to call a publicist to ask, "Has he EVER said this before?" The implication of the reporter's query, and his tone of voice, suggested that he was surprised and shocked that the Archbishop of Philadelphia would say such a thing.

Well, he if was shocked, we are even more shocked - at his shock! Has our nation become so secularized that a news reporter, from a major daily, would find the claim, "We're Catholics before we're Americans," something troubling, perhaps scandalous?

When the reporter found out that Archbishop Chaput was not saying this publicly for the first time, that, in fact, he had said it as recently as his Oct. 14 speech in Chester Springs, PA, he evidently decided not to pursue it. What he was unaware of is this: The story inside the story is not what Chaput said, but the fact that he, the reporter, was shocked enough to check it out.

Off the top of our heads, we wonder if the reporter from the Philadelphia Inquirer -- yes, Philadelphia! -- remembered reading the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776) as a schoolboy:

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

We quote the Declaration's first full paragraph not to be pedantic, but to remind the reporter, and anyone else who needs it, that the entire justification for the creation of the United States was based upon our prior relationship to God. In other words, before any identity we may have belonging to a nation or a political party, we are a creature of God, subject to His laws and the beneficiary of the inherent dignity and rights He bestowed upon us.

Note that by quoting the Declaration of Independence, we haven't yet gotten to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, much less to Holy Scripture! This is to say, you shouldn't have to be a person of faith to understand that every human person answers to God first; it's a first principle of the American Founding and, as such, ought to be taught to school children from 1st grade to 12th. (But is it, we may ask?)

Archbishop Chaput may not have had it in mind, but when he said "we" are Catholics first, not Americans, that "we" could be applied to every citizen in respect of their own faith or lack of it. A Methodist is a Methodist first, a Baptist, a Baptist first, a Mormon, a Mormon first -- because these are the denominal expressions of their belief in transcendence.

The non-believer, too, is a creature of God first, and by virtue of American citizenship implicitly affirms, claims it, and is protected by it. Martin Luther King's "Letter from the Birmingham Jail" (April 16, 1963) is one of our nation's elegant testimonies to the political implications of our Declaration of Independence:

"One may want to ask: 'How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?' The answer lies in the fact that there are two types of laws: just and unjust. I would be the first to advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that 'an unjust law is no law at all.'"

Indeed, there may be more theological letters written from the confines of jail cells in the near future, as the Catholic bishops quickly approach the end of a one-year deadline given to them by the Obama administration to obey the HHS mandate or face the consequences. Not a single bishop has signaled any other intention than to embrace the consequences with the joy of serving Christ.

Was Archbishop Chaput predicting the future in the interview when he concluded, "This has been the story of the martyrs through the centuries"? We know it has crossed his mind: At Chester Springs, he said, but only half-jokingly, "I don't want to go to jail."

If the election affirms the Obama administration's HHS mandate, there is a 100 percent chance that there will be civil disobedience in the Catholic Church, led by its bishops. Whether jail will follow is anyone's guess.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Declaration, Inalienable Rights, HHS Mandate, health Care, Obamacare, campaign 2012, Catholic, Mormon, Protestant, pro-Life, Religious liberty, Archbishop Chaput, Deal W Hudson, Keith A Fournier

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1 - 10 of 13 Comments

Heidi Stevenson
6 months ago
As a Latter-day Saint, I also am against abortion, as I am against gay marriage. We are told in the Bible that we should not commit adultery or anything like unto it. These things are most abominable in the sight of God.

I do not take my freedoms in this country for granted. But as more freedoms are stolen from us day by day and year by year, and accelerating now to maybe minute by minute, it is necessary for us to stand up for those things which we do consider to be laws of God. As Paul said, Should I obey God or obey man. That should be a simple answer for Christians even if the consequences will be difficult.

My parents are both from Europe. They came to the United States after WWII. My father grew up as a Latter-day Saint in Nazi Germany. It is sad for him to see that we now have a fully socialist president. My mother grew up in Northern Ireland and converted to the Latter-day Saint religion at age 16. Both of them gave up their homelands, culture, and ties to their history because of their faith in God and because of the freedoms they wanted to give to us their children.

I cried after the election when my father said to me, This is not what I wanted for my children and my grandchildren. It's not what I want for my children or grandchildren either. And so they will know that. I will speak it; and I will live according to the dictates of my own conscience and with harmony to God's law.

Please know that as a Latter-day Saint (or Mormon), I appreciate that the Catholic Church will stand up for its Constitution rights of freedom of religion. God bless you.
Judy Claar
6 months ago
Theresa H.: Absolutely agree. I have C. Chaput's book myself. The Church is in favor of no political party. But will guide the Faithful towards that party that Most follows the Church's teaching. You gave an Excellent analysis. Blessings...
Judy Claar
6 months ago
Ohhh Emma, you gave me a chuckle! May I join to? I am serious. We have to become Organized to Succeed. We are in different states, or opposite ends of a state. Your idea would work if we had a viable networking system w/Catholic Counselors to boot.When do we meet? Who is in charge? Blessings...
Theresa H.
6 months ago
I follow Archbishop Chaput 100%....I say that because when our Bishops speak in matters of faith and morals, we are the "hearers," called to obedience by Jesus Christ. ("He who hears you, hears me....And he who despises you, despises me." - Lk 10:16) Of course, the Bishop must be speaking "in union" with the Pope/Church teaching--which there is no reason to doubt that is the case here.

Archbishop Chaput is not favoring the Republican Party, he's favoring the 5th Commandment (and Church teaching) rightly being supported by the Republican Party--at this point in time. If the Democratic Party were the Pro-Life Party, or both Parties were pro-Life it wouldn't matter which candidate(s) we voted for in either Party. But that's not the case here and now. We are in dire straits re. the legalization of more "intrinsically evil" policies being proposed by, yes, the Pres. Obama and the Democratic Party. For this reason--thank God, our Bishops are speaking up, loud and clear, so there can be no mistake! Now, for those who still vote for these intrinsically evil policies....Well, you have been told.... And, yes, we are responsible before God and man, and His Church. May the Lord "deliver us from evil." Amen!
Emma
6 months ago
When the occupier movement first started up last year here in Sacramento, a lg. group of protesters were arrested (I 'm guessing appx. 200,but just cannot remember) . They were eventually released. Why? Because they each requested a jury trial, which is their right. When it became obvious that the system was being overwhelmed, the city had no choice but to release them. So, what would happen with a million Catholics? Of course, our gov. can now resort to use of our National Defense Act of 2012 to sidestep our rights to being charged, provided with legal counsel, EVER! It wouldn't work with a million, but sadly, few would be willing to stand in line for freedom for even as long as they do for the newest ipod. And just what gives with those FEMA Camps going up in Georgia and Texas? Why do they need barbed wire for facilities meant for emergency shelter? Greater question for me is : why doesn't anyone care? BTW...there are pro -life activists listed on our Homeland Security 's Watchlist, so I just may see you there someday, Esther. We can pray together :)
Tom McGuire
6 months ago
One of the dangers of the present political positions taken by Church leaders is the identification of Catholic with Republican. The WAY Catholics of all political ideologies go about fighting for their ideological position could easily lead others to be shocked by the statement: "We're Catholics before we're Democrats. We're Catholics before we're Republicans. We're even Catholics before we're Americans because we know that God has a demand on us prior to any government demand on us.... and this has been the story of the martyrs through the centuries."
Esther M Ventura Ferencz
6 months ago
Indeed WE ARE CATHOLICS before Americans...and we are so Blessed to be!

If Mr Obama is re elected? Oh yes many who oppose his HHS mandate on our faiths Hospitals via law enforcement...many who are true witnesses to Gods law will be sitting in a jail cell sooner then later. May well see some of you there.
Paul-Emile Leray
6 months ago
Very encouraging. This article goes very well with Mr. Andrew M. Greenwell's recent articles, particularly the one on faith and reason and his clear explanations between ratio and intellectus. Society becomes one big prison if the laws are unjust, immoral, and simply stupid. While I do not wish to speculate too much or put words inside the mouths of some who have passed on, a wonderful Jesuit named Tony De Mello once wrote "the law is an ass". I agree! This sort of attitude that seems to exist, that as long as a person is following the law then he or she is a good law abiding citizen, is dangerous. What if the laws themselves are nuts? What if the laws themselves promote disunity, disharmony, hatred, oppression, neglect the poorest of the poor, and so forth? A democracy risks becoming nothing more than a mobocracy filled with manipulative demagogues when the citizenry is asleep. Journalists these days, in so many countries, seem to be more so in the business of either sensationalism or promoting pop culture than in the search for objectivity and truth. I wish there were more journalists and reporters, interviewers, like Mr. Charlie Rose. I invite readers to see a recent interview of his, entitled 'The Future of Foreign Policy'. More need to be looking at the roots and premises underneath political economy and manmade laws. If not, we'll forever be manipulated and swept around by the passing winds of pop culture and mashed up utilitarianism, secularism, relativism; and told by the leaders that it is all good for us. Good for us? Having uninformed or misinformed blind sheep is fertile ground for the authorities to manipulate even more. Educare and instruction. I think 'educare' would fall under 'intellectus'. Jail? I would imagine, for some throughout history, that it offered them more liberty and freedom that what certain societies might have. Many in society are 'in jail' while being under the illusion they are free. Free? What is freedom? What is true freedom? That is something to be discerned on deep levels. What is true authentic freedom? Real and true freedom, what is it? If people think about this deeply, while defining to degrees that sit well within the depths of their properly aligned souls, I think many will go through a process of seeing a few more gray hairs develop on their heads prior to actually becoming free. Jail? It is possible to be wonderfully FREE inside a prison cell. Many monks, mystics, freely chose the lifestyle of living in cells and monasteries (on the proper side of the 'law') and were more free than some in secular society who are under the ILLUSION they are free. Free will does not mean a person can do whatever they want whenever they want. Free will, rooted in Christianity as understood by Catholicism, and proper application thereof, can lead one to becoming radically free. (easy to say and write, almost impossible to do; but possible, because some have done it)
Paul-Emile Leray
Matt
6 months ago
I'm glad that someone with authority has stepped to the plate and said something about this. People are very quick to pick a side and attach a label to that side. Liberal, Democrat, Conservative, and Republican...they do this because people want to belong to something but it is the most devisive thing we have done as a country. As I've stated in a previous comment the only labels that I will proudly claim by is Christian, Catholic, Father, Husband, and Marine.
Brian D.
6 months ago
Archbishop Chaput, O.F.M., Cap is right on target . . .again! Thank you Archbishop.

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