Typically, new writing ideas either occur in the middle of the night or in the shower for me. These days, I’m trying to stay more positive and avoid calling out the dangers some people and groups are posing which I have done many times before. Most recently, I’m trying to give thanks and praise for places of refuge and make note of those who are exhibiting the Love of Christ whether they identify as Christians or not. In my world, this would be the local Methodists, some family, some close friends, some Facebook friends, Pope Francis and aligned Catholic clergy and laity, and most moderates and progressives I know whether they are Christians or not. However, I still plan to make some contrastable comparisons because it’s necessary.
Starting in 2016, the world was able to see where Americans align culturally, spiritually, and politically because the rise of Trumpism gave permission for historical maladies and patterns of many varieties to reveal themselves again. During the sharp uptick in Christian Nationalism within that timeframe, my husband and I happened to be in a very conservative Catholic Church which was the ending place of conservative religious life for us after a number of years. No place revealed its allegiance to the Project 2025 agenda, Christian Nationalism, and Donald Trump more than ultraconservative churches in America during that time period, including the church we were in. These churches in America may connect with ministry outreach, but their primary focus is implementing Project 2025, controlling people, and forcing conformity by any means possible no matter how dangerous or unethical. In the Catholic world, those who align with “saving the unborn” to the exclusion of everyone else and the planet tend to revolt against Pope Francis. Where those who care about social issues, lives of those outside the womb, and the planet tend to align with Pope Francis. This may be a little oversimplified, but these tend to be the cultural and political trends in American Catholicism today.
For these reasons, I have developed the greatest appreciation for communities who are trying to foster reconciliation, community, freedom of conscience, and healthy spirituality, not division, strife, control, and hatred. No place on earth is this more obvious than in religious communities which is why I appreciate progressive downtown faith communities in San Antonio like the reformed Jewish Temple Bethel, Travis Park Methodist Church, LGBTQ+ friendly Catholic universities, and urban churches. Their work is the exact opposite of the far right, and they are building multicultural inclusive communities, not tearing them down.
For me personally, these types of communities have not only created a place of refuge but a place of escape from right winged political strife. Millions of Christians left organized religion during COVID and didn’t return. I guarantee that it is not the fault of the secular left or the Religious Left. The Religious Right/Catholic Right’s behavior I mentioned above is the primary reason people have left the Church while they have also contributed to the de-evangelization of the Christian faith itself.
I believe the only hope for rebuilding both faith and community is through those who are doing the hard work of social justice and liberating the oppressed. The rise of Christian Nationalism/religious fascism will only do the opposite. Let’s give thanks for those standing on the right side of history, the side of freedom, democracy, the poor, and the marginalized, particularly those impacted by Christian Nationalism like LGBTQ+ people and their families.
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