The Challenge of Being American and Catholic

I like Tim Kaine. I really do. Besides the fact that I agree with (most) of his politics, he’s a life-long Catholic, educated by the Jesuits, and very open about his faith—and I absolutely love that.

And while I don’t think for a second that he’s any “less Catholic” that I am, he does—as so many Catholic politicians are apt to do—hold some beliefs that are explicitly against Church teaching. For example, his recent comments about same-sex marriage and the possibility of a change in the Church’s position are wrong and misleading.

The Church will never extend marriage to include same-sex unions. Ever. And it’s not out of stubbornness or bigotry. It’s because the Church literally *can’t* shift its position. No Catholic alive, including Pope Francis and all the clergy, has that authority. 

There are certain teachings within the Church that are concrete. And Catholics are bound by the faith to accept them as truth—morally, spiritually, and theologically. Furthermore, we are obligated to actively promote, profess, and live by these truths in both our private and public lives.

Simply put, we are to be Catholic first in all we do. It is our primary duty. And the Church has been very clear about this. 

So when Tim Kaine publicly throws his support behind same-sex marriage, or abortion (though he may be personally opposed), or suggests that the teachings will change, he is objectively wrong. As is any other Catholic—citizen or politician—who follows suit.

But…

As American Catholics living in a very large, complex, eclectic society full of different beliefs, faiths, and cultures under a secular government, it would be disingenuous to pretend that the private and public application of the truth are one in the same.
Public promotion of the faith inevitably includes some level of application to the law. And that presents an ethical dilemma, because while there are some areas where this is perfectly acceptable, there are others where it, frankly, is not.

The same sex marriage debate is perhaps one of the best examples of this. As stated, Catholics have a very specific belief about marriage that we are not to deviate from. However, for all intents and purposes, that belief is not equal to the state’s civil and secular definition. One deals with spiritual life, the other deals with taxes and estates.

So when it comes to voting, or making laws, we have to remember that America is made up of more than just Catholics. There are people who want the freedom to live their lives without the intrusion of a religion that they don’t even believe in. One does not have to deny the truth, or fall into relativism, in order to recognize this reality.

So how are Catholics to navigate this when it comes to public life? How can we—as catholic citizens and lawmakers—promote the truth while respecting the freedom and rights of those who do not believe as we do?

This is the million-dollar question that has sparked numerous debates within Catholic circles. And in every conversation, it seems one must choose between only two positions: a strict, objective application of the rules or a subjective interpretation based off of personal feelings.  

But both of these are damming to the Church. And besides, Catholicism is too spiritually rich to be limited in this way, and perhaps Catholics need to spend less time debating the boundaries of the rules an more time exploring the complex space within them. It doesn’t have to be a black and white choice between heresy and orthodoxy

We can dutifully follow the Church’s teaching on sex and contraception while also realizing that its use in secular and Protestant circles *can* have some positive benefits (like reducing abortion and unwanted pregnancies).

We can defend and sustain the all male priesthood while simultaneously expanding the role of women in the Church. 

We can fight abortion tooth and nail in areas outside the legal system. And we can show mercy and love to women who feel like they don’t, or didn’t, have a choice.

We can promote, defend and profess the truth about marriage while also understanding that there are homosexual men and women who simply want to live in peace with their partner while enjoying the same rights as every other American.

We can hold true to the Church’s teaching on divorce while understanding that there are some extemporaneous circumstances that can allow for a divorced and remarried person to still receive the Eucharist.

Discernment, mercy, and prudential judgment. These are themes that have permeated throughout Francis’ papacy, and we can practically apply them to our public lives without denying the truth.