Vox Nova is pleased to\u00a0share the following guest post by Tom Johnson, a Catholic Worker from Dubuque, Iowa, USA.<\/em><\/p>\n I have been torn during this presidential election year. As a Catholic Worker, I agree in principle with the movement\u2019s aims and means that the vast size of the U.S. Federal Government makes it \u201cgovernment by nobody\u201di<\/span><\/a><\/sup> and, its function as \u201can effective political forum for redressing grievances, next to impossible.\u201dii<\/span><\/a><\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Then came Bernie Sanders, whose message of economic equality and revolution promised what sounded a lot like Peter Maurin\u2019s \u201cnew society within the shell of the old.\u201diii<\/span><\/sup><\/a><\/sup> I felt \u201cthe Bern\u201d and became involved.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The presidential campaign system, however, already biased toward the Establishment of the wealthy and seasoned with dirty tricks, rendered its foregone conclusion. I was swayed by the advice that \u201cvoting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.\u201d I therefore could not bring myself to vote for either of the candidates, whose policies, to me seemed equally evil.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut,\u201d I have asked myself more than once, \u201cwhere can I run from such evil? Where or what is that system which allows principled, compassionate government? Is holding to my principles an excuse for doing nothing?\u201div<\/span><\/sup><\/a><\/sup> Is it possible for a radical Christian, a Catholic Worker, to live morally, responsibly, and effectively<\/i> within the current society? What spiritual attitudes and behaviors are required?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe Aims and Means of the Catholic Worker\u201dv<\/span><\/sup><\/a><\/sup> advises the adoption of nonviolence, practicing the works of mercy; doing manual labor; and voluntary poverty. Regarding nonviolent sociopolitical action, it advises:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Jesus taught us to take suffering upon ourselves rather than inflict it upon others, and He calls us to fight against violence with the spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting and noncooperation with evil. Refusal to pay taxes for war, to register for conscription, to comply with any unjust legislation; participation in nonviolent strikes and boycotts, protests or vigils; withdrawal of support for dominant systems, corporate funding or usurious practices are all excellent means to establish peace.vi<\/span><\/sup><\/a><\/sup><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n I would further recommend \u2013 particularly for those who are upset by the current administration of the Empire \u2013 the practice of contemplation, a mystical form of prayer slightly distinct from meditation. Contemplation, or Centering Prayer, which leads one away from what Alan Watts describes as our artificial \u201csystem of words and symbols\u201dvii<\/span><\/sup><\/a><\/sup> to what is real, the world as it actually exists. In other words, we stop looking at our human-made map and regard the scenery, the world as it is.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Contemplation allows us to \u201cBe still and know that I am God!\u201dviii<\/span><\/sup><\/a><\/sup>; that God is ultimately responsible and capable, not me or any other human being or system. It reminds us:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n For just as from the heavens And do not return there Giving seed to those who sow So shall my word be It shall not return to me void, It helps me to realize that God\u2019s creative work, although yet unfulfilled, is nevertheless evolving toward wholeness, and with my\/our cooperation, God\u2019s reign of justice will indeed prevail.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/a>When I act politically with the confidence that God\u2019s justice will indeed be accomplished someday, I can choose more calmly and proactively, per principle rather than expedient or knee-jerk reactions.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Strangers and sojourners though we may be as we make our life\u2019s journey as subjects of the American Empire, we may travel in the certainty that God will lead us to the Promised Land of justice.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n i<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/sup> The Aims and Means of the Catholic Worker, http:\/\/www.catholicworker.org\/cw-aims-and-means.html<\/a><\/u><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n ii<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/sup> Ibid.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n iii<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/span><\/sup> Maurin, Peter; \u201c<\/span>Easy Essays\u201d; http:\/\/www.catholicworker.org\/petermaurin\/easy-essays.html<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The Communitarian Movement<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n aims to create<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n a new society<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n within the shell of the old<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n with the philosophy of the new<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n which is not<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n a new philosophy<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n but a very old philosophy,<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n a philosophy so old<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n that it looks like new.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n iv<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/sup> Alinsky, Saul; Rules for Radicals<\/i> (Vintage Books, 1989) p. 25.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n v<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n <\/sup> Op. cit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nthe rain and snow come down <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
\ntill they have watered the earth,
\nmaking it fertile and fruitful, <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
\nand bread to those who eat, <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
\nthat goes forth from my mouth; <\/i><\/span><\/p>\n
\nbut shall do my will,
\nachieving the end for which I sent it.<\/i><\/span>ix<\/span><\/sup><\/a><\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n