We are blessing our Cain Nature Playscape after the 4:30 Mass on Sunday. Many thanks to the PTO, school staff, and all the volunteers who brought this beautiful addition to our campus to completion.
This weekend is Respect Life Sunday, and our message will address Amendment 3. This proposed amendment to the Missouri constitution would remove legal protection in Missouri for the lives of children in the womb and make abortion widely available. You can find its full text later in thisbulletin. I encourage you to educate yourself about the amendment and its effects.
Out of respect for those who think our parish should not address a political question in a weekend message, I want to explain why I am taking this path.
Perhaps you hold that a church should not endorse political candidates or political parties. Our Archbishop agrees, and has carefully instructed priests to withhold from endorsing any political candidate or political party. Our message this weekend focuses on Amendment 3, one specific amendment proposed for the November ballot.
Perhaps you feel that preaching about this topic violates the separation of church and state. I would ask you to consider crucial moments in our nation’s history where we all benefited because churches and believers expressed their conviction that God asked our nation to do better. I think of the role of religion in the abolitionist movement, or the religious inspiration that contributed to the civil rights movement. “It is part of the Church’s mission ‘to pass moral judgments even in matters related to politics, wherever the fundamental rights of man or the salvation of souls requires it’.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2246)
Perhaps you worry that openly addressing this topic will make it harder for our community to unite in loving God and loving others, or will hinder our efforts to help people meet Jesus. I share that worry. Yet other reasons persuaded me. First, Jesus calls us as a parish to work in union with our Archbishop, and Archbishop Rozanski has asked us to work for the defeat of Amendment 3. Second, Amendment 3’s core purpose removes the protection of law from an entire class of children dear to God. I believe we would fail in love for others if we did not oppose it. Third, voting is a moral choice. I acknowledge the complexity of political questions. People often vote differently yet in good conscience. But we also face temptations when we vote. I thought it likely that many people in our congregation could face a strong temptation to vote for Amendment 3. So I thought it was worth explaining why respect for human life and the devotion we owe to Jesus both tell us to vote “no” on Amendment 3.
Your thoughts are always welcome. May God bless you!