REFLECTIONS OF A CATHOLIC CITIZEN

he terrorist attacks on Washington and New York are only the last in a series of escalating terrorist activities in our world. The call to find and root out terrorist organizations and cells is an imperative one and will require international cooperation on a scale we have not seen in the past. But, if all nations realize that attacks on one are a threat to all, perhaps such cooperation can be achieved, providing it is not also coupled to furthering political or economic agendas of those involved. One truth that seems to surface in all the debates and discussions is that, as a free and democratic society, we can never be totally secure without completely surrendering the freedoms we so cherish and becoming a police state the likes of which the German SS never dreamed. If we do, then the terrorists will have indeed won. Living in a free and open society will always entail risks. And while we try to minimize those risks we must be brave enough to accept some risk as part of our way of life.

There was a sign being held up at a rally somewhere in the world, that said: "Americans ask yourselves why you are so greatly hated in the world!" At such a time of sorrow and loss, the display of this sign is a cold and callous response to our grief. And yet the message of the sign haunts the minds of many of us. We who were once seen as the hope of freedom in the world are, for some reason, now seen by many as aggressors, imperialists, and selfish corrupters of the world. This is NOT how we view ourselves. As Americans, we generously reach out to help others, lift up the oppressed, defend the defenseless, alleviate the suffering of those who are sick and starving, and on and on. We contribute mightily to causes throughout the world dedicated to these ends. We see ourselves as liberators, healers, teachers, and compassionate partners. So why are we held in such contempt?

Undoubtedly, the answer is very complex. We can make a few guesses based upon what we see in the news, some policies imposed by our government, activities of our companies both here and abroad, and attitudes flaunted by some Americans when traveling; and of course there is the blindness of those who see in us only what they wish. But probably the answer is even more complex. Unfortunately, there is a growing lack of knowledge and disinterest in world affairs on the part of many Americans unless it somehow impacts their quality of life. There is also great apathy toward participation in government. Many often see the government as "THEM" when in truth, in our system, it is "WE". Those with the most influence with our government are often the ones who wield the most money and power. We are rapidly becoming what every president from Washington to Eisenhower warned us against¼.a military-industrial complex. Ours is a representative form of government and requires the information and participation of all citizens. But, our lack of participation, relinquishes our power to those who act only for special interests whose ends are not always in accord with the principles of our constitution and laws or which serve the good of all. They are, too often, only guided by profit or acquisition of power. As citizens we often have to defend ourselves from the predatory actions of various groups or industries and even policies of our own government that infringe on our civil rights and our well being. There is a constant struggle to make our elected officials act on behalf of everyone, not just those who can contribute mightily to their campaign coffers. Our laws and our constitution are there to defend us against predatory business practices and governmental policies that endanger lives, despoil property and enslave individuals. So we can only imagine what must transpire in areas of the world where such constitutional guarantees or protective laws do not exist! Those entities, whether government or private industry, that represent America in the eyes of other countries, must be held accountable for following the same principles that would be required of them within our borders. Our prosperity must not be at the expense of the health and welfare of less developed nations in the world; nor must we see them as pawns to be manipulated or property to be sold to the highest bidder. In other words, our American principles must be reflected in the way we do business internationally and the way we treat countries and individuals. If we were represented abroad, in a way that embodies how we see ourselves, perhaps we would be more admired and loved by more people of the world. In many recent foreign interviews we hear: "we do not hate the American people, but we hate what is done by their government or their companies in their name!"

In increasing our admiration and friendship among other peoples we would go a long way to reducing the will of others to attack us or do us harm and increase their cooperation in eliminating those who do. But there will always be those who seek to gain power and wealth through acts of aggression and dominance at the expense of others. And it is there that we must be strong enough to counter such injustice and aggression by acting in defense of human rights and dignity in whatever ways we may, bringing our power and influence and even military might to bear. In this we further advance our image as defenders of freedom and undermine those who would call us aggressors.

In view of these terrorist attacks we have an opportunity to show the world our wisdom and strength of character. We must investigate them as carefully as we can and seek to bring the perpetrators to account. Retaliation must be clear and accurate and motivated not by anger or revenge but by the desire for justice and must not be meted out in such ways that we destroy still other innocent people. Someone in a newscast stated that in our response to these heinous crimes, we must be careful not to become the evil we so detest. Whether we like it or not we are part of a global community. If we wish to have global support against terrorism and for many other concerns, we must participate in global processes and seek the good of all.

We must openly state and defend our beliefs and interests and attempt to build consensus for our positions. And these must be debated both inside and outside the country. We must also recognize, empathize with, and try to understand the concerns, beliefs, and needs of other states and cultures. Decisions we make here regarding the world forum cannot be taken as if the U.S. exists in a disconnected world.

We remain the greatest hope for individual freedom, mutual accommodation and tolerance in the world. With some notable disruptions, we generally live together in peace, tolerance and acceptance of diversity. We allow all people the pursuit of happiness. We live-out, or at least try to, the principle of civil rights for every individual. However, recent retaliatory acts of hatred and revenge against persons of Middle Eastern background, living in our country and who are often citizens of the U.S., proclaim that some in our society have a way yet to go in living up to our ideals. Individuals who perpetrate such crimes are no better than those who would destroy the lives of innocent airline passengers and office workers to wreak revenge for injustices, real or imagined. In committing crimes of vengeance they bring our society closer to the brink of lawlessness and anarchy. We are just now beginning to make reparations to the families of thousands of innocent American citizens of Japanese background who, in a policy of fear and anger, were dispossessed and imprisoned in internment camps after the events of Pearl Harbor. We must never allow emotion to cause us to so violate the constitution again! Else we cannot profess and defend our principles to the observing world around us.

Our greatest defense against terrorism and hatred is for us to always be who we claim to be, both here in our own neighborhoods and abroad among the nations of the world; to adhere to our ideals in our dealing with others in the world; to be a living example of just what our country stands for as stated in our laws and our constitution. All of us who are quick to sing patriotic songs and buy flags to wave, must also be true patriots in our hearts, living by the principles for which our country stands. We must defend and protect the human rights of others as we do our own, never becoming aggressors or exploiters. We must take care, in military matters, to act in our age-old tradition of always being defenders. And when we are victims of aggression and terror, we must act for justice and peace, not hatred and revenge.

Danger lurks for us not only in terrorists, but in the heat of the outrage at recent events. It is easy to forget principles and use the full might of our strength to extract revenge for these horrible and immoral attacks. There are some in government who seek to have the ban on assassinations lifted! This ban should never have been necessary. Such things are in direct violation of every principle by which we live. In our world today, we cannot afford to weaken our resolve nor retreat one inch from the principles and ideals that have made us great. We are indeed a light to the nations and to act against our own principles can cause that light to dim and perhaps even go out, plunging the world further into the darkness of despair, destruction and chaos.

With our resources and our might, as an example to all peoples and in consort with all peoples, we must seek out and bring to justice all who perpetrate acts of violence and terrorism. In doing so we must take care not to become tyrants ourselves but be what we are, the true defenders of human rights for people everywhere. We are the strongest nation on the face of the earth at this time and we must use that strength for justice and good. Otherwise, like other regimes of the past who became avaricious aggressors, from the Roman Empire to the Axis powers of WWII, we will fall, brought down by our own corruption. So let all citizens, act not out of hatred, revenge or avarice, but for the good of all peoples, as true Americans; as "one nation, under God," seeking "liberty and justice for all."

As Roman Catholics, we have an even greater responsibility that is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ whose people we are above all else. Our allegiance must be FIRST to God in Christ, above all other allegiances to country, or family or friends. We follow that Gospel as members of the Body of Christ which is the Church. We are called to witness with our very lives to the truths of that Gospel. We must not allow nationalism, family concerns, individual relationships, or even our own self-concern to take the place of God, Himself, in our lives. If we do so we violate the first and oldest commandment and engage in a form of idolatry.

It is difficult in times of stress, national outrage, grief, and anger to remain true to the Gospel which we have received. Our inclination is to follow our emotions in such situations. But the Gospel calls us to set aside our anger, to console our grief with faith, and to be witnesses to the love of God present even in the worst of our disasters and problems. We are, as Jesus calls us in the Gospel, a light to the nations, a lamp on a lamp stand, a city on a hill. We are the salt of the earth that flavors the world, the leaven that leavens society. We must act in accord with Gospel principles whether they are popular or unpopular.

Thus the Church stands against all activity that demeans or destroys the dignity and rights of human beings or cheapens human life. Rising up in outrage to wreak revenge on those who harm us is not the way of the true follower of Christ. We are called to defend the innocent and we should bring to justice those who harm others. But as Jesus' followers we must be as concerned for the sinner as we are for those who are sinned against. Our actions must be tempered with wisdom and knowledge. We must use our might for only good. We must not, in seeking to eradicate sin, become the sin we oppose. And we are not to nurture hatred in our hearts nor seek vengeance in our acts. The cure for the hatred or anger we experience when confronted with such great evils, is to realize that we are in the hands of God and nothing can come between us and His love for us. Thus we consign our enemies and all evildoers to His hands as well. We may act in defense of ourselves and others, and we may call to justice those who wreak havoc in our world through their wrongdoing. But our response must never become wrongdoing as well. In this, we do not "fight fire with fire" and never does the "end justify the means". For if it does then we can justify almost anything we wish, and when we fight fire with fire it can end only in ashes.

If we are true Christians, we find comfort in trusting God's providence. We place ourselves in His hands and there we hope to be forever. The world did its worst against Christ, nailing him to a Cross, and He was granted triumph over it all by the Father who raised Him from the dead. It is the fundamental tenet of our faith that He shares that triumph with us allowing us also to participate in His suffering and resurrection. So we must never cave-in to fear and threat nor lose hope in the supreme power of God. If we do, then we have allowed evil to defeat us. Confidence in God and His saving grace is the antidote to the fear and trembling we feel in our openness and vulnerability.

During times like those we have seen in the last few weeks, we rise to the needs of the situation with heroic acts of self-sacrifice, care and kindness. We set aside our differences and come together to console the grieving, help those devastated, defend the oppressed, and call upon our God to save us. But why must we wait for such a horrible stimulus to bring out these qualities in ourselves? Why are we not always concerned for the oppressed, the grieving, the poor and the lost? Why do we not always act for the good of all; take interest in our government; let our voices be heard by our leaders; and link arms with one another in mutual respect and love and prayer? If there is a lesson to be learned in all this, it is not that we must "be there" for one another in times of crisis, but that we must "be there" for one another at all times! We have seen what a beautiful place our world can be when people come together for mutual good. Perhaps we will be inspired to continue to do so without the pressure of calamity driving us. This is what we are supposed to be....not as an exception, but as the norm!

As Christians, perhaps we can help everyone to remember not only the shock and devastation of these events, but all the good that we brought out of them by our willingness to truly love one another. And as a society we can set aside our pettiness and selfishness, and act in accord with the loving images we have seen of one another in the midst of our suffering. We can grow in our respect for one another and each other's needs. Living together in mutual peace and love will reduce our fears and multiply our blessings. This could even become a way of everyday life for us, and, who knows, even the whole world.

Rev. Stephen R. Horn
Pastor of St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church