Welcome to Wisdom Wednesday, offering first of all a challenging post-election prayer for unity, hope and love. In full regard of the irony, we add a prayer for our institutional church, that there be hope and unity at least – if not love — among the U.S. bishops. With the help of Pax Christi USA, we are seeking to find a Christ-like path forward.
Election Section: What’s next?
A prayer for hope, unity and love
A local interfaith prayer is addressed to “Our God and God of those who have gone before us. It acknowledges the “division, acrimony and ugliness of this election cycle” and prays “that we each, uniquely, further our religious ideas and ideals” in loving all of our neighbors.
A Christ-like path forward: “The unspeakable has happened,” says Joseph Nangle, OFM, for Pax Christi USA. “And now we are left asking: Is this the kind of people we are? Destined to continue the current vicious downward cycle in a mosh pit, tearing at each other . . . ?” Nangle seeks to find a Christ-like path forward.
U.S. bishops call for prayer: Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a statement a day after the presidential election. Broglio calls for prayer and unity.
Among U.S. bishops who issued conciliatory statements were Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe, and Cardinals Wilton Gregory of Washington and Blase Cupich of Chicago. But Bishop John Stowe of Lexington, Kentucky, raised concerns over Trump’s victory.
“I feel like I don’t know my own country any more,” Stowe said in a statement provided to National Catholic Reporter.
Alessandra Harris is a writer, author, wife and mother of four. She earned degrees in comparative religious studies and Middle East studies. Writing for the National Catholic Reporter, she says, As a Black Catholic, this election devastated me — but didn’t surprise me.
ANALYSIS: How Trump won. Impressive gains among Latino and Black voters, coupled with a strong showing among Catholics, helped propel Donald Trump to a historic victory. From National Catholic Register.
ANALYSIS. Jesus is Lord. No political leader is. A feature writer for Christian Century concludes, “Maybe the kingdom of God isn’t like a king — maybe it’s like those who resist a king.”
COMMENTARY: What do we do now? It was “The election that turned the other direction.” Here are the thoughts of Sister Joan Chittister.
Working with migrants and refugees. Trump’s election to a second term prompted faith groups that work with migrants and refugees to reaffirm their commitment to continue their work after Trump campaigned on blocking migration and carrying out record deportations.
Hope and fear: Trump is back. Parents worldwide hope and fear for children’s futures. A report from the Christian Science Monitor.
Trump promis – Radical and Inhumane: At the Vatican, Cardinal Parolin examined the Trump promise of mass deportation, and echoed the position of Pope Francis in describing such promises as radical and inhumane.
“It seems to me that the position of the Pope and the Holy See is very clear in this regard,” he said. “We are for a wise policy towards immigrants and therefore one that does not go to these extremes.”
‘We’ve lost the plot’: The latest Trump victory shows we’ve lost the plot. Dorothy Dempsey writes in Black Catholic Messenger, “We seem to have reached a crossroads. There is no reasonable explanation for why Vice President Kamala Harris is not the first Black female president-elect of the United States.”
Discussing the election with Simone Campbell and Bryan Massingale. NCR senior correspondent Heidi Schlumpf, columnist Daniel Horan and David Dault welcome their guests, Fr. Bryan Massingale and Social Service Sr. Simone Campbell, to look at the 2024 election and address the questions: How are we doing? How did we get here? and Where do we go from here?
‘A betrayal of Catholic social teaching’ ESSAY: I am a Black Catholic man worried about (another) America under Donald Trump. Daryl Grigsby on the moral and ethical betrayal of Catholic social teaching and a Church laity (and hierarchy) that seems to be nodding right along.
Prayer in school, school choice
ANALYSIS: Returning prayer to public schools and promoting “school choice” nationwide are two of 10 priorities to “rebuild” America’s education system announced by President-elect Donald Trump in a video Nov. 10. Trump’s 10-point plan echoes the ideals of Project 2025.
Trump pledges to bring back prayer in schools and offer ‘school choice’ everywhere
ACLU: Not a time to wallow in despair
The ACLU is among other civil and religious liberties groups publicly urging Americans not to wallow in despair but instead to partner with like-minded organizations and community members in resisting assaults on faith and social freedoms. Anthony D. Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union said the ACLU has developed a solid and proven plan to “fight back” against Project 2025.
OPINION by Michael Sean Winters: Archbishop Broglio’s EWTN interview was appalling. Here’s Winters, and here is the interview.
USCCB in Baltimore
USCCB: U.S. bishops meet in Baltimore this week. The agenda for the Nov. 11-14 plenary session of the U.S. bishops does not call for a public discussion of the Nov. 5 election. But observers expect that the political fallout will hang over the proceedings. Michael Sean Winters provided an overview. Brian Fraga writes an opening analysis, also for National Catholic Reporter
Pediatric sex-change
Bishops should discuss and act on a recent report that Catholic hospitals have provided “pediatric sex-change services” for patients 17 and younger, two bishops told EWTN News recently. The report comes from National Catholic Register. Their comments come as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops holds its annual fall meeting in Baltimore, which began Monday.
No more Latin Mass in Tyler Diocese
Celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass in the cathedral of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, will cease effective Dec. 1, according to a Vatican-approved order that comes almost one year after Pope Francis removed Bishop Joseph Strickland, one of his most outspoken critics, as head of the diocese.
Church of England Archbishop steps down
The Archbishop of Canterbury has announced he will step down from his role following a damning report into a prolific child abuser associated with the Church of England.
The review found that Justin Welby, 68, had failed to act on reports of John Smyth’s “abhorrent” abuse of boys and young men. From the BBC, and also from the AP.
Called to Serve: Catholic Women’s Stories of Opportunities and Obstacles
Join us Wednesday, November 20th, 2024, at 3 PM EST at our next Conversation in the Spirit hosted by Women in the Church Working Group for the Association of US Catholic Priests. This interactive webinar and Conversation in the Spirit is dedicated to the Woman at the Well, Photini.
Our speakers are Jessica Morel, Military Chaplain, Katie Jansen, Parish Life Coordinator, and Kelly Adamson, Benedictine Oblate and preacher.
Registration:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcufuihrjorG90sxQwkw9CNnhZ-U80Odrya#/registration
Conversations in the Spirit: Religious Liberty, Freedom, and Formation of Conscience
In a multicultural world, with pluralistic religious traditions, how do we understand the human right to religious liberty, as taught in Dignitatis Humanae from the Vatican II Council? What are the implications for a synodal Church that teaches religious freedom as a right but also says that all religions are not the same? Please join the AUSCP, Voice of the Faithful and others as we continue to explore these questions:
How do you experience your own conscience? How does that relate to Church teaching in a synodal age?
Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 8 pm Eastern, 7 pm Central, 6 pm Mountain, 5 pm Pacific
Thursday, Nov. 21 at 3 pm Eastern, 2 pm Central, 1 pm Mountain, Noon Pacific
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