The Church and Politics

Even though I return on August 8, the day of the special election, I’m not taking any chances that I might miss casting my vote. Before I left for vacation, this past Monday, after a meeting at Holy Trinity, I made the quick trip down Montgomery Road to the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Norwood to vote early. Let me tell you why I voted “Yes” on Issue 1. But first, some background.

Can the Church be Political?
Last week an awesome staff member from a previous parish called me to ask about the Ohio ballot issue. She had been instructed to put a bulletin notice in the parish family’s bulletin which encouraged parishioners to vote “Yes” on Issue #1. “The Church can’t be political, can it?” she asked. It is true that the Church should not endorse candidates related to partisan politics. However, when it comes to issues, even ballot issues, the Church can enter the fray…with all its weighty moral authority and two millennia of wisdom!

“No Casino”
I knew this years ago when I was pastor at Petersburg Parishes in Shelby and Auglaize Counties. At that time, before casino gambling hit Ohio, a developer had a great idea. Working with the indigenous-to-the-area, Shawnee Tribe of Native Americans, a developer gathered some Botkins village residents to put up significant chunks of money in hopes of bringing the first Ohio Casino to Botkins. The plan required the Village of Botkins to give back many acres of the city’s industrial park to the Shawnee Tribe. Then, if federal and state governments allowed the land to be declared tribal, the Shawnee would open a casino. Botkins would be a “fat city” and investors would be even more so. The months-long furor pitted village residents and even families (many of whom were Immaculate Conception parishioners) against each other. As pastor, I used numerous parish bulletin articles to reflect on the issue. I was not in favor of a casino for our small village. I even contributed a rousing article in the “Your Pastor Speaks” column of the Sidney Daily News entitled “Botkins Bumpkins.” It was a plea to village residents to use their Godgiven noggins to resist the temptation to put our chips for a bright future on a casino. As it turns out, to my surprise, the developer turned out to be an outstanding parishioner who was a great Catholic! He wrote Archbishop Pilarczyk complaining that I was being political, asking the Archbishop to call me off. After reading the articles, Archbishop copied me on a letter he sent to the parishioner saying he did not think my actions were out of line for a pastor. Archbishop informed the parishioner that the Church can take sides on issues in general and on local/state ballot issues.

A Yes Vote
All this is to say that, while the Ohio bishops are not making a recommendation regarding the issue in the current special election upping the requirements to change the state constitution because the issue itself is not directly a moral issue, I voted yes. Here’s why. In my estimation, there are too many ideologues in the academic world, educating our collegians who in turn teach our children. Some of these ideologues espouse cosmologies (world views) and epistemologies (how we know truth and reality) that are contrary to my Catholic Christian Faith and even contrary to the philosophies upon which Western Civilization was founded. As well, many times those ideologies are altogether godless. Sometimes those ideologies are flat-out wacky. Therefore, making it more difficult to change the Ohio Constitution, one place where ideologies long to be established, seems a good idea to me. Thanks to those who exercise their gift to guide our state and country by voting!

Church Envelopes and “Familying”
Sticking with a past-pastorate vibe, recent feedback from Nativity Pastoral Council reminded me of something I said often in Petersburg Parishes as we became a new pastoral region a decade ago. It’s something I haven’t said once since I’ve been pastor of Crescent Parishes. It involves the question “What happens to my offertory envelope if I drop it in another Crescent Parish offertory collection?” If I attend another church, not just within our parish family, but anywhere (even out of city or state) there is an unwritten Catholic offertory-collection-counting rule that the envelope gets sent to the parish to which it belongs. That is especially true for Crescent Parishes, where staff members run among parishes several times a day, often couriering inter-office mail. Be assured, an envelope will be sent to the parish to which it belongs, and the church and giver will be credited.

Packed and Ready
As I wrote this past Monday, I’m more prepared than ever to leave for vacation. My minivan and small boat are packed and ready. Around 2:30 A. M. on Tuesday morning, I’ll put Panda, one of the rectory cats, in the van and head out. He travels amazingly well on his plywood perch above the passenger seat. He went with me last year and had a blast in the Northwoods. I think he thought he was a moose! Thanks for the well-wishes and prayers. Even if the cross of unexpected challenges presents itself, it will be a great time.

Holy Trinity Festival
As I pray for all Crescent Parishioners while I’m away, I’ll especially miss being at Holy Trinity’s Festival. Blessings to those who organize, volunteer and attend!

Sincerely and with Love in Christ,
Fr. Pat