Chuck Norris, the Hollywood action star (e.g. Walker, Texas Ranger) and health food entrepreneur is currently hyping a new (and costly) product that he says can make an 80-year-old feel like 50. He reminds listeners that they should order now “before supplies run out.” His statement probably motivates some listeners to place their order immediately lest they be deprived of this snake oil. Other listeners might wonder why a business would even start if it planned to run out of what it was selling. Wouldn’t the company believe in what it sold—that it would have enough to provide buyers?
Norris also used another selling ploy. In addition to the new product he was peddling, he said he was also a man committed to his “faith, family, and country!” In high school journalism class, one learns to avoid using what is known in the writing world as “glittering generalities.”—and the Norris commitment is a wonderful example of “glittering generalities.” After all, what DOES “faith, family, and country” actually mean? Each word is open to interpretation, but our concern in the weekly bulletin is the relationship of ALL matters to what we call our “faith.”
Remember that Jesus said that even the Scribes, Pharisees, and all sorts of sinners loved their family members and friends. Jesus challenged his listeners to ask themselves what, exactly, differentiated them from everyone else. And how DOES “faith” connect with “country?” After all, we hear people talk about leaving “religion” out of “politics,” but how on earth can a practicing Christian detach their following of Jesus WITHOUT addressing “political” (socio-cultural) issues that Jesus Himself addressed (See Matthew 25—which has Jesus say that we help him when we feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, clothe the naked, etc.)?
But the “devil” never sleeps. Even Matthew 25 has been reinterpreted or ignored when “Christian Nationalism” is in the driver’s seat. For example, Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Germany’s chief propagandist convinced millions of Germans that Jesus was a German whose family raised him in Jerusalem where the JEWS put him to death. Voila, people actually believed this nonsense! German Christian Nationalists asserted that “We are TRUE” Christians who follow a Jesus who was blue-eyed with light-colored hair. He was an ARYAN (a word often erroneously used to describe the “race” of northern Europeans). People who use this word often claim their white skin is a sign of superiority. This meaning was Hitler’s gospel that asserted Aryan Christians must exterminate the Jewish people—thus giving Germany’s “Christian Nationalists” the green light to conduct the Holocaust.
This twisting of the Gospel message persuaded millions of Germans to embrace Mr. Hitler’s regime and prompted Martin Niemoller to reflect that Germany first came “for the communists. I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the Jews; I did not speak because I was not a Jew. Then they came to fetch the workers, members of the trade unions; I did not speak because I was not a trade unionist. Afterward, they came for the Catholics; I did not say anything because I was a Protestant. Eventually, they came for me, and there was no one left to speak . . .
This scenario of misguided people rising to power in a nation has occurred throughout historyed many times, so is not just a historical reflection on how Hitler came to power. Just as German Christians could support the seductions of demonic propaganda, so can we here in America. That’s why the Michigan Catholic Conference exists—to familiarize us with what Christian values are at stake in one election after another. Similarly, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops also releases documents that address social issues that arise in the halls of Congress. As Catholics, we HAVE to act on issues that conflict with our faith.
Thinking of how we use words to express ideas which, in turn, influence people’s behavior—is at the heart of the Pentecost incident. It is NOT a story about the apostles becoming multilingual because of a miracle Jesus performed. Rather, the Pentecost event tells us that the Resurrection of Jesus has reversed what took place with the Tower of Babel. Babel’s people could not communicate with one another and so paid a price of not being able to work together. By contrast, Pentecost reports how the Holy Spirit allows us to speak up, to speak to people’s hearts, and to communicate God’s word to ALL peoples of the world. This missionary identity has allowed 20 generations of Christians to spread God’s word globally—and has allowed us to “discern” how best to live a Christian identity. After all, there are many “spirits” out there that move us to make bad decisions.
The founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius, is well-known for teaching how we can make a “discernment of spirits.” That is, he addressed how we can identify what is the work of the HOLY Spirit and what is the work of other, destructive “spirits” who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of our lives..
What follows are issues that the Jesuit Conference of the United States and Canada think should be considered by Congress in the vote before them that is problematic for Christian and humanitarian groups. Christopher J. Kellerman, S.J., the Conference’s Secretary of Justice and Ecology, drafted the following for people to send their senators and representatives. While this bill has raised concerns about its generous tax exemptions for billionaires, it also addresses several issues that are not on the radar of most people. The Conference acknowledges what is good in the bill, but also shows what needs improvement. Our faith calls us to do the same. Specifically, the Jesuits point out where the Bill hurts poor and vulnerable people.
Prioritize human needs and human flourishing. The Jesuit Conference Office of Justice and Ecology is grateful that H.R. 1 ends taxpayer funding for major elective abortion providers. We also commend the extension and expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which will help address the housing accessibility and affordability crisis facing the poorest households. We are concerned, however, that H.R. 1 does not uphold the moral responsibility of government to ensure that all people in its jurisdiction have adequate access to food and health care.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that H.R. 1 would potentially put several million people at risk of going hungry by eliminating them from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). CBO also estimates over 10 million people could lose access to health care over the next decade due to provisions in the bill. It also cuts nutrition assistance and health care coverage for immigrants here legally (despite the bill’s false insinuation to the contrary, at one point), some of whom are refugees and human trafficking victims. What if, instead of raising revenue by putting millions of people at risk of hunger and poor health, Congress adjusted the bill’s benefits to not skew so much in favor of the wealthy? For example, why not take President Trump’s suggestion to raise the tax rate on the wealthiest Americans?
Family is the fundamental unit of society. We support provisions in H. R. 1 that would increase family stability, especially improvements to the Adoption Tax Credit, the Paid Family and Medical Leave Credit, and the Employer-Provided Child Care Credit. We encourage you to explore ways to make adoption, paid leave, and child care accessible to more families that want and need it, such as through incorporating Sen. Britt and Sen. Kaine’s proposal broadening the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and the Dependent Care Assistance Program (see S. 847).
We commend the acknowledgment of the need for early wealth-building opportunities for children through the inclusion of “Trump Accounts.” As constructed, however, these accounts may exacerbate wealth inequality. The model found in the American Opportunity Accounts Act would allow “Trump Accounts” to achieve their potential for building wealth for poor children. We are deeply concerned that H.R. 1 does not expand the Child Tax Credit nearly as much as last year’s House-passed tax package would have. 17 million of the poorest children already miss out on the full credit, and H.R. 1 will deny an additional 2.5 million children the full credit.
The bill creates a new marriage penalty in the tax code by eliminating CTC eligibility for millions of American children just because those children have one parent without a Social Security Number. Perhaps this is an attempt to punish immigrants who are here illegally, BUT it is well known that many legal, documented migrants are not eligible to apply for an SSN for various reasons and instead must use a taxpayer ID number to file their taxes. Besides, part of being pro-life means believing that a child’s dignity does not depend upon the choices and circumstances of their parents. The CTC should benefit all American children and Congress should be eliminating marriage penalties from the tax code, not creating new ones.
Care for our common home (earth). The U.S. Catholic Bishops have urged government to provide regulations and a system of taxation that encourage firms to preserve the environment, employ disadvantaged workers, and create jobs in depressed areas. The bill would hasten the damage caused by climate change, stymy job creation, and hurt future generations by ending the Inflation Reduction Act credits and programs. We urge you to reconsider these harmful cuts.
Civil society is a vital contributor to the national economy. We are grateful H.R. 1 includes a charitable deduction for taxpayers who do not itemize. The family-centered employer tax credits are accessible only to corporations. Explore ways for nonprofits to utilize them as well.
Principles of fairness, equity, and justice must guide decision-making. We are grateful that the bill allows Tribal Governments to determine whether a child has special needs for purposes of the Adoption Tax Credit and would modify the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to designate Indian areas and rural areas as “difficult development areas.” Eliminate harms to Indian Country, including the rescissions of energy programs funded under the IRA and of the unobligated balance of the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program. Incorporate outstanding sections of the Tribal Tax and Investment Reform Act.
The bill inhibits a major accomplishment of Mr. Trump’s reopening of Pell Grants to incarcerated students. Prison education programs across the country help students find good jobs upon release and reduce crime and recidivism. H.R. 1 makes a grave mistake by limiting Pell to students who take at least 15 course hours per year. Some prison education programs are only able to offer a couple of courses per year, and many full-time correctional staff in Jesuit prison education programs don’t have time for 15-course hours. So, eliminate these harmful changes to Pell eligibility. The Bill can indeed be beautiful by providing all people across the country with what they need to flourish and lead healthy lives.
As you see, “religion and politics” are incurably intertwined. Every issue is a moral issue, a religious issue, a political, or Gospel issue that Jesus calls us to address—as best as we can. Few can be knowledgeable of ALL areas of pending legislation, but perhaps you have a special concern for, or relationship to, one or another issue that affects you or people you care about. Why not “specialize” in that one area—and bring its implications to the parish’s attention? That’s being Christ-like.