Politicians, good Catholics and dissenting views

On April 19 the state, Church and academia sang the praises of Prof. Douglas Kmiec, former ambassador of the US to Malta. The President, Archbishop, priests and academics commented on different chapters of his recent book Lift up your hearts. No one doubted for a moment Kmiec’s Catholic credentials. On the contrary, they were lauded to high heaven.

Good Catholics can legitimately disagree with good bishops and remain good Catholics- Fr Joe Borg

I fully share in the appreciation shown by all to Kmiec’s Christian witness by deed – with particular reference to his stint in Malta – and word, especially in his book. During my brief presentation I pointed to another commitment taken on by Kmiec as a result of his faith in the political arena.

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Kmiec was part of the Obama team. He was there specifically to get the Catholic vote for Obama.

It was a campaign marked bythe declaration of several bishops that voting for Obama was asin; though other bishops had a different position.

Was Kmiec risking eternal damnation for supporting Obama? To be sure, Kmiec risked the wrath of several bishops, the abuse of many irate bloggers and, on one occasion, the negation of Holy Communion. But I wager that he never risked eternal damnation for supporting Obama.

Is he risking it now when, once more, he is taking a different position from the US bishops? The bishops believe Obama is waging war against the Church because of the contraceptive mandate. The US bishops say that his policy is an onslaught on religious liberty.

Kmiec, for a time, was very critical of Obama’s stance on the subject. He changed his mind following the President’s offer of a compromise position, which was categorically refused by the bishops. The conflict is escalating and one bishop even went so far as to compare Obama to Hitler and Stalin.

Kmiec and the US bishops share the same principles. Their disagreement lies in the application of the principles to concrete policies. I am not taking sides over who is in the right.

My point is that notwithstanding his disagreement with the bishops, Kmiec is still considered a good Catholic. This should not come as a surprise since good Catholics can legitimately disagree with good bishops (in similar fashion that good bishops disagreed with other good bishops) and remain good Catholics.

I feel two specific references from Kmiec’s book could be very enlightening for Maltese Catholics and can prevent us from mistakes that were committed even in the very recent past.

The first one is a direct reference to the claim that Obama is the enemy of religious freedom. Kmiec wrote: “Just as it is wrong for the state to suppress individual expressions of faith, it is equally error for any one church to contemplate that the general laws can invariably coincide with their favoured religious perspective.”

In another part of his book Kmiec agreed with Pope John Paul II that “a democracy unattached from moral truth is a ‘thinly disguised totalitarianism’” while adding that “in a religiously pluralistic world, there is a duty to search for common ground”.

In a recent blog commenting on the current IVF controversy, I wrote:“In a pluralistic country, Malta included, it is essential that different points of view are put forward by anyone who holds them. It is also very important that this is done in full respect of one another. Politicians who are responsible for the formulation of public policy have to inform and form their consciences before adopting the most effective policies which further the common good while finding an equitable and ethically valid way forward preferably after reaching the common ground between the different positions.”

The Church expects politicians to use their sense of prudential judgment when taking policydecisions affecting citizens who belong to different faiths or no faith at all.

The Church does not expect Catholic politicians to act asits lunga manus nor does itexpects them to act as if they are glorified altar boys executing instructions.

• The power of the new media is surpassed only by the power of the new media in alliance with the ‘traditional’ media.

The potential positive results that can follow such an alliance is currently being evidenced in Malta. An ‘advert’ for a kidney transplant recently placed on a website was followed by coverage in newspapers, radio and television. This strong combination brought about a national discussion about organ donation which served to clarify the issues involved.

More important still is the wave of generous people offering to donate a kidney while they are still living and offering it to total strangers who really need it. Fourteen people have so far turned up at Mater Dei Hospital to donate one of their kidneys.

The number of potential donors has been described asan “all-time record in Maltese transplant history”. About 250 people are undergoing treatment at the renal unit and 70 are awaiting a transplant.

It takes courage and generosity to undertake such a charitable act. Pope John Paul II had stated: “The Catholic Church would promote the fact that there is a need for organ donors and that Christians should accept this as a ‘challenge to their generosity and fraternal love’ so long as ethical principles are followed.”

Such generosity cannot berealistically asked for from everyone. However, donating an organ after death is a good deed that everyone should be prepared to do.

It costs one nothing but it gives a qualitatively better life to others. Get a Donor Card today and inform your family that you are an organ donor.

• “They [ministers] must realise they are embarrassing the Prime Minister, the party and the government. I have done my utmost so that this government endures the whole legislature.”

“I just hope he’s [Prime Minister] not an expert in the politics of spite.”

“Lawrence Gonzi is inflicting the same harm on the political class as his uncle Archbishop Michael Gonzi had inflicted on the Church.”
– Franco Debono

“Padre, Figlio e Spirito Santo.” – Editorial. The Sunday Times January 8, 2012.

joseph.borg@um.edu.mt