Arbp. Chaput, in the New York Times . . . 8 years ago.

Here's a post of mine, from 8 years ago today (tempus fugit, and all that):

    Here is a link to an op-ed by Denver's Archbishop Chaput, "Faith and Patriotism",     in today's New York Times.  He opens with this:

The theologian Karl Barth once said, "To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world."

That saying comes to mind as the election approaches and I hear more lectures about how Roman Catholics must not "impose their beliefs on society" or warnings about the need for "the separation of church and state." These are two of the emptiest slogans in current American politics, intended to discourage serious debate. No one in mainstream American politics wants a theocracy. Nor does anyone doubt the importance of morality in public life. Therefore, we should recognize these slogans for what they are: frequently dishonest and ultimately dangerous sound bites. 

I have no doubt that the "separation of church and state", properly understood, is good for -- even necessary for -- authentic religious freedom.  That said, Archbishop Chaput makes a good point here, I think.  He continues, later in the piece:

The civil order has its own sphere of responsibility, and its own proper autonomy, apart from the church or any other religious community. But civil authorities are never exempt from moral engagement and criticism, either from the church or its members. The founders themselves realized this.

The founders sought to prevent the establishment of an official state church. Given America's history of anti-Catholic nativism, Catholics strongly support the Constitution's approach to religious freedom. But the Constitution does not, nor was it ever intended to, prohibit people or communities of faith from playing an active role in public life. Exiling religion from civic debate separates government from morality and citizens from their consciences. That road leads to politics without character, now a national epidemic.

It strikes me that Chaput's observations are valuable, wherever we might stand on the question that Michael Perry, Greg Sisk, Cathy Kaveny, Mark Roche, Gerry Bradley, and Robert George have been addressing (i.e., can faithful Catholics conclude that, all things considered, it is better for the common good to vote for John Kerry?).

And, here's a piece (thanks to Distinctly Catholic) by Arbp. Chaput (now of Philadelphia) on "Public Witness and Catholic Citizenship."  A bit:

In the end, the heart of truly faithful citizenship is this: We’re better citizens when we’re more faithful Catholics. The more authentically Catholic we are in our lives, choices, actions and convictions, the more truly we will contribute to the moral and political life of our nation.