Pride and Duty

Today marks an historic day for us as Americans. The inauguration of a new president of the United States is more than a testament to the great nation in which we live and the forefathers who founded it. It also reminds us of the importance of a peaceful continuance of governance: that power can be transferred from group to group, person to person, with respect and a commitment to peace that trumps partisan differences. It is a blessing and a witness that many around the world are not so fortunate to share.

Certainly the election of (now) President Obama was a contentious one, and there is no doubt that some of his policies will likely run directly contrary to social and moral teachings of the Catholic Church, including some teachings that are to be obligatorily held by all Catholics (e.g. abortion cannot be supported in any way, nor can embryonic stem cell research). This conflict of beliefs is not likely to be resolved soon, and it may not be long before Catholics must publicly protest, even defy, legislation that the new administration has promised to support.

And yet today is a chance to suspend political disputes and, for the moment, to look beyond the moral challenges that are sure to come. One hopes that on this day at least such concerns can recede and give way to a sense of pride that, despite our differences, our nation has yet again completed a peaceful transfer to a new presidency and a new era. The longest-standing republic in history continues. This inauguration is of particular note, of course, as it marks another step forward from that dark era of our history, marred first by slavery and later by discrimination and prejudice, from which we continue to emerge. Yesterday's remembrance of a man who did so much to start us down the path which leads out of that moral wilderness culminates today in the celebration of a nation which has, 40 years later, elected a black president to its highest office. Regardless of our opinions of him personally or politically, this is something in which we can take pride as a nation.

His election though comes at a difficult time in American history. Perhaps never before has a new administration had as many difficult issues to deal with as does the incoming one, and yet it's undeniable that Obama's election has filled millions with a new sense of hope, hope for change and for a brighter future. Indeed, much of this is a result of his own words. Our new president has personally called all of us as Americans to become invested in the well-being of our country and committed to standing up for those beliefs which we hold dear. These are inspiring thoughts and ones which we should take to heart. It is our responsibility to work for change, to be active rather than passive in building the nation which we are called to be and which we wish to see.

Ironically, the first and best chance to begin this action is also this week, as millions will gather to oppose that other great injustice in our nation's history. Thursday, January 22, marks the 36th anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the establishment of abortion as a protected practice in our country. As a result, it is in the US Church a yearly Day of Prayer and Penance for Life and the day in which thousands of pro-life marches are held around the country. As we celebrate today a large step forward away from the evils of racism let us not forget to remain committed to our obligation as Christians, and even more fundamentally as people of good will, to oppose those intrinsic evils which still continue to mar our country's honor. Our pride in our new president, and our belief in his inspiring words, nonetheless cannot keep us from ignoring our obligation to oppose those issues contrary to our faith. As the president himself has called us to do, we must be active in opposing injustice and standing up for fundamental beliefs, even if they are beliefs which he himself does not share. The cult of personality is always a dangerous thing if it leads us to ignore fundamental truths in favor of personal appeal or admiration.

On this inaugural day, then, let us be proud of our country and of our new president even as we are mindful of our moral duty to fight injustice. Let us pray for wisdom and guidance for him and his advisors, who now are charged with guiding our nation into the future. In particular, let us pray that they and all in this country might come to a new understanding of the sanctity of life, that fundamental right which is the basis for all of our hopes and dreams as a nation and as a world.