Amid a tense political climate both on Capitol Hill in the US capitol and among voters across the country, one of the nation's leading bishops is calling on people to choose peaceful dialogue over resorting to physical and verbal assaults.
The US Bishops’ Conference Committee published a statement earlier this month titled “Pursue What Leads to Peace: A Christian Response to Rising Threats of Political and Ideological Violence”. Last week, Archbishop Borys Gudziak, who leads the US Bishops’ Conference Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, sent the statement to members of Congress, along with a letter written by him specifically encouraging them to change their tune.
In his letter sent on 18 June, Gudziak states that “America can do so much better” than the present reality of political speech rife with insults; the rise of racism, religious discrimination and xenophobia; and those in public office receiving more death threats than ever.
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“There is no good reason to resort to violence to resolve political issues,” states Gudziak, who also leads the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia. “Dialogue and voting better serve our human dignity, as do peaceful protests, petitions, lawsuits and civil disobedience in the face of injustice.
“By contrast, violence harms innocent victims. Violence harms the rule of law,” Gudziak continues. “Practically speaking, political violence does not ensure positive or lasting change.
“As each of you knows all too well, more and more Americans are accepting violence as a means to settle political disputes. That includes the rising number of threats, and tragically, some violent attacks, that public office holders such as yourselves have suffered.
“I therefore wish to pass along to you the attached statement that calls on all Christians and people of good will to abstain from political violence of any kind, and instead, ‘pursue what leads to peace', seeking justice through dialogue."<br><br><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/the-pope-must-not-give-credence-to-the-radical-abortion-agenda-of-president-biden/?swcfpc=1"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">The Pope must not give credence to the radical abortion agenda of President Biden</mark></a></strong>
Gudziak notes that throughout history the best moments of US politics are those in which people with diverse viewpoints find a way to “unity, justice, peace, and ultimately, the common good”. In the present climate, he encourages people to pursue peace, embrace dialogue, and seek justice through advocacy.
Gudziak says that political dialogue should mirror Christian dialogue from the standpoint that the God-given human dignity of each person is prioritised. He highlights that dialogue can’t be about winning arguments as that is not representative of true debate.
“Yes, real dialogue will be hard, but it is essential for finding common ground upon which a solution might be built,” Gudziak said. “It requires openness and vulnerability. Between violence and indifference, persistent and humble dialogue is the necessary path to peace.
“God’s justice renders to each person his or her dignity,” Gudziak said. “Education and respectful dialogue around these proposals is necessary for cooperation and agreement, but will often be a struggle. We need not be troubled when these obstacles arise.”<br><br><strong>RELATED: <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/why-trump-gets-the-white-christian-vote/"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">Why Trump gets the ‘White Christian’ vote</mark></a></strong><br><br>Gudziak also states that dialogue around justice should focus on creating social change for the common good. To close his letter to members of Congress, Gudziak said that the US bishops stand ready to help in any way possible ensure that the nation’s political culture firmly rejects violence and instead turns towards dialogue, justice and peace.
“Let us pray, then, that by turning away from violence, away from anger, away from demeaning others who are made in the image and likeness of God, we may work for peace through dialogue and justice,” Gudziak said.
“We pray with trust and thanksgiving that the Lord will bless our country, including our own political process, and that ‘the tender mercy of our God’ will ‘guide our feet into the path of peace’.”<br><em><br>Photo: Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City, US, 1 March 2022. (Credit: Gregory A. Shemitz/CNS.)</em>
