This is the commandment we have from him: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Today’s “title” is taken today from our first reading at Mass.  That reading from the 1st letter of John goes on to state the following:

For the love of God is this,
that we keep his commandments.
And his commandments are not burdensome,
for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.
And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.

The basic premise of all 10 of God’s commandments – our commitments – is first and foremost Love of God and with that love of God, Love of Neighbor.  That is what my faith boils down to, a deep love for the God of ALL creation and a deep love for what is His greatest creation, love of my fellow man.  With that in mind, I offer the following question for you to ponder today in regards to the issue of Pro-Life or Pro-Choice.

I’ve spent some time over the past few days reading about the life of Nancy Pelosi and to be quite honest, most of what I’ve read only scratches what I would call the public nature of this woman.  What I was trying to find out (and I’m still searching) is why it is that she is so passionate about the issues that the Catholic faith describes as non-negotiables.  Abortion, Gay Marriage, Stem Cells are three I know we differ on completely.  It isn’t only Senator Pelosi, but many Catholics, both in the government and out, who finds themselves supporting those issues.

In my last post, I talked about the importance of following your conscience.  Today, I offer the following thought.  I’ve heard from more than one person that those who chose a life of public service must separate their public life from their personal beliefs and use the argument of the forefather’s “separation of Church and State”.  It is my understanding that the forefather’s wrote this into the Constitution to ensure that the Government didn’t force any one religion (be it Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, Jewish, whatever) upon the citizens of the United States.  I don’t think the purpose of this article was to have a separation of what I call “Faith and State”. I think it is obvious that the entire Declaration of Independence and our Constitution is based solely on the FAITH of our founding fathers and their religious beliefs went a long way in putting these documents on paper.

Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions, I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should “make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” thus building a wall of separation between Church & State. Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience, I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore to man all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.”^[1]

I don’t agree with the argument that if chosen to be a Representative, Senator, Judge, Lawyer – Project Manager – insert your profession here, that you must abandon all that you profess to believe in in order to practice that profession without bias.  What would be the point of attending your church services on Sunday, profess your faith, be in communion with your God if only to leave there and not let it guide your every action during the week?  Quite frankly, I would find that rather baseless and empty.  It is that very faith that we are taught from our youth that we must practice everyday of our lives regardless of what we do for a living.  It is that very faith that we profess as adults that must guide every decision we make as an adult – personal and professional.

It is my argument that if one of Man’s laws conflicts with one of God’s, my faith calls me to break man’s law in support of what I believe to be right and just with God.  I know this opinion is mine and can/will be argued as to being right or wrong.  I know many of you believe deeply about the right to abortions but to be brutally honest, I have not heard an argument given to me that changes the fact that we are called to love all, protect all, born and unborn.

As you think about separating Faith and State today, please read and think about Psalm 139, including the footnotes at the end.

Do something great for our Lord today – don’t separate your faith from your state.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.