(Editor’s Note: Below is a selection of statements on the presidential election from various Catholic shepherds, both bishops and priests. First is a November 9 statement, “Coming Together as Faithful Citizens for the Common Good,” from Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.)
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Archbishop Joseph Kurtz
President, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
“The American people have made their decision on the next President of the United States, members of Congress as well as state and local officials. I congratulate Mr. Trump and everyone elected yesterday. Now is the moment to move toward the responsibility of governing for the common good of all citizens. Let us not see each other in the divisive light of Democrat or Republican or any other political party, but rather, let us see the face of Christ in our neighbors, especially the suffering or those with whom we may disagree.
“We, as citizens and our elected representatives, would do well to remember the words of Pope Francis when he addressed the United States Congress last year, ‘all political activity must serve and promote the good of the human person and be based on respect for his or her dignity.’
“Yesterday, millions of Americans who are struggling to find economic opportunity for their families voted to be heard. Our response should be simple: we hear you. The responsibility to help strengthen families belongs to each of us.
“The Bishops Conference looks forward to working with President-elect Trump to protect human life from its most vulnerable beginning to its natural end. We will advocate for policies that offer opportunity to all people, of all faiths, in all walks of life. We are firm in our resolve that our brothers and sisters who are migrants and refugees can be humanely welcomed without sacrificing our security. We will call attention to the violent persecution threatening our fellow Christians and people of other faiths around the world, especially in the Middle East.
“And we will look for the new administration’s commitment to domestic religious liberty, ensuring people of faith remain free to proclaim and shape our lives around the truth about man and woman, and the unique bond of marriage that they can form.
“Every election brings a new beginning. Some may wonder whether the country can reconcile, work together and fulfill the promise of a more perfect union. Through the hope Christ offers, I believe God will give us the strength to heal and unite.
“Let us pray for leaders in public life that they may rise to the responsibilities entrusted to them with grace and courage. And may all of us as Catholics help each other be faithful and joyful witnesses to the healing love of Jesus.”
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Sean Cardinal O’Malley
Archdiocese of Boston
In a tweet reported by Catholic News Service, Cardinal O’Malley wrote: “Congratulations to President-elect Donald Trump. May God grant you good health, wisdom and courage during your presidency.”
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Bishop Michael Burbidge
Diocese of Raleigh, N.C.
“The democratic process in which we participated yesterday is one of our greatest blessings as a nation and the direct result of the precious gift of the freedom we have been given. We are now called to commend our new president and all other newly elected officials to God, that they may be guided by Our Lord as they prepare to take office and serve the common good of those entrusted to their care.
“Regardless of who received our vote, now is the time to be reminded that the strength of our republic lies in our unity as fellow citizens and members of God’s holy family. Such relationships are the bedrock of our society and it is our sacred duty to foster them so that nothing divides us. When we live in such harmony, there will be true dialogue and the exchange of ideas will occur in a civil and respectful manner.
“As Catholics, we are called to renew our commitments to bring our faith into the public arena and help shape public policies, especially with regard to the sacredness of human life at every moment; the dignity of each and every human person; the protection of religious freedom; the sanctity of marriage and family life; and the care of the poor and most needy in our midst.
“In this way, with God’s grace, we help to ensure that the next generation inherits a nation more civil, more ethical, and more devoted to achieving peace which is true and lasting.
“Through the intercession of Mary, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Patroness of the United States of America, may Our Lord Jesus continue to bless our country and guide us along the paths of authentic truth, liberty and justice, now and always.
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Bishop David Zubik
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Catholic News Service reported this statement from Bishop Zubik: “As an American and as a Catholic bishop, I want to assure President-elect Donald Trump of my prayers and those of all faithful Catholics in the Diocese of Pittsburgh as he prepares to lead our country. Likewise, I wish to assure our newly elected or re-elected federal, state, and local legislators that we will pray for them to protect and defend human life, dignity, justice, peace, religious freedom, and the common good.”
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Fr. Shenan Boquet
President, Human
Life International
“It appears that Donald Trump has won the presidency of the United States. While we welcome this news, we are also keenly aware that our job as defenders of life and family begins again today. Let us pray that Mr. Trump will adhere to his campaign commitments regarding respect for life, and pray that he is surrounded with men and women of deep faith and strong integrity — men and women who have the courage and conviction to make the radical changes our government requires at this point in our nation’s history.
“With what appears to be Republican majorities in both Houses of Congress, he should be able to deliver on his pro-life campaign promises, especially defunding Planned Parenthood.
“There is a real opportunity here to reverse our government’s assault on life, marriage, the family, religious freedom, and the institutions that allow a free people to flourish. Along with keeping our government accountable, let’s also renew our own commitment to defending these gifts at all levels of society, beginning with our own and our families’ commitment to grow in holiness.
“Our God is so good. Let us live as if we are truly grateful, being generous with the gifts He has given us and full of conviction that only He is the answer to our nation’s and world’s problems. Let us not be afraid, and let us get to work.”
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Fr. Frank Pavone
National Director, Priests for Life
“Today is a great day for America and the Church, and a debt of gratitude is owed to all who boldly spoke up, worked, and voted for pro-life candidates, starting with our new President-elect. I am grateful to all of you and our whole team for all the work of this long, contentious election cycle.
“Our nation will now embark on a path to eliminate abortion and to foster the freedom of the Church. We will be able to advance such an agenda because of the pro-life majorities that now exist both in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.
“In particular, this election victory means the end of the HHS mandate, against which Priests for Life was one of the first groups to launch a challenge in federal court. That challenge, joined by various dioceses and other groups, has gone all the way to the Supreme Court, and is still unresolved. Now, however, we see a bright light at the end of the tunnel.
“Priests for Life will continue to be at the forefront of the pro-life efforts both within and beyond the Church — and by ‘pro-life’ we mean specifically working to end abortion and restore protection to children in the womb.
“We at Priests for Life — and I personally — welcome all who want to join us. We are an open book, and we renew the invitation which we have extended multiple times in the past to all clergy and laity, to come and visit us and learn more about what we do and how we do it.
“For what we do, we face much opposition and even hostility. We are not concerned about any of the criticism that has been launched against us, whether from within or outside the Church. Such opposition is a way of life for those who actively work to end abortion. Opposition and criticism do not burden me or my team at all, because there is a far greater burden every single day our minds and hearts: the continued slaughter of thousands of children every day by abortion.
“Added to that burden is the silence of so many laity and clergy, and countless faithful have had enough of that.
“We have no dispute with anyone who wants to end abortion, but only with those — such as the majority of Democratic politicians — who want to hide it and allow it to continue. For many years, and right up to this Election Day, many of the attacks launched against me and my organization have been motivated by partisan politics, and in particular by Democratic supporters who know the damage our work does to their abortion agenda. We are proud to endure those attacks and, as has happened in this election, we will continue to be victorious.”
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Fr. John T. Zuhlsdorf
wdtprs.com
Blogger Fr. John T. Zuhlsdorf, who wrote during the presidential campaign that he’d vote for the corpse of Millard Fillmore before he voted for Hillary Clinton, posted as follows on November 9:
“The corpse of Millard Fillmore can rest in peace for another 4 years.
“And now let us continue to pray for these USA and also roll up our sleeves and, with grace, work hard for holiness according to our vocations.
“And of course. . . .
“Go To Confession!
“I suspect quite a few need to do so after this ordeal.”
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