Not that there should be a remote hesitation as to whom one who professes to love God and keep His Commandments should cast a vote. All those faithful to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ would not even think to support a candidate whose policies push for government to control all parts of American life from the cradle to the grave.

Which brings us to the dilemma

The “other side” — the historically “pro-life, pro-family” party has for the Christian’s consideration a candidate who at one time spoke energetically and enthusiastically about God, country, and family as he wanted to restore all political things to “Make America Great Again”.

That was then; this is now. For whatever reasons Mr. Trump and the national Republican Party are now choosing to soft pedal all those ideals once cemented into American life. You know, that “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” thing with government at all levels existing only to keep order and promote the common good.

So here we are closing in on a month before the 2024 Elections and I for one am at a loss. The trouble is that not even those whose vocation it is to counsel and guide the Christian Catholic electorate agree on what to do. Above all, Catholics (myself included) want to make a choice that is in alignment with God and keeps us away from eternal perdition.

Going to God. (Photo by Barbara Cleary)

One group of prelates tells us to follow St. Thomas Aquinas and choose between the “lesser of two evils” which would have us support a watered-down pro-life, pro-family Republican Platform and candidate Trump to avoid the potential bloodbath that might ensue as the country devolves into total enslavement to the pagan Left.

Another group advises confused Catholics to consult their pastor, which is not any better than the Holy Father’s advice to “vote your conscience” and choose between one anti-life candidate who advocates killing children, and the other anti-life candidate whose agenda is to deport illegal immigrants.

Eventually, the 12 tribes saw their Promised Land fall into the hands of their enemies: nations with pagan gods who required human sacrifice among other abominations. Assyrian captivity. Babylonian captivity. No practicing whatever was left of their faith.

When in doubt, consult Bible history

For several years I have been blessed to be able to teach Catechism to early high school-age students. For the first years, it was Bible Studies and in the last few years, the course work in this once-a-week 45-minute class has been on the Fundamentals of the Faith.

I have to admit that what I knew about “His Story” — God’s relationship with the “jewel of His creation” (us) as we see in the Bible — was pretty limited to the usual stories about the important persons in the Bible and less on what God has really been trying to tell us all along.

I used to scoff at the silly Hebrews who never seemed to figure out that all they needed to do to have peace in their families, in their nation, and in the world was to do what the Lord told them. The Law and the Prophets. Pretty darn clear. Read Leviticus: follow the Law and “You will be My people, and I will be your God”.

We all know the story of how the Hebrews were punished for drifting from their part of the bargain and found themselves in Egyptian captivity. Once freed, instead of staying humble and submissive, they decided to fashion a different god to worship.

That didn’t go so well and they found themselves wandering and complaining in the desert for 40 years, at which time, on the cusp of the Promised Land, the Lord promised to be with them and subdue their enemies as long as they did as He directed.

That didn’t go so well, either, and eventually, the 12 tribes saw their Promised Land fall into the hands of their enemies: nations with pagan gods who required human sacrifice among other abominations. Assyrian captivity. Babylonian captivity. No practicing whatever was left of their faith. By the close of the Old Testament, they were all but obliterated, leaving only a remnant of faithful who endured until the fullness of time when our Redeemer came into the world.

Does anyone notice a pattern of human behavior here?

It’s a matter of trust

Another 2,000 years have passed and the world has seen and benefitted from the new covenant God made with His creatures through the Catholic Church. A beautiful Western Civilization was built on the foundation of this Faith. Cultures and nations grew and thrived because we “children of the Light” stayed true (by and large) to what was written in the Scriptures and followed in as Apostolic Tradition.

Not that there have not been some cracks here and there. Through it all, though, the Church has held firm. She has survived schisms and heresies, weak leaders, and strong enemies. The Lord, though, has stayed true to His promise to be “with us all days” and gave us the leaders at just the time we need them.

Crucifix outside the Church at St. Michael’s Abbey, Silverado, CA
(photo by Barbara Cleary)

The great saints have told us to “abandon ourselves to God and His Providence”. The Little Flower entreats us to “become as little children”. St. Paul says, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us”.

How bad can it be? If I want to be honest about it, I have been pretty lax when it has come to placing the rights of God before my own security, and just like the Hebrews in the Old Testament, I have experienced some pain and suffering.

I don’t know. At this point, I am still conflicted, so unless there is a serious change in the “platform” and in the candidate who is “the lesser of two evils”, I may have to say with Joshua as the Israelites were ready to conquer the Promised Land, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord”.

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