Even the Angels Need Government

Catholic Witness in Public Life

Go forth glorifying the Lord by your life.

I know what you must be thinking—Father Spitzer was supposed to say that and not me. And I’m also not sending you guys home, at least not just yet. I wanted to open with those words, though, because I was asked to speak about the witness that Catholics can play in the public life of this country. And I don’t think that there’s any better way to sum it up than that phrase in the Mass.

First we receive Jesus in his word and in his substance, and let ourselves become his body. And then we turn outward and let him work through us. The Catholic witness to public life is just the same.

Every success that Catholics have had in politics in this country has come from keeping that exact order. First, we build institutions to strengthen and confirm our faith and discern God’s will for this country. Then we organize to persuade our neighbors and move the entire nation.

Our Role in Abolition

Take the fight against slavery—one of the biggest moral conflicts in the history of this country. We all know how it ended, but it’s easy to overlook the preparation that preceded abolition.

Catholics emerged as powerful voices for justice. Catholic institutions, particularly schools run by dedicated nuns and priests, were not only centers of education but also beacons of moral clarity. It was within their walls that many Americans began to understand the Church’s teachings about human dignity and justice.

One prominent and little-remembered figure in the Catholic role in abolition is Bishop John England of Charleston, South Carolina. With remarkable courage for the time, he condemned slavery as a grave injustice and declared that the rights of men and the rights of slaves are the same. His bold stand was a clarion call for moral reform and challenged the norms of the time.

Catholic institutions played a covert yet critical role in the Underground Railroad. Many priests and nuns transformed their churches and convents into safe havens for escaping slaves, and they risked their lives to defy unjust laws—embodying the Christian imperative to love and protect the vulnerable.

The impact of Catholics extended into the political realm as well. They lobbied, advocated, and supported the cause of freedmen, and their efforts were instrumental in shifting public opinion and eventually passing the 13th Amendment after the conclusion of the war.

This chapter of history underscores the power of faith-driven action in confronting profound injustices.

Catholics Witness in the Civil Rights Movement

The exact same thing was true a hundred years later in the fight for civil rights. Again, everybody always remembers how it ended—of course, with court rulings and legislation that ended segregation. But it’s easy to forget and to overlook the presence of Christ in the preparation for that political struggle.

The mid-20th century marked a new era in the fight for justice as the civil rights movement gained momentum, and Catholics, driven by their commitment to social justice, played a crucial role in this transformative period. Catholic leaders and organizations were pivotal allies in the movement, with American Catholic bishops issuing powerful statements supporting the Civil Rights Act of ’64 and the Voting Rights Act in ’65. Their moral authority and advocacy were critical in galvanizing public support for this legislation.

Catholic clergy, of course, and laypeople marched alongside civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and participated in demonstrations and protests. Their involvement was a testament to the Church’s dedication to racial equality and justice.

Catholic institutions also provided essential support to disadvantaged communities, addressing educational and economic inequalities. And it was through their programs that they tackled some of the causes of racial injustice and the inequalities that existed, and ensured that civil rights wasn’t just about legal equality, of course, but actually achieving real social transformation throughout the country.

The Pro-Life Movement: A Steady Catholic Witness

I think that the last great demand that the Church has made of the nation as a whole, of course, was to end the nationwide legal sanction for the snuffing out of unborn life.

And I have to say that talking about this, I feel somewhat out of place because I know that so many people in this room were part of that movement from the very beginning. I want to give a round of applause to the people and organizations who sustained that fight.

There’s nothing more moving to me than thinking about 50 years of a steady witness, when nobody knew exactly how it would end, and to think about all of the prayer and preparation that went into sustaining the pro-life movement. People my age came in at the end, essentially, and were able to actually see it through. But I know and really, really respect and want to pay homage to so many of you guys who went before and laid the groundwork for the successes that we’ve had. So thank you.

Catholics, of course, driven by our belief in the sanctity of every human life, mobilized with incredible energy and determination. The Church’s teachings on life provided a powerful foundation for the movement, leading to widespread advocacy and activism. And organizations like the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Charities stepped up, obviously, to support women facing unplanned pregnancies.

So the beginning again is building the institutions and being that faithful witness throughout the years before it becomes a matter of public policy and public conflict. They offered not just moral support but practical help, including counseling and financial aid and adoption services.

Their efforts demonstrated that the pro-life stance was about comprehensive care and support for both the unborn and their mothers.

Politically, Catholics have been tireless in advocating for pro-life legislation, of course, and that includes parental consent laws, restrictions on late-term abortion, and the effort to have legislative victories at the state and federal level. And their advocacy has shaped a political landscape that really has moved in the direction of respecting the sanctity of life.

The pro-life movement has also made a cultural impact—as we’ve just heard. That’s the real goal—to change hearts and minds in addition to winning some of these political victories.

Events like the March for Life obviously draw hundreds of thousands every year, and it’s an incredible demonstration of the staying power of that witness that precedes our political engagement.

The Work Ahead for Life

Of course, the greatest work is still in front of us. As Ryan just described, the nationwide referenda have not been an occasion of victory. And we can see that the culture of the nation is still very much a live-and-let-live attitude rather than a robust and thoroughgoing pro-life disposition.

But we can already see the efforts redoubling, and again that’s thanks to a lot of people in this room who are doing some of that incredible work in advocacy.

The press—or at least most of the press—only sees what happens in the courtroom and at the ballot box. But they don’t see the prayer and the preparation that happens at gatherings like this and that goes on around the country, which really is sustaining the movement and driving it forward.

The School Choice Movement

I would like to add one more movement to this list which I think demands all of our attention today—and that’s the religious school movement.

Expanding education that teaches faith and values is a goal of our politics which is worth fighting for in the political arena. But it’s also a way to form more Americans’ consciences and to strengthen the Catholic witness in every issue.

Catholic schools have been a cornerstone of educational excellence and values-based instruction throughout the history of the country. And today’s school choice movement—which is advocating for vouchers and education alternatives—aligns with the Church’s belief in the right of every child to a quality education, and also the importance of parental choice and authority over how your child is brought up.

The Catholic Witness in Education

Catholic leaders and organizations are at the forefront of this movement, championing policies that expand educational options for families. They argue that school choice is not just a policy issue but a moral imperative—which is true—and it ensures that every child, regardless of socioeconomic background, has access to the best possible education.

Catholics advocating for educational reforms that promote fairness and opportunity use their efforts to help shape the policies that make quality education more accessible for all Americans and also reflect the Church’s belief in the transformative power of education.

The modern school choice movement is a testament to the ongoing legacy and influence of Catholic institutions in American politics.

And by God’s grace, we can see that this movement is winning. Unlike a lot of the more difficult, more bleak causes that we’ve been fighting in recently, we can see the expansion of educational alternatives in states like Arizona, Florida, Utah. Texas is moving in that direction, Tennessee is moving in that direction, and we’re seeing huge numbers of people be able to move into religious schools and gain a better education that is based in values for their children.

And so it’s a huge step in the right direction, and I think that we’ll see the fruits of this for years to come.

Reasons for Optimism

So if anything, I hope that I have given you guys all a few reasons for optimism, despite the bleak and winding state of our current national politics—particularly at the presidential level, changing by the day.

I’m a journalist, so of course I believe that every election cycle matters, as well as the many policies that come out of Washington. But I think it’s important to remember that God often works on a longer timeline than that, and the great causes in the history of this country have required slow, deliberate preparation and prayer before we were ready and able to go into the public square and actually move the country in the right direction.

So our job is, of course, to continue doing that preparation and to go forth and bring the Lord to our neighbors once we have confirmed ourselves in Christ.

Thank you very much.