4th Week of Easter - Government and the Governed

"And you therefore have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one shall take from you." St. John, 16:22.

At the beginning of the American Revolution George Washington was appointed commander-in-chief of the American Army. He discovered that the English troops were shut up in the city of Boston. Americans sur­rounded the town. The English had little food.

Washington sent a letter to Congress suggesting that Boston be bom­barded. As the message was read a tense silence fell over the assembly. Everyone knew that the presiding officer, John Hancock, had considerable real estate in the beleaguered town, most of which he would lose if the city were shelled.

Hancock arose and addressed the assembly:

"It is true that nearly all my property in the world is in houses and other buildings in the town of Boston; but if driving out the British Army and the liberties of our country require its being burned to ashes, issue the order for that purpose immediately."

Those were the sentiments of a true statesman and a true citizen. He was willing to lose his personal property for the good of his country. That should be the sentiment of every true American. The Fourth Com­mandment imposes duties upon the government and upon the citizenry. We need to know those duties.

1. Every man in public office from the president down to the last town marshal has the duty of devoting himself to the public welfare.

A. He must protect the rights of every citizen:

1. By framing and enforcing laws that safeguard life, property, freedom, station in life, and the dignity of human beings.

2. By administering justice through the courts.

3. By granting full liberty to the Church in her work of saving souls. The Church is supreme in her sphere; the State is supreme in its sphere. Each must help the other.

B. The Government has the duty to promote the material prosperity and greatness of the country.

1. State officials must use their power for the general welfare, and not for any individual or group of individuals.

2. Prudence and justice should guide the appointment of honest, intelligent men to public office.

John Hancock is a sterling example of a true public servant. He was willing to lose his property for the general good. He was willing to sacri­fice his possessions for the sake of his country. Would that we had more John Hancocks in public office.

2. Citizens also have duties to those who rule them.

A. Their first duty is to love their country.

1. True patriotism consists in prefering the interests of the nation to private interests. Every citizen is bound to work for the good of all, for public health, education, social justice, and above all for sound morality.

2. False patriotism puts the state above everything else, at the expense of human freedom, human rights and the rights of other nations. Always remember: The State exists for man, not man for the State. "Man for the State" was the cry of Hitler. "Man for the State" was the program of Stalin. The State for man is the American way.

B. The people have the duty to respect and support those who hold public office.

1. We are bound to obey their lawful commands.

2. We are bound to obey all laws made by public authority.

3. We are bound to respect public officials. The power God gave us to govern ourselves we entrust to public officials. Our democratic system allows free criticism of those in office. But that criticism must be fair and truthful and just, and always offered with re­spect.

C. Every citizen is bound to assist in good government.

1. By paying taxes.

2. By voting faithfully and conscientiously. Here there is a moral obligation to vote if there is danger of the election of one who would do grave public harm. This was the situation in Italy on April 18, 1948. The Holy Father called upon all Catholics to vote because there was danger that if they did not cast their ballot, the forces of evil in the form of Communism would destroy the State.

3. Lastly, every citizen has the duty to pray for public officers, especially in times of stress and peril. Instead of talking politics do some praying for our leaders.

Jesus tells us that we shall have sorrow, but that He will see us again, and our hearts shall rejoice, and our joy no man shall take from us. Yes, there is a certain difficulty, a sorrow, in serving our country, whether as officials or as citizens, but it is a worthwhile sorrow, one that makes for the good of our country.

Patriotism demands sacrifice and sacrifice makes us sad, but that sacrifice will preserve our glorious nation.

The Catholic Church insists upon these duties of the government and the governed.

Thank God, the history of our country has borne witness that Catholics have always been loyal. Any charge of disloyalty flung at our Church is a filthy, disgusting lie.

We Catholics form about one sixth of the population, yet during the last war [WWII} 30% of the Army, 40% of the Navy, and 50% of the Marines were Catholic. There are a hundred more proofs of our loyalty.

Today we will resolve to give the government our whole-hearted sup­port: we will put our country's interests first; we will obey the laws; we will respect public officials; we will pay our taxes; we will vote conscientiously; above all we will pray that God may guide our leaders along the paths of peace and prosperity. When did you ever pray for our government officials? Do less talking about and more praying for our leaders.

As one hero of World War Two, Naval Commander John J. Shea, wrote to his little son:
"Be a good Catholic, and you can't help being a good American." Amen.
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Adapted from Talks on the Commandments
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1948)