“People who take God seriously will not remain silent about their faith. They will often disagree about doctrine or policy, but they won’t be quiet. They can’t be. They’ll act on what they believe, sometimes at the cost of their reputations and careers. Obviously the common good demands a respect for other people with different beliefs and a willingness to compromise whenever possible. But for Catholics, the common good can never mean muting themselves in public debate on foundational issues of human dignity. Christian faith is always personal but never private. This is why any notion of tolerance that tries to reduce faith to private idiosyncrasy, or a set of opinions that we can indulge at home but need to be quiet about in public, will always fail.”
—From the Introduction
It is rare when I come across a book that I consider a MUST read. With the Democratic Convention going on and the Republican one starting next week, politics have been a big part of my husbands and my dinner conversations. Both of us are rather conservative people, so we rarely disagree on philosophy. Our recent conversations have been centered around how we can live out our faith responsibly in the public square. With the current political climate being so volatile and conversations about our two presidential nominees being very heated with many people we meet, as well as the obvious confusion on Catholic teaching by some of our highest leaders in Congress, the timing of this book was just brilliant. But then God's timing always is.
I HIGHLY recommend readingRender Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life by Charles J. Chaput . It's a quick read jammed packed with examples and wonderful discourse on how we can do this. It's not about being a Republican or Democrat, it's about being a Catholic Christian being "in" the world, not "of" the world. Chaput is clear and insightful stating the churches teachings and giving an in depth look into the history of the church and it's relationship with politics.Below are a few recommendations that were posted on the Amazon site. I really describe it better than these two. Please consider buying this book and taking some time to prayerfully consider your vote this November.
Blessings,
Mary
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“Using arguments from history as well as the wisdom of the world’s greatest thinkers, Archbishop Chaput urges Catholics to live our faith without compromise and to use our faith as the foundation for renewing American society in the twenty-first century. His tone is one of ‘now or never,’ and his presentation is crisp, intelligent, and accessible to a wide audience. This is an important book for Catholics to read and consider if we are truly to make a difference in the public square. Archbishop Chaput has made a unique and significant contribution to the Church and the nation at a time when voices like his are needed to be raised and heard.”
—Very Reverend David M. O’Connell, C.M., President, The Catholic University of America
“At a time when the ‘faith and values’ vote has never been more important, Archbishop Charles Chaput deftly explores the intersection of morality, reason, and politics. This isn’t just a book for Catholics, but for anyone who cares about the state of America’s soul —and how that concern might shape the 2008 elections.”
—John L. Allen Jr., NCR and CNN senior Vatican correspondentLabels: Mary's Book Basket
