When Barack Obama takes the oath of
office as our 44th president on January
20, he will swear to “preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution of the
United States.” Other elected officials
from coast to coast will take similar
oaths.
They aren’t the only ones who have
a duty to uphold the Constitution. It
begins, “We the people of the United
States, in order to form a more perfect
union....”
Forming a more perfect union is a
huge task that will involve us working
with our elected officials—those
we voted against as well as those we
voted for.
Let’s look for ways we can channel
the energy of the large number of voters
who did their civic duty last November.
Are there ways to work together on
common goals as Americans of all ages,
races, religions and political parties?
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 Our Political Responsibility
Not long after the election last November,
Gallup (www.gallup.com) reported
that 85 percent of Americans surveyed
were disappointed with the state of the
nation. In addition to the war on terrorism,
we have lots of crises, including
the economy, energy, unemployment,
immigration, environment and health
insurance. Abortion and stem-cell research
are among the moral issues that
divide our country.
We Catholics can turn to the document
many of us studied to help us
understand Church teaching on key
social issues: Forming Consciences for
Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political
Responsibility From the Catholic Bishops
of the United States (www.faithfulcitizenship.org.)
That same document can continue
to assist us in challenging our lawmakers
to make moral choices that benefit
the common good. In some cases,
that may involve us reminding them of
their campaign promises. In other
instances, it may mean encouraging
them to change their positions. In all
situations, we can offer our prayers.
When Barack Obama was elected the
first black president of the United States
last November, his historic win proved
that the American dream is true: Indeed,
the United States is a country
where anyone can grow up to win the
highest office.
After the election, Gallup reported
that 80 percent of Americans surveyed
think President Obama will make a sincere
effort to work with the Republicans
in Congress to find bipartisan solutions
to problems. And 76 percent think he
will increase respect for our country
abroad. In addition, his win resulted in
high optimism about race relations.
Indeed, many world leaders offered
congratulations and hope for the future.
In an ad in The New York Times,
Sheikh Khalid Bin Saqr Al Qasimi,
crown prince and deputy ruler of Ras Al
Khaimah (United Arab Emirates),
praised the “dynamic and unifying
leader who will reach across geographic,
demographic and political divides and
forge new partnerships to meet new
challenges of the 21st century.”
Although Obama’s position on abortion
kept many Catholics from supporting
him, exit polls show that 54
percent of U.S. Catholics voted for him,
reported Catholic News Service (CNS).
Pope Benedict XVI was among the
Catholic leaders who congratulated
our newly elected president. Cardinal
Francis E. George of Chicago, president
of the U.S. Catholic bishops and speaking
on their behalf, offered “our prayers
that God give you strength and wisdom
to meet the coming challenges.”
But Cardinal George also affirmed
the Church’s pro-life position—from
conception to natural death—to the
president-elect when he stressed, “We
stand ready to work with you in defense
and support of the life and dignity
of every human person.”
While campaigning for president last
year, Barack Obama explained his position
on abortion, emphasizing, “Nobody
is pro-abortion. I think it is always
a tragic situation.” He called for working
together on common-ground issues
to reduce abortions, such as preventing
unintended pregnancies in our youth
by “communicating that sexuality is
sacred and they should not be engaged
in cavalier activity.” He also proposed
“providing options for adoption and
helping single mothers if they want to
choose to keep the baby.”
But he was also realistic about the
differences, admitting, “We’re not going
to completely resolve it....And those
who are opposed to abortion, I think,
should continue to be able to lawfully
object and try to change the laws.”
Chris Korzen, executive director of
Catholics United (www.catholics-united.org), said a top priority of the
nonpartisan organization is reducing
abortions, as proposed by the new president,
reports CNS.
There are other issues on which
Catholics can work with others on
morally acceptable common ground,
for example:
• We can object to embryonic stem-cell
research, which destroys human
embryos, but support research on adult
stem cells.
• We can oppose war while praying
for peace and supporting our troops
(www.americasupportsyou.mil).
• We can encourage energy-saving
research while taking measures to
reduce our own consumption.
Working together on common
ground may not be the perfect solution
to all the issues that divide our
nation. But it is a step in the right direction,
toward “a more perfect union.”—M.J.D.
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