Ask anyone their impression of the war and they will immediately think of Iraq. However, there is another war being waged right here on American soil and we are living in the midst of it.
This is also a war on terrorism — with greater consequences, affecting generations to come, and with a greater death toll than could ever happen in Iraq. Because we don’t see enemy “troops” marching down our main streets or battles waged outside our front doors, we ignore this war, pretend it doesn’t exist.
Who among us, if we saw a defenseless child crying in the middle of a busy road would not rush into traffic to rescue that child, pick him up and cradle him to safety? Why? Because we would recognize that the child is in life-threatening danger. It is our motherly or fatherly instinct that would urge us to action. It is our conscience that would require us to do something. It is our integrity and our principles that would give us strength to persevere in a dangerous situation.
At this moment, politicians are canvassing our neighborhoods for votes. Critical “soldiers” in this cultural “war,” some of them claim they can personally believe one way, yet vote another way. Could you imagine Jesus saying, “Personally I believe this, but…”? Sadly, some of these politicians claim to be Catholic, yet they fail to uphold the faith and morals of the Catholic Church. Their faith and their works do not coincide. They don't understand that “Faith without works is dead” (Jas 2:24).
We too are “soldiers” in this “war.” How will we vote in this coming election? We are all called to make a difference in the lives of those around us. We are all called to bring the light of Christ to the world. In the Vatican II document Lumen Gentium, we are reminded clearly that, “Christ is the Light of nations.” Our mission as Christians is “to bring the light of Christ to all men.”
So, how can we bring the light of Christ to the world right now? By choosing men and women who honor and uphold the teachings of Christ. If we are to bring Him to the world, we need to reflect the essence of His teachings. A candidate who speaks many words yet performs empty actions is not a man or woman of integrity and does not deserve to represent others in office. Will that politician have the courage, the integrity and the guts to risk the bold step forward into the street to save the defenseless child?
Of course the street is an analogy to the wombs of troubled women who seek an abortion — a great tragedy of immense proportions. How many more victims will die in this country as a result of this “war”? We will never see these children. They are invisible casualties.
There is a baby crying in the womb of a confused and troubled mother. Which of our political leaders will stop and pick up the baby and carry him to safety?
