September 10, 2003
Crises and conflicts won't deter us
With summer almost a memory, schools well into their first semester of activity, parish pews (up here in northern New Jersey) groaning under the weight of once-absent vacationers, a new Auxiliary Bishop ordained, and pastoral councils, finance councils and school advisory boards up and running—it feels as if there is little time to breathe, let alone reflect on the many reasons we are to be grateful to God for His blessings in our lives.

Yet, all is not peaceful in the kingdom.

The undertow of scandal, political uncertainties and pervasive immoral culture remain with us. Perhaps they always will, as long as we remain imperfect followers of the Perfect One.

The diocese-by-diocese audit of child protection policies and practices is under way throughout the U.S. at the behest of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Each diocese, each bishop, each and every Catholic is “on notice” to take responsibility for our actions.

This is but the most visible and urgent example of the call to be Christians.

We must look to our teachers: our pastors, parents and peers. We must seek answers in Scripture and prayer. We must show up for the Lord, for He never fails to be there for us, even when we deny Him.

In whatever vocation we serve—priest, parent, worker, professional, care giver, you name it—we are empowered to heal and cast out demons, just as the apostles were, in our daily lives. We do this less often by lightning-bolt displays than by simple example.

Too much to ask? Too much to expect? Too hopeful and perhaps naïve? Possibly. Just as it was too much to ask Him to suffer and die for us and to rise from death to Life that we might experience His love forever

Vote apathy–a dangerous trend
It is said if someone does not vote, he or she has no right to complain about the caliber of government. Unfortunately in New Jersey more than half of the state’s Catholics hold that dubious distinction.

Research from Washington, DC-based Catholic Vote found that a stunning 59 percent of eligible Catholics in the Garden State did not bother to go to the polls in the 2001 general election.

According to the latest U.S. Census figures compiled three years ago, New Jersey has 8,414,350 residents, 75 percent of whom are of voting age. To put the poll paralysis in some perspective, in the 2001 gubernatorial election there were 4,597,606 registered voters. Exit polls determined that a full 47 percent identify themselves as Catholics. Do the math.

Catholics, of course, are hardly the only group increasingly deficient in their civic duty. It should bother everyone that a shrinking number of Americans are deciding who will be our leaders.

The latest political corruption and ineptitude notwithstanding, forfeiting the precious right to vote is dangerous and damaging.

One thing politicians pay attention to is the polls. In a way, the Catholic Vote statistics are a poll of sorts that tells those in Trenton that a significant portion of Catholics can be brushed off because they are not going to vote anyway.

Anyone who does not vote eventually becomes irrelevant, and so do their concerns. That is simply unacceptable.

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