"Where in the United States of America are today's followers of St. Thomas More? As we know, More was martyred for his faith after resisting Henry VIII's co-option of the Catholic Church for his personal and political ends. For this resistance unto death, More received an eternal reward. In October of 2000, to Catholics in our contemporary civic struggles (which loom particularly large for Americans in this election year), St. John Paul II proclaimed him as the heavenly patron of statesmen and politicians.
"In his proclamation, St. John Paul identified as one motive for his action 'the need felt by the world of politics and public administration for credible role models able to indicate the path of truth at a time in history when difficult challenges and crucial responsibilities are increasing.' The pope specifically singled out 'the need to defend human life at all its different stages,' given that today's novel situations 'urgently demand clear political decisions in favor of the family, young people, the elderly and the marginalized.'"
In a recent commentary, Father C. John McCloskey III, a Research Fellow at the Faith and Reason Institute in Washington, DC, reflected on the need for statesmen and politicians who will work for the good of society and on the need for each of us to pray for this intention.
To access Fr. McCloskey's complete post, please visit:
The Catholic Thing: Of St. Thomas More - and Us (13 MAR 16)
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