Happy (?) 4th of July!

I was talking with Mom earlier today and we were discussing what our plans were for the 4th of July holiday. I remarked that I haven’t been interested in fireworks for quite a few years now, and I’ve never liked parades. And, to tell the truth, I’m not so proud of my country right now—we are in a downward spiral spiritually. So my plans were to stay at home and wait for Marilyn and Sarah to return from there trip to England, where they attended the wedding of one of Sarah’s friends from college. Alicia, Lorenzo and Lily went to the cabin with Marilyn’s mom, Patty.

Mom’s question about my plans reminded me that I got a survey in the mail from US Catholic magazine. I guess they ask subscribers every once in a while to read future articles, then ask for their opinions on certain topics in the article. The topic of the article I read and responded to was the separation of Church and State. More specifically the question asked was, “to what extent should government promote and advance the ministries of religious institutions?”

The most common point of contention on this issue relates to religious displays on public property, such as displays of the Nativity or the Ten Commandments. Obviously, tax dollars are usually used for these displays. Since we don’t all share the same religious beliefs, is this a fair use of those tax dollars? Although I applaud the sentiment and the reasons for the displays, I have to say let’s put that money into the shelters and food banks and feed and clothe the homeless and hungry. I would rather put the money to use in proclaiming the Gospel through acts of mercy than to proclaim it through plastic and temporary images.

Getting to the “crux of the matter”, I’m not sure we should use government money at all in promoting or advancing the ministries of the Church. My reason is simple. “He who holds the purse strings gets to write the rules.” If my parish wanted to start a shelter for unmarried pregnant women and we asked the government for tax dollars to support it, they could put stipulations on the monies that would include providing abortion counseling or birth control options that are contrary to church teaching.

I think the Catholic Church has had it right throughout history. We simply don’t ask the government for their money—ever heard of Bingo? How about diocesan appeals once a year? How about simply trusting in God that He will provide?