Denver Catholic

7 DENVER CATHOLIC | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER, 2020 R E L I G I O U S CO N V I C TI O N S H AV E E N O R M O U S P U B L I C VA LU E Ask yourself—would it have it been better if Mahatma Gandhi had kept his religious convictions to himself in India? Do you think Martin Luther King Jr. should have ceded his leadership to someone who wasn't ordained for ministry? Should Caesar Chavez have ignored the plight of migrant workers? What if Dorothy Day had not responded to the desperation of the homeless? When he returned to Poland for the first time as Pope, should St. John Paul II not have celebrated Mass in the park? He did, and he declared to the atheistic Commu- nist Party that Poles should never forget their religious heritage: "So, before going away, I beg you once again to accept the whole of the spiritual legacy which goes by the name of 'Poland,' with the faith, hope and charity that Christ poured into us at our holy Baptism . . . I beg you have trust, and notwithstanding all your weakness, always seek spiri- tual power from him from whom countless generations of our fathers and mother have found it. Never detach our- selves from him. Never lose your spiritual freedom, with which 'he makes a human being free.'" It was not long before Communism collapsed in Poland, thanks in large part to St. John Paul II's courageous wit- ness to the power of the Gospel. In each of these instances, courageous individuals spoke loudly about matters of religious and political sig- nificance. So why are we so convinced that we should not talk about religion or politics? As you watch the political events of 2020 unfold—especially angry mobs bent on defacing and destroying the symbols of our faith—are you convinced that your faith should remain a private matter? I S T H E U N IT E D S TAT E S A CH R I S TI A N N ATI O N? After the flag itself, perhaps no American symbol is quite as iconic as the Statue of Liberty. And for all the rightfully respected principles it has come to be known for today, it should also stand as a curious figure to the American Christian. Certainly, Christianity has contrib- uted tremendously to the common good, the values, and the self-understanding of Americans more than perhaps any other influence. This is because Christians of previous generations exercised their religious freedom, not because there is anything inherently Christian in our founding, our documents, our symbols, or many of the ideas that have in the long run shaped our current reality. When architect Frederic Auguste Bartholdi set out on his personal legacy project of leaving behind a "modern colossus," the head of the Greek God Helios probably made sense. After all, the original Colossus of Rhodes was Helios. The body of the Roman goddess Libertas was no doubt important to the Frenchman as a symbol of his Independent Living Assisted Living 2835 West 32nd Avenue | Denver, Colorado homeishere.org The Gardens at St. Elizabeth The Gardens at St. Elizabeth offers amenities and services in a safe, healthy and supportive environment. For more information, call our trusted advisors, Pam or Melissa today at 720.909.3814. • Concierge services • Health and safety checks • Room service with chef-prepared meals No rent until November! * *Restrictions apply.

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