Denver Catholic

47 DENVER CATHOLIC | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2026 BY DR. MICHELLE CONNOR HARRIS Executive Director St. Raphael Counseling L ast night I was talking with my 23-year-old son about this article on "hope and peace amid political burnout." His response was, "If you want to talk about hope and peace, look at Zohran Mamdani." I sighed internally and tried, probably unsuccessfully, to control my tendency to roll my eyes at the mention of the mayor of New York. Not because of the mayor or his policies, but more because of the way these discussions go with my son. I was thinking to myself, "Hope and peace can only come from Jesus," but I didn't say this out loud. In our discussions, I believe my son sometimes puts too much stock in political and governmental solutions to human problems, and I often want to instruct him in the wisdom of Catholic Social Teaching. While we don't argue or get heated, I'm usually left feeling that we're far apart in our political beliefs and priorities. But I also have to remind myself that behind my son's political beliefs is a genuine concern for the well-being of others, which I love about him. At 23, he is still developing his own political thinking, just as I was at his age. My own thoughts and opinions have evolved, and I need to extend him the same courtesy to wrestle with these questions and reach his own conclusions, still rooted in a love for neighbor. Since I had been mulling over ways other people could enter into political discussions, create connection and foster love for this article, I decided to give it a try myself. I set the intention to simply ask his opinion so that I could understand his point of view. "Why do you think that Mamdani is bringing hope and peace to his cit y?" I asked. And then I listened. He talked about the larger issues of tax reform, serving constituents and addressing people's needs. I didn't try to instruct. I didn't make any points of my own. I just followed up with clarif ying questions. Afterward, I felt much lighter. I came to understand my son better and could appreciate that, beneath his political ideas, he cared about people and wanted the best for societ y. Often, beneath our very different political conclusions, we can discover concerns we share: the well-being of our families and the desire to live, work and prosper in a societ y where we are both safe and free. How we seek to get there is where we differ, but that shouldn't be where we stay. We should return to our common goals, our common humanit y and our love for each other. ⊲

• Cover