We Are a Nation in Need of Healing
The findings of the special prosecutor's report has deeply saddened me both as a religious leader and as a citizen. Regardless of the political outcome, it represents both a personal and national tragedy. On a personal level, the outrageous behavior outlined in the report has inflicted great pain upon members of the President's family and friends. It has harmed his personal reputation and moral leadership that form the cornerstone of presidential authority. It has also caused Mr. Clinton much personal anguish and shame. For these reasons, I ask that all Catholics pray for the president and his family that the healing mercy of God might find room in their home and hearts.
For the nation, the effects of the scandal are equally severe. The president's moral authority is crippled, hampering our efforts to protect and promote the values of the Gospel in our modern society. His negative example will only further confuse our children who struggle to remain chaste against great odds. Moreover, to the extent that this scandal diverts the nation's attention away from addressing pressing social and economic needs, it will bring needless harm upon those who can least defend themselves-the poor, sick and unemployed. Thus, we must pray that our nation will face the challenges before us in Christian charity and justice.
I wish to be clear about the moral implication of the issues involved in the current political crisis. Such clarity is needed because issues of morality and politics are easily confused in the media. As a bishop of the Church, I leave the questions of politics to those who hold public office. Nor will I judge the sinfulness of the president's alleged personal behavior. To do so would require the ability to read the president's heart and judge his motivations and sincerity. Such knowledge is known only to God. Rather, I wish to examine the actions in question and to reaffirm the teachings of the Church.
The present crisis centers around questions of adultery and perjury. Adultery is any act of infidelity on the part of a married man or woman with someone other than his or her spouse. Such behavior attacks the nature of marriage as a covenant of mutual and lifetime fidelity between a man and a woman. Adultery is an assault upon the true meaning of married love and an affront to the dignity of God who is life itself (1 Jn. 4:9; 16). Thus, adulterous acts are always evil and must be avoided in all circumstances of life.
The same is true for lying. Lying is the willful and deliberate distorting or denial of the truth to those who have the right and need to know the truth in question. All lies are destructive to human life because they cheapen our human ability to communicate the truth to one another. Perjury is a particular form of lying. It is the willful denial or distortion of the truth before a jury empowered to investigate the facts of possible wrong-doing. Since perjury is a deliberate act of lying; it is also an evil act that must never be committed.
Although some people may consider moral issues to be only subjective and private affairs, such a view is misguided. As creatures made in the image of God, we receive the gift of life which finds its fulfillment only in love. Our actions, in order to be upright, must always promote, protect and nourish the fullness of life that each person has received from God. Since adultery and lying destroy the integrity of human life, they can never be defended or excused.
There is, however, one enduring lesson that the current crisis in Washington makes clear. Only true forgiveness can release us from the destructive power of sin in our lives. At times, we hesitate to face our sinfulness and we fail to seek forgiveness. At such times, we trap ourselves in an ever-increasing spiral of deceit. While seeking forgiveness requires humility and genuine contrition, not to seek it is to condemn ourselves to despair. I suspect that this is a lesson that we can all learn from the president's experience.
In conclusion, let us follow the advice of St. Paul who writes, "First of all, I urge that petitions, prayers and intercessions and thanksgivings be offered for all men, especially for kings and those in authority, that we may be able to lead undisturbed and tranquil lives in perfect piety and dignity. Prayer of this kind is good and God our Saviour is pleased with it, for he wants all men to be saved and come to know the truth." (I Tim. 2:1-3)
May Christ who is Truth Himself set each of us free from our sins and grant us His merciful love.
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