A Democracy that is Worth Celebrating

What we celebrate on July 4 may not be the founding of the world’s oldest democracy (Iceland? The Iroquois nation?), but it is certainly the most successful. When our nation’s Founding Fathers were composing the Constitution, there were two prominent political theories being debated at the time – (1) an elected representative should mirror the interests and beliefs of his constituents (Thomas Paine), or (2) the representative should be elected simply as a person of intelligence who could apply his own experience and wisdom in pursuit of the overall common good (Edmund Burke). Our Constitution included representatives of both types to serve in Congress – the first type serving in the House of Representatives and the second type serving in the Senate. The Fathers were fiercely opposed to “factions” or alliances (aka political parties) that would prevent the representative’s use of his own conscience and good judgment. Catholic social teaching promotes the common good, that is, “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily (Vatican Council II). Pope Francis recently said that serving in politics is a good and holy vocation, indeed “it is one of the highest forms of charity, because it serves the common good in humility and love.” When our members of Congress are collaborating and acting on behalf of the common good and according to the Constitution – that is a democracy worth celebrating with fireworks! - - - Fr. Jim