Diversity of America's Catholics serves
as vital civic asset

By John Huebscher

	John Huebscher

In the movie The First Monday of October, Walter Matthau plays a liberal justice on the Supreme Court. Early in the film, he eulogizes a deceased conservative colleague with whom he often argued strenuously. Matthau's character explains that, in fact, the two liked and respected each other.

"Together, we were like the buttresses of a great cathedral," he explains. "He pushed from the right, I pushed from the left and together we kept the wall up."

These two characters did not see their diverse views as barriers to justice but as gifts that helped each discern what is right.

One might argue that the United States' bishops had a similar insight in preparing their document, Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility. For, in that document, they identify the diversity of America's Catholic community as one of the major assets Catholics bring to the public square.

Faithful Citizenship observes that American's 60 million-plus Catholics can be found everywhere. We belong to all the major political parties, are found among all racial, social, and economic groups and among all professions and occupations. We are among the nation's power elite and amidst society's poor and vulnerable.

We also see this diversity among Catholics in our politics. Even though we are grounded in the same tradition and even when we share the same goals, Catholics may differ at times as to the best means to achieve them. There are Catholic liberals and Catholic conservatives. Some favor activist government. Others a less engaged public sector.

The diversity of the Catholic population serves to provide many outlets for sharing what Faithful Citizenship calls our "common commitment to protect human life and stand with those who are poor and vulnerable."

The "moral leaven" we are expected to provide to our democracy makes a difference because Catholics are a vital part of so many facets of our nation's daily life.

But diversity is an asset only if we let it be. For, we can easily view varied experiences and outlooks as obstacles to unity and progress. If, however, we see our diversity as a gift that fosters discernment then the perspectives of those with different opinions can deepen our own insights and enrich our civic life.

Viewed in this way, our different backgrounds can deepen our collective Catholic understanding of how our faith can transform our American culture.

Of course, this only works if we share - and genuinely heed - the lessons offered by our brothers and sisters in faith.

If we credit Catholics whose personal stories and public policy views differ from ours with sharing the same foundation in faith, then even the occasionally heated conflict over public policies can be constructive. If we fail to value diversity, however, the conflict becomes corrosive and the "buttresses" all too easily become wrecking balls that weaken the structure rather than support it.

Our diversity is an asset we cannot afford to squander. Faithful citizens who appreciate that asset can truly enrich our civic life.

(Huebscher is executive director of the Wisconsin Catholic Conference, the civil arm of the state's five diocesan bishops.)