Politics as a Vocation: Making Faith an Asset in Washington
By Brendan Stelmach
Last week, the Initiative for Catholic Social Thought and Public Life continued its
series of Salt and Light Gatherings with Politics as a Vocation: Personal Perspectives on Catholic Faith and Public Service. Held in the U.S. Capitol building, this event brought together young Catholic professionals from across the city to hear insights on the challenges and joys of living the Catholic faith through public office. Speakers Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) addressed a crowd of nearly 70 young professionals and students in a House of Representatives meeting room. The energy in the room was buzzing as the attendees awaited each fantastic presenter in this dynamic setting.
Each speaker displayed a characteristic Catholic diversity, with an equal representation of Republican and Democrats, and a powerful female presence: Rep. Kaptur and Rep. Ros-Lehtinen are the two most senior female House members. This distribution of perspectives offered four distinct speeches, each addressing the intersection of faith and public service in a unique way. The messages of Sen. Kaine and Rep. Fortenberry were particularly engaging. Sen. Kaine came to the gathering directly from the Senate floor, where he had just given a speech concerning the recent executive order on immigration. He opened his comments with a segment of that speech, including several poignant biblical passages concerning the Israelites’ time as foreigners in the land of Egypt. It was powerful to hear the same words that had just graced the Senate floor be shared in such a personal way. He tastefully addressed the moral challenges of the immigration order without admonishing anyone and allowing the audience the freedom to interpret his words for themselves. He then broke from his Senate speech and gave more direct remarks. He discussed the importance of intersectionality in government and the necessity of finding common ground. He called for an emphasis on similarities rather than differences and for people of diverse faiths to compare motivation first and foremost. Framing the discussion around motivation, Kaine explained, allows for commonalities to shine through and thus fosters cooperation. In his career, Sen. Kaine said he has gained more from learning than proselytizing. In a country as large and diverse as the United States, learning about others is vital. His remarks were humble and genuine, and they felt more like advice from a friend rather than a grandiose address.
Rep. Fortenberry’s comments focused on the challenges of balancing pragmatism with principle in governance. He posed the question: if your life was perfectly comfortable, with a stable family, strong finances, and good health, how would you spend your time? Rep. Fortenberry believes that we would seek to come together, discuss higher concepts, and find meaning in ourselves and in our community. This is the root of the high vocation of politics. Ideally, politicians are a group of people coming together to make a good faith effort to seek good for others. When making hard decisions, three steps are necessary: a close study, listening to those affected, and making a final call with full conviction. The representative noted that during this divisive time, faith provides an essential perspective that rises above the pettiness polluting our political landscape. A Catholic foundation can bridge the partisan divide, overcome selfishness, and cut through the clutter to reach the roots of what truly matters. In the years ahead, we will need these ideals more than ever.
In addition to the collection of distinguished speakers at the gathering, an exciting aspect of the evening was the number of young professionals and students who came together to learn from the speakers and each other. The attendees showed great enthusiasm for their work and their faith, offering hope that the next generation of leaders will not abandon their roots. While the speakers were clearly inspiring to those in attendance, what they learned from each other was just as valuable. In that humble room beneath the House floor, the present and future of Catholic leadership united and demonstrated the significance of faithful public service. The enthusiasm of those in attendance validates what many of the speakers expressed: politics is a noble enterprise, and faith can be an important tool in its execution.
related | Video of Rep. Kaptur's Speech
Brendan Stelmach (SFS'19) is an undergraduate studying international politics at Georgetown.