I think I need to explain my particularly strong stance against anti-Muslim sentiments, especially those that have surfaced in recent days. I know that some people are wondering why I, as a Catholic priest, would not oppose the expansion of Muslim presence in this country, particularly in elected politics.
I have three reasons for my position:
I am a Catholic and a priest.
I believe in logic, reason and evidence.
My personal history with prejudice has made me particularly sensitive to it.
First, I am a Catholic and a priest.
My understanding of Islam and my attitude towards Muslims are guided by Catholic teaching, beautifully articulated in the Vatican documents Lumen Gentium and, especially, Nostra Aetate.
Put simply, Christians and Muslims differ in their understanding of God and of some fundamental matters of faith. Nevertheless, we also share important beliefs about God and the moral life. The Church therefore recognizes what we hold in common and calls us to mutual understanding and cooperation. As Nostra Aetate puts it, the Church regards Muslims with esteem (NA, 3).
This teaching does not require me to agree with everything Islam teaches, any more than it requires me to compromise my Christian faith. However, it does prohibit me from denigrating Islam or Muslims simply because they are Muslim. I can disagree with particular religious beliefs, just as I can criticize specific actions committed by individuals in the name of religion. But I must make that distinction.
Second, I believe in logic, reason and evidence.
To do so would be prejudice. The very word suggests pre-judgment: judging someone or something before having sufficient knowledge or evidence.
I recall an interview that Cardinal Timothy Dolan gave several years ago, when Mitt Romney was running for president. He made the point, in essence, that there might be reasons for Catholics not to vote for Romney, but his being a Mormon could not be one of them.
The same principle applies here. There may be legitimate reasons not to vote for or support a particular Muslim candidate. But his or her being Muslim, in itself, cannot be one of them.
We must judge candidates by their character, competence, policies, actions and suitability for public office, not simply by their religious identity.
Third, my personal experience has made me particularly sensitive to prejudice.
Whether it is being pre-judged because of my height or accent, tribe or language, nationality or race, I consider such pre-judgment both a failure of reason and an injustice to the truth.
I know that it takes a little more effort to assess each person and each situation on its own merits. Prejudice offers a convenient shortcut: it allows us to reach conclusions without doing the work of knowing, understanding and judging fairly. But that shortcut cannot be the answer.
In explaining the Eighth Commandment, the Catechism of the Catholic Church identifies detraction and calumny as offences against the virtues of justice and charity (CCC, 2479). Our words about others, therefore, are not morally inconsequential. We have an obligation to respect their dignity and reputation.
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And so, I particularly urge my Catholic brothers and sisters to desist from denigrating Muslims and their religion. If we have criticisms to make, let them concern specific beliefs, statements, policies or actions. Let those criticisms be supported by evidence rather than ideological speculation or sweeping generalizations.
We do not have to agree with Muslims on everything. We do not have to support every Muslim candidate or political position. But neither should we condemn people simply because they are Muslim.
This is not merely what the Church asks of us. It is also what reason, justice and basic human decency demand of us.
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