The USA is a divided country – even more so after the election of Donald Trump. What can Christians do to reconcile political opponents? A priest, a religious and a theology professor provide answers.
The day after the election, theology professor Massimo Faggioli began classes at Villanova University in Pennsylvania in an unusual way. He asked his students to bring bread; now they shared them, ate and talked. Women and men, Catholics and non-Catholics, Republicans and Democrats. With this campaign, Faggioli wanted to make it clear how valuable cohesion is – despite everything that divides people. He says: “It is important to rediscover a sense of fraternal politics,” the opposite of the friend-enemy logic that has poisoned the United States.
Faggioli’s action suggests what Christians could do during the term of office of Donald Trump, the notorious divisive leader. You could try to talk to people who think differently, to develop understanding for them, and to reconcile differences. Faggioli says Catholics should defend themselves “against the new and old viruses that have attacked the body of American democracy.” Both sides have their share in the division of society, Faggioli sees it like many observers: The Democrats have often discussed issues such as identity, diversity and inclusion ideologically – and detached from people’s real lives. Under Trump, the Republicans have become a party of anger, lies and revenge.
“This is the churches’ great opportunity: to cultivate concrete coexistence.”
What can you do to change the bad for the better? It’s not just the theologian Faggioli who is wondering this. Donald Baker, a Catholic priest and pastor in New York, is also wondering. He says: “One of the biggest problems in our country is that we no longer speak to each other. We don’t even have the same political vocabulary.” Terms like freedom and patriotism are defined one way by some and completely differently by others. Baker says: “By helping to establish a common vocabulary, perhaps a kind of bridge could be built.”
The Benedictine Father Anastasius Reiser lives in an area where the bridges between people still work. He is prior of a monastery in Schuyler, Nebraska. Reiser says that the majority of Americans among his fellow brothers are on the Democratic side, while the monastery’s employees are all for the Republicans. But that is not a problem. Everything is not as black and white as it is often portrayed in the media – and people, for example, are rarely radical for or against abortion, for or against immigration: “In reality, people think and live in a more differentiated way.” This is how many Republican voters see it definitely that Trump is a convicted felon who talks nonsense and despises women. And that bothers them because family, honesty and sincerity are important to them.
A supporter of Donald Trump, on the other hand, triumphed. Photo: IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire
Reiser believes that the lives of the people in his town will function even under an authoritarian President Trump – if they continue to accept their differences. He tells how whites and Hispanics worship together and care for one another. And he reports on the many initiatives that exist in the community: a food bank, help for immigrants, support for people who cannot afford their housing. Reiser says: “This is the churches’ great opportunity: to cultivate concrete coexistence in the parishes.”
Could what works on a small scale in Schuyler also work on a large scale? Could the divided country grow together again, at least a little? First of all, people in the USA are happy that the transfer of power from the old to the new government will be peaceful. If Democrat Kamala Harris had won, things would probably have been different; Trump still denies his defeat in the 2020 election and incited his supporters to storm the Capitol.
Now his radical plans are worrying many people: He has announced, for example, that he will deport millions of migrants, launch a campaign of revenge against his political opponents and concentrate much more power in the White House. Observers are wondering whether US democracy will survive the next four years.
The Benedictine Father Reiser says that many are looking forward to the day Trump takes office with fear: “Will he carry out what he has announced?” The New York priest Baker says: “Trump is an isolationist, likes rich, powerful men and holds his own for the smartest man in the room. This is a toxic combination of traits in a leader.” Baker emphasizes that he is a registered Republican but would never vote for Trump. He hopes “that Trump doesn’t ruin anything. I hope that there are people around him who will give him guidance.” So far, however, the future president has only given prominent positions to loyal followers who are unlikely to contradict him.
Theologian Faggioli believes Trump’s presidency will be a “dangerous time.” He hopes that the new government “will not be able to do everything that it has promised and threatened.” And he hopes “that there will be a civil, moral and also religious response to this turning point in American history.” The Catholic bishops initially expressed reservations after the election; many of them favored Trump from the start. Faggioli finds it disturbing how they ignore Trump’s revenge fantasies and plans to weaken democracy. He says: “The Catholic Church should have something to say about all this.”
A week after the election, the bishops at least found clear words about Trump’s announced mass deportations. If he puts his plans into action, they would “raise their voice loudly,” they emphasized. We must continue to defend immigrants. Mark Seitz, the bishop of El Paso, said: “This will be a test for our nation.”
How do you think Christians can effectively contribute to bridging the political divides within American society as the nation approaches another presidential term under Donald Trump?
1. As a website editor for world-today-news.com, I would like to ask our guests about their thoughts on the divisiveness in American society and how it can be addressed, particularly in light of the upcoming presidential term of Donald Trump. What role do they believe Christians and religious institutions should play in promoting unity and reconciliation between political opponents?
2. Theology professor Massimo Faggioli spoke about the importance of developing a sense of fraternal politics. Could you elaborate on what this means in practical terms, especially for Christians living in a highly polarized political atmosphere? How can individuals and communities foster this spirit of solidarity and understanding?
3. Father Anastasius Reiser mentioned the success of initiatives like food banks and housing support in his town. What are some specific steps that churches and religious organizations can take to promote such concrete coexistence on a larger scale, both within their congregations and in the wider community?
4. With regards to the incoming Biden-Harris administration, what are some of the biggest challenges and opportunities that Christians and religious leaders face in promoting unity and reconciliation in the country? What role can faith play in healing the deep divides that exist between different parts of American society?
5. As the country prepares to navigate a new political landscape, what advice would you give to individuals who may find themselves in disagreement with their political adversaries, especially on issues like immigration and social justice? How can we engage in constructive dialog and find common ground, even when our beliefs and values seem diametrically opposed?
6. with the transfer of power from the old to the new government taking place peacefully, there are still concerns about the potential impact of President Trump’s policies on democracy and civil rights. What are some of the specific concerns that you have, and what actions do you believe Christians and religious groups should take to safeguard democratic norms and promote social cohesion in the face of political polarization?
