By: Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi
Archdiocese of Mobile
11-21-2008

Let us together pray for our new President-elect Obama

We have experienced an historic election in our country. An African-American ran for president and a woman ran for vice-president. Although this has occurred in other elections, this year, for the first time, the American people elected an African-American to serve as president. Many will refl ect upon the significance of this election. Whatever conclusions may be drawn, it is obvious that this is a moving and signifi cant moment in history.

The new president will inherit great challenges. Our world is wracked by violence and the threats of wars. The possibility of the proliferation of nuclear weapons is very real. Hunger, sickness, and poverty are present in many places in our world. Our own country faces economic distress. Americans struggle to face financial challenges and poor health care. The issue of immigration continues. And we lack a consensus of the values we wish our nation to embrace.

Addressing these challenges will not be easy. We need to pray for our president and wish him well. As Cardinal George of Chicago, the President of the U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, wrote: "We must also hope that President Obama succeeds in his task, for the good of all. The odds against his success are formidable. We are internally divided and, in a global order, we will be less the master of our economic and political fate."

The future welfare of our nation calls for us to work together. President-Elect Obama promised to bring us together as a nation. We must not only hope for this unity, we must support efforts to make it a reality. It would be in the best interests of our nation if President-elect Obama remains focused on fulfi lling his promise to bring us together so that we may address common challenges for the good of all. This will be no small task. For the past 16 years, 8 with a Democratic President and 8 with a Republican President, we have witnessed deep divisions in our country. Divisions are nothing new. Divisions are a permanent fact of political life. There have been other times in our history when we were equally, and perhaps even more strongly, divided.

Our recent divisions have centered upon social issues and cultural values. The divisions over social issues and cultural values continue, and cut across party lines. It is noteworthy that both Florida and California voted for President-elect Obama, and at the same time passed constitutional amendments defi ning marriage as a union of one man and one woman. The difference of opinion regarding fundamental values runs deep among voters regardless of the candidates they vote for.

It may be benefi cial for all if our new president remembers that this recent election was determined substantially by economic issues. It may be an overstatement to say that President-elect Obama received a "mandate" from the voters. Usually a mandate is associated with a candidate who wins an overwhelming majority of the vote. Presidentelect Obama received only a little more than 52%. However, it is on the issue of the economy that there exists a consensus that something needs to be done, and a great reservoir of support and good will for our new president as he strives to bring about an improvement in the financial health of the economy in general and the welfare of individuals in particular.

If he focuses upon the economic issues which determined the election, he can fulfi ll his promise to bring us together. If, on the other hand, he pursues an agenda of seeking to undermine traditional marriage and respect for life, as some of his supporters strongly desire, he will alienate millions of Americans from his administration and exacerbate the divisions in our nation. Let us pray that he will bring us together, especially when so many of us wish him well and want him to succeed.

A very signi fi cant date will occur during the next four years. On April 12, 2011 our country will observe the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the War Between the States. This war and its consequences have shaped this nation in many ways. It will be a most appropriate time to refl ect upon our history, our present, and our future. This war came about when one side felt it could no longer live with the other side, and the other side felt it must totally destroy those with whom they disagreed. The fact that the president during this 150th anniversary will be an African-American is remarkable, and may also be providential. As an African-American, President Obama will have a unique ability to help all Americans to refl ect upon the dangers that deep seated divisions can cause, call all of us to a national healing, and lead us forward to greater unity and common ground. It is my prayer and hope that he will exercise his entire presidency modeled by the gesture of reconciliation demonstrated when President Lincoln who, on the day of Appomattox, requested Dixie be sung.

After many years of deep seated division in our country, may our new president lead us to work together to address common challenges and not further an agenda that will only divide.

Let us pray for our new President-elect Obama.

http://www.mobilearchdiocese.org/bishop/tjr_article.cfm