Governance Over Politics: A Catholic Call to Truth and Justice
In an era marked by division and moral ambiguity, the Catholic faithful are called to reflect on the structures that guide both our Church and our nation. Drawing from the wisdom of Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Magisterium, we must advocate for more governance—rooted in principled leadership and the common good—and less politics, which often devolves into self-serving factionalism. This shift is not merely pragmatic but spiritual, demanding an increase in God's eternal truth and justice while combating the insidious relativism that Satan sows to undermine divine order.
The Church, as the Mystical Body of Christ, exemplifies the ideal of governance under divine authority. Christ Himself established a hierarchical structure, entrusting Peter with the keys to the kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19), not as a platform for political maneuvering but as a means of shepherding souls toward salvation. Yet, in recent decades, we have witnessed politics infiltrating ecclesial life—debates over liturgy, doctrine, and pastoral approaches that prioritize ideological alliances over unity in Christ. Pope Francis, in his encyclical *Fratelli Tutti*, warns against such polarization, urging a "politics of love" that serves rather than divides. True governance in the Church means bishops and priests acting as stewards of God's truth, administering sacraments and teaching with fidelity to the Catechism. When politics dominates—manifesting in clerical ambition or lay factions pushing agendas—relativism creeps in, suggesting that truth is malleable to cultural whims. Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44), thrives in this relativism, eroding the absolute nature of God's commandments. To counter this, we need more governance: clear, accountable leadership that upholds justice, as seen in the prophets' calls for righteousness (Amos 5:24), and less politicking that dilutes the Gospel into partisan soundbites.
This principle extends to our country, where civil governance should mirror the divine order of creation. The United States, founded on principles echoing natural law—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—demands leaders who govern for the common good, as articulated in Catholic social teaching. St. Thomas Aquinas, in *Summa Theologica*, distinguishes governance as the rational ordering of society toward virtue, contrasting it with the corrupting influence of politics driven by power and relativism. Today, our nation suffers from hyper-partisanship: endless gridlock, where policies on immigration, economics, and life issues are debated not on merit but on electoral gain. Relativism exacerbates this, promoting the notion that "truth" is subjective—abortion as a "choice," gender as fluid, justice as whatever serves the majority. As Pope Benedict XVI famously decried in his 2005 homily, this "dictatorship of relativism" reduces everything to opinion, allowing Satan's deception to flourish. Instead, we must demand more governance: just laws that protect the vulnerable, as in the biblical mandate to care for the widow and orphan (James 1:27), and economic policies that ensure dignity for all workers (Rerum Novarum). By elevating God's truth—absolute and unchanging—we foster justice that transcends political cycles, reducing relativism's grip and aligning society with the Kingdom of God.
The interplay between these themes reveals a profound spiritual battle. God's truth, revealed in Christ who is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), demands justice as its fruit—fairness, mercy, and equity. Relativism, Satan's tool, perverts this by fostering moral chaos, where "everyone does what is right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). In both Church and country, embracing governance means prioritizing discernment through prayer, subsidiarity, and solidarity, as outlined in *Gaudium et Spes*. This requires personal conversion: Catholics must vote, advocate, and lead not as partisans but as disciples, seeking truth amid deception.
In conclusion, the path forward is clear: more governance to build up, less politics to tear down; more of God's truth and justice to illuminate, less of Satan's relativism to obscure. As St. John Paul II exhorted in *Veritatis Splendor*, truth sets us free. Let us pray for leaders in Church and state who embody this, that our institutions may reflect the heavenly city where justice reigns eternal. Through Mary's intercession, may we courageously pursue this renewal, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
Pax Et Carpe Diem,
Mike the Lesser