Yesterday we meditated on Deep Ecumenism, Spiritual Warriorhood, and Humankind’s Future and how all of us on earth have been called to stand up and be counted today. This is according to Chief Arvol Looking Horse. And how that takes strength, conscience, and confidence or trust, according to Thomas Aquinas.
Speaking of conscience and spiritual warriorhood, I think we have a conscience emergency in America today—especially in Congress. I am speaking of what happened on Friday when only three Republicans had the courage to vote down a candidate for Defense Secretary who was clearly unqualified for the job and a danger to the world.
A man who is weak in character, abusive to women, an alcoholic, who had failed at running two modest-sized organizations and had never run a large one, who is hostile to gays, lesbians, and trans people in the armed services even in a time when recruitment is becoming more difficult.
Three Republicans had the inner strength to vote No. One more was needed. Crickets. One thinks of Iowa Senator Joni Ernst who was in the armed service herself and who initially offered doubts about the candidate’s credentials.
But the fierce right-wing attack machine promised to primary her in her next election. And she backed down.
Thus, no warrior there. Only bluff. And fear. Fear of losing her job in a few years. Is that an excuse for packing up one’s conscience? For putting the entire country and even the world into grave danger because a seriously flawed human being is in charge of the largest employer in the nation and has his hands night and day on the buttons that can destroy the world?
MLK Jr, who was a spiritual warrior, was once asked how he could march where people wanted to kill him and he responded: “One must love something more than the fear of death if one is to live.” Senator Ernst is not even being threatened with death but with possibly losing her cushy job. And she runs away frightened and is A-okay with putting the entire world into danger. Because she might lose her job.
(When I stood up to some lies going on in my church, I lost my job of 34 years. It was not the end of the world for me. There are worse things than losing one’s job. One is selling one’s soul.)
Ernst is only one Republican sans a conscience. Only one not willing to give up her cushy claim to power. There are 50 others. Shame, Shame, Shame. And the defense head is only one issue to vote on. Others include destroying the planet. Destroying Social Security for seniors and medical care for everyone (except rich billionaires). Releasing violent fanatics from the January 6 insurrection so they can roam our streets and cities. And so much more.
Conscience anyone?
See Matthew Fox, The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can Be Saved.
And Fox, Confessions: The Making of a Postdenominational Priest.
And Fox, Trump and The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election, pp. 57-80.
And Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul & Society.
And Fox, “Spiritual Warriorhood,” in Fox, One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Faith Traditions, pp. 413f and pp. 377-422.
And Fox, “Spiritual Warriors” in Fox, The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine, pp. 77-104.
Banner Image: U.S. Senate confirms Pete Hegseth to be Secretary of Defense, 51-50. Vice President Vance breaks tie, second tie-breaking vote on Cabinet nominee in history. Screen shot from CSpan Congressional coverage.
Queries for Contemplation
How important is a conscience in your opinion, in your work and in your citizenship? Do you wish all elected officials had a well-informed conscience and acted on it?
Recommended Reading
The Pope’s War: Why Ratzinger’s Secret Crusade Has Imperiled the Church and How It Can Be Saved
The Pope’s War offers a provocative look at three decades of corruption in the Catholic Church, focusing on Josef Ratzinger, Pope Benedict XVI. The final section in the book focuses on birthing a truly catholic Christianity.
“This book should be read by everybody, not only for its ferocious courage, but also for its vision for what needs to be saved from the destructive forces that threaten authentic Christianity.” ~ Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope.
“In the gripping The Pope’s War, Matthew Fox takes an unwavering look at the layers of corruption in the Catholic Church, holding moral truth against power.” — Jason Berry, author of Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II
Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest (Revised/Updated Edition)
Matthew Fox’s stirring autobiography, Confessions, reveals his personal, intellectual, and spiritual journey from altar boy, to Dominican priest, to his eventual break with the Vatican. Five new chapters in this revised and updated edition bring added perspective in light of the author’s continued journey, and his reflections on the current changes taking place in church, society and the environment.
“The unfolding story of this irrepressible spiritual revolutionary enlivens the mind and emboldens the heart — must reading for anyone interested in courage, creativity, and the future of religion.”
—Joanna Macy, author of World as Lover, World as Self
Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election
Matthew Fox tells us that he had always shied away from using the term “Anti-Christ” because it was so often used to spread control and fear. However, given today’s rise of authoritarianism and forces of democracide, ecocide, and christofascism, he turns the tables in this book employing the archetype for the cause of justice, democracy, and a renewed Earth and humanity.
From the Foreword: If there was ever a time, a moment, for examining the archetype of the Antichrist, it is now…Read this book with an open mind. Good and evil are real forces in our world. ~~ Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit and Conversations with the Divine.
For immediate access to Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election, order the e-book with 10 full-color prints from Amazon HERE.
To get a print-on-demand paperback copy with black & white images, order from Amazon HERE or IUniverse HERE.
To receive a limited-edition, full-color paperback copy, order from MatthewFox.org HERE.
Order the audiobook HERE for immediate download.
Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
Visionary theologian and best-selling author Matthew Fox offers a new theology of evil that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them.
“A scholarly masterpiece embodying a better vision and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science. A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics
One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths
Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but a new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each.“Reading One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and awe for this magnificent contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit
The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine
To awaken what Fox calls “the sacred masculine,” he unearths ten metaphors, or archetypes, ranging from the Green Man, an ancient pagan symbol of our fundamental relationship with nature, to the Spiritual Warrior….These timeless archetypes can inspire men to pursue their higher calling to connect to their deepest selves and to reinvent the world.
“Every man on this planet should read this book — not to mention every woman who wants to understand the struggles, often unconscious, that shape the men they know.” — Rabbi Michael Lerner, author of The Left Hand of God
10 thoughts on “Politicians Sans Conscience: An American Emergency”
Sometimes ‘people’ are born for something and when the time is right, and when ‘conscience calls’, they answer the call to action. – BB.
A warning in song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYopmvMQEuI
The Great Correction by Eliza Gilkyson
All need to contact these three Senators and encourage their strength of character while earnestly praying for those who surrendered theirs to a false power. The prayers are absolutely necessary since our ministry has been given the insight that with each abandonment of truth comes a quickening of another.
Conscience is very important to Us on our spiritual journeys because to me it’s God’s Spirit of Love, Wisdom, Truth, Creativity, Compassion… manifesting/transforming within and guiding each Unique Sacred Person in our own unique ways towards Our Greater True Self of Wholeness-ONENESS with All humanity/ Our Beautiful Sacred Mother Earth/ Our Sacred Evolving Cosmos/ All Spiritual Dimensions, physical and nonphysical, / with All Living Spiritual Beings….
Dear Damian Maureira,
Your comment is beautiful and covers everything in one sentence! But here’s the question of the day. How can we look at this “president” and his chosen cabinet and billionaires and see these people as “unique sacred persons: to quote you. HOW is this possible? Today’s awful news is that T..p wants to cancel ALL federal loans for education. Add this to the trash-heap of his crazy agenda. HOW can we not hate him for his actions that hurt humanity and his LACK of love for anyone including himself? Oh God in heaven, enlighten this man, let us pray. Thank you Damian.
A timeless political echo of Jesus’ rejection of earthly power is the great line in Robert Bolt’s *A Man for All Seasons*. Thomas More is in the Tower of London, soon to be executed for refusing to recognize as valid Henry VIII’s marriage to Ann Boleyn. He is visited by the political climber Richard Rich, dressed in the raiment of the chancellor of Wales. Thomas says to him words reminiscent of the Gospel, to the effect of, It’s one thing to lose your soul for the whole world, but for Wales? So with the cowards of today’s Senate.
Well, it’s about time Mitch McConnell stood up against the tide. He’s not up for re-election this time, is he? Hmmm. Could that POSSIBLY have anything to do with it?
I read years ago that the highest number of sociopaths was in politics and religion. I don’t know if that is still true, but there are certainly many examples in both areas. I do not know why anyone is surprised by what the pres. does, since he certainly proved by his words and actions in the past that he is power mad and bent on revenge. The people of the U.S. now need to decide whether to knuckle under and welcome “Big Daddy”, as Mel Gibson has declared, or whether to peacefully protest by word and action. As Matthew points out, it seems that few in Congress have a conscience or concern for the general welfare because of fear for their own positions. It is true that standing up for truth and justice has a cost, as Matthew knows from his own life. But as he says, he would not sell his soul. And many have lost their very lives. Watching the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s last words brings me to tears, but it also gives me courage. Like Jesus, he did not embody hate but spread love. I read that as a child in the South he was best friends with a white boy, but as usually happened, as soon as they were school age, that ended cruelly and abruptly. He told his parents that he hated white people, but with their patient, loving, and spiritual guidance, he became the model of love and forgiveness. I pray for those who are making these terrible decisions from Washington and for those who must rise and oppose them peacefully. I pray for the strength to be one of them.
Politicians are not separate from the rest of us, they are us. They come from us. Why do we expect them to behave any differently than we do in our interactions? Oh yes, we think because they managed to deceive their way into their positions by telling us they are moral, ethical, and responsible people who will do the right things for those who elected them. However, because they feel a huge disconnect from us they will always act in their own self-interest. Instead of demanding our leaders to behave better than we do why not behave better ourselves? Oh, we can hear you say, we don’t have to, we are just ordinary people who are trying to make our separate lives work for ourselves and our nuclear families. Guess what, we are all enslaved by the illusion of our separateness and this is what fashions the reality we are complaining about that is materializing in our politicians. Being that this is the truth, we are never going to get them to behave more morally, ethically, or responsibly, forget it, it’s never going to happen.
I just listened to the interview this morning (Jan 29th) between you, Matthew, and Ram Dass. What a powerful discussion. It is especially valuable to me because for the past 35 years, the two of you have been my main teachers and mentors (First Ram Dass, then you). I was privileged to spend a week on retreat with Ram Dass and others back in the early aughties. But prior to that, I met him at a lecture in Prescott, Arizona, where I live. At the time, I was still deep in depression after my marriage fell apart. I remember saying to him that I had lost any ability to feel in touch with God or with any of my religious experience, that the only two things I could hold onto and that had kept me alive had been him and Van Morrison. He said to me, “Well, at least I was in good company.” Thank you both. You both teach with such humor, childlike delight, and letting go of egos. Thank you for bringing humor into your teachings and our lives.