“Separation of Church and State meant one thing when government and religion were at cross purposes. It means something different when they have common purposes. Today they have such common purpose in ‘social progress.’ The great social questions—war and peace, civil rights, education, the elimination of poverty at home and abroad—are all, at bottom, moral questions. They reflect spiritual values. They are the concern of religion and government; they are the concern of millions who perceive no difference, in this regard, between their beliefs and their social obligations.”
Our Quote of the Week makes an important connection between issues that profoundly impact society—war and peace, civil rights, education, poverty elimination—and our spiritual values. This connection was a fundamental one for Sargent Shriver, and helps us to better understand the motivations that shaped his career.
Sargent Shriver spoke these words 63 years ago today, in a speech entitled The Meeting of Church and State (Fordham Commencement Address). Shriver gave this speech shortly after the death of Pope John XXIII, a respected reformer of the Catholic Church who convened the groundbreaking Second Vatican Council. In praising John XXIII, Shriver says that he “recognized the presence of conflict, of deep differences of belief and desire; but he believed that in the long run the divine spark which unites men would prove stronger than the forces which divide.” These glowing words could easily be said of Shriver, as well.
Sargent Shriver goes on to affirm that there ought to be an institutional separation between Church and State in our society, but that, nonetheless, “separation of Church and State does not mean the divorce of spiritual values from secular affairs”. He asserts that we must infuse our politics with the spiritual values of service, compassion, and connection, and he gives the Peace Corps as an example of an institution that successfully does this.
Sargent Shriver was a devout Catholic, but his belief in a “divine spark” transcends any one faith. It is linked to the profoundly human-centric convictions that every person has dignity, that we are all inextricably connected to each other, and that if we remain open and curious towards each other, we can respectfully recognize our differences but work to move forward together. These convictions lead us to cultivate a sense of compassion within us and a dedication to service towards others, moving us to act in ways that honor and empower those around us – particularly those who have been marginalized, discriminated against, or forgotten.
May these words remind us to seek out leaders who do not politicize religion, but rather, who understand that our spiritual connection to each other demands action that safeguards our well-being and our dignity.
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