An Apologia (Defense or Explanation) for Weighing in on Political Matters

I have been accused in the last month of being partisan due to my criticism of President Trump and his administration. I take that charge seriously. I try hard not to be partisan. I have mostly limited my criticism of the Trump administration to two or three areas of concern. But the gospel is about something and sometimes it has political implications. And in our current moment everything seems political. Just quoting scripture can be politically offensive.

FWIW, I have a reputation among those who know me for playing devil’s advocate. And I have track record of bi-partisan critique.

It is possible to support someone and then withdraw your support. It is possible for a leader to be so morally problematic that even winning with him or her would be losing.

I voted for Bill Clinton in 1992, but not in 1996. I spoke out against the bombing in Serbia and the “collateral damage” of his use of cruise missiles elsewhere. I also spoke out against his dishonesty and infidelity. I argued that he should resign in the wake of the scandal resulting from his adulterous sexual behavior with an intern along with his lying to a grand jury. And the American people.

Some who supported Clinton’s policies squandered their credibility and compromised their soul defending and excusing his behavior. Gloria Steinem is the most notorious example.

Some preachers who castigated Clinton for his immorality and asserted that the nation’s leader should set a moral example did an about face when Donald Trump to the point of becoming sycophants for the latter. In doing so, men like Gary Bauer, Tony Perkins, James Dobson, Robert Jeffress, and Franklin Graham lost credibility as authorities on matters of morality. What was true under Clinton is no less true under Trump. We need leaders who exhibit a minimum of integrity, decency, and basic morality. It affects the soul of the nation.

I have not said much publicly about President Trump on the topics of honesty and sexual morality, though there is abundant material – not even counting his involvement with Epstein and his resistance to releasing those files.

I was critical of the Bush administration’s invasion of Iraq – on Christian Just War grounds as well as on worldly prudential grounds. I was called naïve and unpatriotic.

I said publicly that I thought Barak Obama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize was silly. I was  critical – multiple times – of his extrajudicial use of drones to kill people, including American citizens. I was critical of his handling of abortion in the Affordable Care Act. I pointed out the misleading spin coming out of the 2012 Democratic National Convention. I was critical of Obama’s expressing a progressive civil religion in his 2013 inauguration speech.

More recently, I got in trouble with some for criticizing his use of presidential pardons. I got significant push back and even got a phone call from someone who was concerned about how that might affect my reputation. I have said almost nothing about Trump's even more egregious use of pardons.

The thing is, I don't care that much about political parties or loyalties. It is hard enough to be loyal to Jesus, the Church, and the Christian vision without confusing it with political loyalties to party or particular leaders. I have little patience for knee-jerk parroting of a party line or knee-jerk defense of particular parties or leaders. When people default to talking about “the Right” or “the Left” I get suspicious.

I mostly speak out when I see leaders resorting to unnecessary violence (which from a Christian perspective includes most violence). That includes violent rhetoric, speaking about others with disdain or dishonestly, and a callous response to violence done. I am also bound by the vows I took when I was ordained a bishop to express Christian concern for the vulnerable and those on the margins. That includes immigrants and refugees.

As a bishop, I have no choice but to comment on occasion on currents if I am going to be faithful. That sometimes means commenting on political matters. I am by no means perfect. I am sometimes overly cautious. And, no doubt, I sometimes get things wrong. And I am not pretend to be altogether politically neutral. But some basic moral principles are more important. I do believe that it is essential for Christians to cultivate some detachment from party loyalty and even more so from any particular leader. For the sake of our souls.