How do Catholics celebrate Christmas in a multifaith society?
Taking a cue from the culture wars, the Christmas war is upon us again. This edition of Viewpoints looks at how Catholics celebrate Christmas in a multifaith society. Tom Sheridan, former editor of the Catholic New World, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and a deacon ordained for the Diocese of Joliet, IL, says that proclaiming “Merry Christmas” to someone of another faith can be a great opening for friendship and interfaith understanding--and even evangelization. Liz Quirin, editor of The Messenger, newspaper of the Diocese of Belleville, IL, says that by being Christ to others, we can be more of a catholic Catholic than we knew was possible.
Christmas and culture: What should Catholics do?
By Tom Sheridan
The huge billboard in rural and deeply Christian Florida promotes Sikhism, touting the India-centered religion as the world’s fifth largest. But you can bet they won’t be hanging Christmas lights from it.
The roadside advertisement highlights America’s struggle with its faith identity. Even as the Christmas season marks the high point of our public celebration as a Christian nation, many Americans fear diversity and rampant commercialism are rotting the roots of the holiday.
That two-pronged paradox--celebrating the Savior’s birth in an increasingly secular and multifaith culture--is America’s challenge and opportunity. That is especially true for Catholics.
Even whether the US is--or was supposed to be--a “Christian” nation remains at the core of a lively cultural and political debate. Despite the rhetoric, however, our nation wasn’t as Christian when founded as the political right would like to believe. Many Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson, were deists who honored Jesus’ words while often discounting his divinity.
Of course, it surely is Christian, at least culturally, since most of its inhabitants were--and are--believers. But even within that reality, there are serious splits. Some Protestant groups don’t consider Catholics to be Christians and are suspect of others. Witness the darts being tossed at former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith.
That’s not even mentioning Jews--whose New World traditions run as deep as anyone else’s--or newcomers such as Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and so many more.
And yes, despite the carols blaring from stores and lighted trees in town squares, our nation’s Christmas celebrations, the public ones at least, have become ever more secular. Blame that on rampant commercialism and the growing muscle of corporations who revere the almighty dollar rather than the Almighty.
It’s a sad reality, but do we need to be upset by it? Not necessarily. Being determined might be a better option. Christmas has long had a secular component. Today, though, it’s threatening our rich Christian roots. Nevertheless, commerce and Santa won’t push out Christmas and the Christ Child--unless you let it happen.
That was the point made in November by New York Abp. Timothy M. Dolan, addressing the general assembly of the US bishops in Baltimore. He said:
“It is always a risk for the world to hear the church, for she dares the world to ... foster and protect the inviolable dignity of the human person and human life; ... to protect marriage and family; to embrace those suffering and struggling; to prefer service to selfishness.”
In other words, if we want to keep Christ in Christmas, we must publically challenge the very non-Gospel ways in which our society, Christian and otherwise, conducts itself.
And what of celebrating the birth of Jesus in a multifaith culture? In this diverse nation, while we have no right to expect universal adherence to the true spirit we feel, we should, instead, work to be the people who make Christ present in the midst of the tinsel and lights.
That means treating our non-Christian neighbors with respect. Not to do so would be, well, un-Christian. For centuries, society placed Catholics on the margins of society; in Colonial times Maryland (Mary’s Land) was a de facto Catholic ghetto.
True Christians will not likewise marginalize others for their beliefs, especially in a nation that can be stronger and more united when it embraces its diversity. Sure, toss a buck into the Salvation Army kettle. That’s a religion, too, you know.
To be Christian is to be welcoming. “Catholic,” of course, means “universal.” So go ahead, proclaim “Merry Christmas” to a Sikh. Or a Hindu. It’ll be a great opening for some friendship and interfaith sharing. Or even evangelization.
Being more of a catholic Catholic
By Liz Quirin
Is it me, or do those bell-ringers outside the grocery and big-box stores seem like they’re starting earlier and earlier? The Scouts already snagged the bag of food from the front porch, and I need to make another trip to the store to replenish my own shelves. The other day I heard someone on NPR say we should give money instead of food to banks and pantries because we could get more “bang for our buck” in the food giveaway department.
I feel like I’m being beaten down with requests for almost everything I own--food, furniture, clothes, appliances. I’ve counted the request envelopes on my table, and it’s disheartening both because so many need help and because I don’t have a store full of food or a bank full of cash to give away.
However, people of many faiths donate not only their material goods but also their time as volunteers in community food pantries. While these places are not always necessarily Catholic, so many of the people stocking the shelves and filling the orders are people of faith, including Catholics. Everybody just wants to help, to give back if they are able. The same is true for shelters, especially crisis shelters.
In one community in our diocese, the parish donates a portion of its proceeds from a fundraiser to the local women’s crisis center. The center is not Catholic, but that doesn’t really matter to that parish or to the center staff. In the giving and receiving, everyone has an opportunity to connect on a very personal, human level. In that instance, everybody wins.
In another small community, the parish will be presenting its Advent evensong for everyone, not just Catholics. The candlelight service draws people in to hear Scripture readings in English and German. It warms the heart and crosses denominational lines.
Establishing a connection through prayer at this time of year can succeed in fostering ecumenism more than any number of meetings and discussions, although they are important, too.
We do need to know more about our Jewish friends and the traditions that they bring to the table at this time of year. Hanukkah mystifies some folks, but that mystery would be solved with some research and information.
This year, the eight-day Festival of Lights begins Dec. 20. Some parishes reach out to Jewish neighbors and ask them to share their traditions. Maybe a few spins of the dreidel or Adam Sandler’s “Hanukkah Song” would enlighten everyone.
As we careen toward Christmas with our praying and our shopping, our baking and our decorating, our donating and our gifting, we need to remember the reason for our celebration. With Christ in mind, we will always reach out to others, especially those who need our help.
And this year, more than years past, we see so many people in need. The question isn’t whether we help them but how much help we can give them.
We need to accept that people in need are not always polite or grateful. Sometimes they’re pushy and loud; sometimes they look ungrateful; sometimes we can’t believe how disgraceful their behavior is when we’re trying to help them.
It doesn’t matter if they’re Catholic or Christian or Jewish or nothing at all. We are not the “religion police,” nor are we the arbiters of gracious behavior.
But we can be understanding of people who may not be accustomed to being on the receiving end of someone else’s largesse. It might just be tough to be unable to provide for one’s family, to accept instead of to give.
So when that bell rings or that opportunity presents itself to provide food or volunteer to deliver a meal here or there, we ought to be grateful we can give.
That “cup of kindness” has no denomination stamped on it, and by being Christ to someone else, we can be more of a catholic Catholic than we knew was possible.
Copyright © 2011 Catholic News Service
POSADAS--A young woman and man dressed as Mary and Joseph processed down a street in 2008 in Chicago as part of the annual “posada,” a traditional Christmas festivity in the Spanish culture. This edition of Viewpoints looks at: How do Catholics celebrate Christmas in a multifaith society? (CNS photo/Karen Callaway, Catholic New World)
TOM SHERIDAN--Sheridan is a former editor of the Catholic New World, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and a deacon ordained for the Diocese of Joliet, IL. He writes from Ocala, FL. (CNS photo)
LIZ QUIRIN--Quirin is editor of The Messenger, newspaper of the Diocese of Belleville, IL. (CNS photo)
