Holy Week, Unholy Times

President Biden speaking to Anthea Butler's mom

It’s been a long while since I’ve written here on Substack,( in part because of life, (my father passed away last year, I chair my department, and I have issues with nazi’s on the platform) but something happened on St Patricks day that made me want to write, despite all the awful things going on in the world.

Those who know me know I am not the sentimental type. In fact, I am anything but. On March 17th, I had a wonderful experience at the White House on St. Patricks day with a group of Catholic leaders who were invited to brunch at the White House with President Biden. For those who don’t remember, a. I am Catholic, and b. I was on Catholics for Biden in 2020.

Not one to turn down a brunch with mimosas, I attended! I have respect for the President even though some of his foreign policy has vexed me. I think you can break bread with folks even when you disagree as long as it’s civil. However, I got a bonus. I got to see the President in a different way.

I was fortunate enough to have someone (who will remain nameless, but thank you SO MUCH) to bring me up to meet the President. I did not plan what I was going to say to him, but after I was introduced, I said, “Thank you for the invitation Mr. President. I am happy to meet you, and thank you for all you do for our country. But I need to tell you something.. My mother is Catholic, she watches mass everyday on Youtube, and prays the rosary and the divine mercies daily (she’s serious folks). I just want you to know that she is praying for you.”

His demeanor changed. He grabbed my hands in his and pushed up his left sleeve. “I pray the rosary every day too. And this is my son Beau’s rosary, and I wear it always”

Of course, I said, I am so sorry for your loss, but then he surprised me….

“Let’s call your mother”

WHAAAAA

“Let’s call your mother!”

Of course, I was like #$%!! I was using my burner iphone for pics, and had to scroll to find her number and call her. He took the phone from me, and THANK GAWD she answered. He said hello, this is the President, and I am here with your daughter and I wanted to thank you for praying for me.”

Needless to say, I was overwhelmed, but not enough to realize that I am never in trouble again for the rest of her natural life, haha. They exchanged some pleasantries, and then he said, “I am going to give the phone back to your daughter so you know that this is real!”

It was real alright, and I’ve included the picture to prove it.

I wasn’t expecting that day to meet President Biden, let alone have him call my mom. But I was overwhelmed, honored, and happy. As you can see from my gobsmacked picture!

Now to the real thing I came to say. I’m back, not so much because I have time to write, but because I have to write. We face here in America an important election, probably the most important one in our lifetimes, no matter what age you are. We face clear choices this cycle about who we are as a nation, as people, and as what we want the nations’s future to be. The choices are stark, clear, and unmistakable. Dictatorship, fascism, racism, theocracy and xenophobia, or freedom of religion, freedom of choice, freedom to be educated, freedom to exist, and freedom to love.

I want the guy who is touched by prayer, not monetizing it.

Welcome back. I’ll be here, every two weeks, writing something about religion and politics. I hope you’ll join me. Onward!