The Church must be a bulwark against corruption in high places
High profile examples of government corruption offer the Church a chance to redouble our efforts to be salt and light in this fallen world.
This week in Illinois, the ComEd Four – a pack of lobbyists who helped facilitate a years-long corruption ring between our state government and one of its energy supply corporations – were convicted in criminal court. It was also reported this week that Democratic Congresswoman Lois Frankel of Florida sold shares in First Republic Bank while the price was tanking, then purchased stock in JPMorgan before it took over the assets of the failed institution. While the congresswoman has not been charged or convicted of any wrongdoing, her moves don’t look like they are on the up and up. A week like this reminds us just how endemic corruption is within our political culture.
Perhaps it's time for us, the Church in Chicago and across America, to raise our voices in opposition to such practices. The Apostle Paul exhorts us in Ephesians 5:11, "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." We must pray, be watchful, and hold political figures, appointed officials, and lobbyists to account for their actions.
Our responsibility as the Church goes beyond merely addressing the headline-grabbing instances of corruption. We must be a bulwark against the day-to-day corruption that serves to diminish the voices of average citizens. The Scriptures remind us that righteousness and justice are the foundation of God's throne (Psalm 89:14). As believers, we are called to uphold these values in our society and by passive mental assent to the truth. We must actively work against the erosion of trust in our institutions.
The conviction of the ComEd Four in our city should serve as a clarion call for us to take action. As Chicagoans, we cannot afford to let corruption fester in our city. We must be persistent in demanding transparency, accountability, and integrity from those who serve in public office. This same spirit of vigilance should be applied to the national stage. It should be alarming that there are dozens of cases of members of Congress trading stocks with potential insider information every single year. They don’t all grab headlines, but it happens too often in the Congress.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. famously said that "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." His words speak clarity into our mandate to protect our government institutions from corruption. The church is itself an institution in society. If we passively abide the erosion of trust in basic institutions of government, we cannot assume that it will accrue to our benefit. Quite the opposite might be true. Our silence on government corruption will diminish the sense of institutional integrity that people feel toward the church. Our heritage as Christians is that we have historically stood up against the injustices of the world, using our faith as a source of strength and hope.
We should be cheerleading the unlikely alliance forming to combat corruption in Congress. Members from opposite ends of the political spectrum, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Matt Gaetz, have come together to stand against corruption by introducing the Bipartisan Restoring Faith in Government Act. This effort demonstrates that people of different ideologies can unite to uphold justice and protect the integrity of our democracy. We should be pushing our officials closer to home to do more to curb the influence of special interests in our state and local governments.
We are called to be salt and light in this world (Matthew 5:13-14), and it is our duty to ensure that our political systems reflect the values we hold dear.
We must oppose corruption in government because many of our faith leaders also play the role of community leader in this city. We have to engage with the government. In the complex world of politics and community engagement, the Church may sometimes benefit from "hook-ups" and "connections" or have access to “the inside track.” Indeed, politics can be a platform for loving our neighbor, and as Christians, we must learn to navigate this space effectively and with wisdom. However, it is crucial that we maintain a delicate balance, ensuring that we never compromise our personal integrity or that of the body of Christ.
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The Church's involvement in political matters can provide opportunities to address societal issues and care for our neighbors on a broader scale. By forging partnerships with government and private sector entities, we can contribute to the greater good and expand the reach of our ministries. But in doing so, we must be careful not to let the allure of worldly influence dilute our commitment to Christ and His teachings.
Cultivating these partnerships with integrity requires discernment, accountability, and transparency. We must be selective in our alliances, choosing to work with organizations and individuals that share our values and uphold the principles of justice and righteousness. When we partner with others, we must be vigilant in holding ourselves and our partners to the highest ethical standards, refusing to engage in questionable practices or to turn a blind eye to corruption.
As believers, we are called to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). This means that while we engage in the world of politics and forge connections, we must remain grounded in the truth of the Gospel and the teachings of Christ. Our ultimate allegiance is to Him, and we must never allow the pursuit of influence or power to compromise our integrity or our mission.
As the Church in Chicago and across America, we must make the fight against corruption our fight, and we must be vigilant in the struggle. The Church can be a shining example to the world, demonstrating that it is possible to engage in politics without sacrificing our moral compass, and that as believers, we can be a force for positive change in our city, our state, and our nation.
The Round Up
Here are the stories that caught our eyes this week and what they mean for the weeks ahead.
What Walmart’s pullback from Chicago says about Corporate America’s limits
Over the last two decades, successive Chicago mayors heavily courted Walmart, ignoring community concerns. Walmart welcomed the chance to show cities it could be a strong corporate partner.
But now, Walmart is pulling back from Chicago.
The largest retailer in the country released plans this week to close four of its eight Chicago stores, citing mounting financial losses. Three are in predominantly Black and low-income neighborhoods. The closures, which happened with little warning, mean area residents, among them elderly people and those without easy access to transportation, will have to travel further to buy groceries and pick up their prescriptions.
Here’s how to help the latest wave of migrants coming to Chicago
Community groups across Chicago need more supplies and helping hands to make sure the latest wave of migrants have their basic needs met, and to make sure they get needed medical care and legal assistance.
The city has already been pushed to breaking point trying to find shelter for the waves of migrants who have arrived in recent weeks, outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot said. Some families have had to sleep on police station floors as officials attempt to quickly create more temporary shelters.
Even more migrants are expected to come to the United States in coming weeks. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott wrote a letter to Lightfoot this week saying his state expects to see up to 13,000 migrants per day. He has said he will resume bussing migrants to Chicago and other cities, despite calls from Lightfoot and others to halt the actions, seen by many as a political stunt.
Chicago metropolitan area population decline being addressed through revitalization projects
The number of people leaving the Chicago area continues to grow. People seem to be talking about it all the time: Why are so many people leaving the Chicago area?
Over the last five years, more people left the Chicago metro area, which includes suburban Naperville and Elgin, than moved in, a net loss of at least 294,000 people. Only New York City and San Francisco saw bigger population declines.
Florida and Texas are top destinations. Black residents are mostly heading to Georgia.
Another study shows that Cook County lost 68,000 people between July 2021 and July 2022, according to recent US Census estimates. Only Los Angeles County in California saw a bigger population decline.
Newsclips
Amtrak cleared to run trains at 110 mph on routes between Chicago, St. Louis
A dying oak tree, older than Chicago's founding, was recently cut down by the city
CPD's former no. 3 Fred Waller named interim police superintendent, Johnson announces
Willie Wilson to write series of exclusive columns for Tribune’s opinion section
Taiwanese EV maker considers Chicago area for manufacturing site, official says
Back-channel search for Chicago’s top cop? Not this time, says president of civilian oversight panel
Starbucks illegally fired Chicago barista, threatened workers during union drive: judge
Greater Ashburn residents want to revamp a program once designed to curb white flight
Illinois lawmakers push back on library book bans
Former CPD Chief Charlie Beck offers suggestions for Chicago’s next top cop
Chicago hospital receives ‘F' safety grade, other area hospitals move up in rankings: report
United to hire thousands in Chicago as the airline looks to continue adding employees
Chicago Park District after-school program relocated to accommodate migrants
As threats to Jewish community rise, so does a ‘protective shield’
Chicago to house migrants in park district fieldhouses
Local anti-abortion ordinance represents a chance to look at many ways to move the needle on abortion policy in Illinois
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An anti-abortion ordinance passed in downstate Danville, Illinois, this week represents the latest salvo in the fight over life issues post-Dobbs. The ordinance narrowly passed in the city council, with Mayor Rickie Williams Jr. casting the tie-breaking vote, and would ban the mailing and shipping of abortion pills in the city.
Along with neighbors and local pro-life students from Loyola University, I took part in an anti-abortion pill protest in February at a Chicago-area CVS, part of a nationwide day of action on the issue organized by Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising.
The ordinance has not taken effect thanks to an amendment added by the same group that approved the ordinance itself, which says the ordinance would not go into effect until the city “obtains a declaratory judgment from a court” that the ordinance can be enacted and enforced.
While the amendment was intended to stave off legal appeals, the state’s attorney general and several pro-abortion organizations still plan to appeal the ruling.
“Illinois has explicitly protected the right to abortion in this state, free from governmental interference, and Danville’s vote today is in clear violation of that law,” said Ameri Klafeta, director of the Women’s and Reproductive Rights Project at the ACLU of Illinois, in a written statement. “We are evaluating next steps to challenge this unlawful ordinance.”
Meanwhile, Attorney General Kwame Raoulsent a letter to Danville leaders stating that the abortion restriction would be illegal in Illinois.
“Even if the city’s ordinance is merely symbolic, I do not want it to instill fear and confusion,” he said in a statement. “Let me be clear: All residents of Illinois continue to enjoy the fundamental rights guaranteed to them under state law, and my office will continue to ensure that all localities in the state understand that access to reproductive health care is a fundamental right in Illinois.”
While the impulse to protect the unborn represented in the passage of the ordinance is indeed a good one, unfortunately, the ordinance is almost certain to be struck down upon appeal, as it violates state law.
Given that medication abortion now accounts for more than half of all abortions nationwide, the efforts to curb its use are certainly warranted. Unfortunately, in states like Illinois, where pro-life residents are heavily outnumbered at the state level, these restrictions are unlikely to take effect.
Proponents of the ordinance and the underlying moral cause that prompted its passage would do well to add another kind of effort aimed at fighting abortion in Illinois and in other blue states. In areas where pro-life sentiment is sufficient to pass such ordinances, pro-life officials would do well to put forth efforts to tackle the root causes of abortion.
Among these causes, nearly three out of four women cited economic hardship and the high cost of raising a child as a reason for getting an abortion. Nearly half cited relationship problems or a desire to avoid single motherhood. More than one in ten cited concerns over the health of the baby or over their own health.
Local and indeed state officials have much they can do to aid the economic situation of mothers. Among ways to do so would be raising the minimum wage, passing state-level paid family and medical leave, and even efforts to pass a state-level basic income guarantee. At the federal level, a robust child tax credit would do much to help parents economically.
Robust tax incentives for married couples, and the elimination of tax penalties for the same, could help the second largest cited reason for abortions.
Meanwhile, increased funding for medical research into the causes of maternal and prenatal mortality would help to drive down abortion demand.
These demand-side proposals would find support among progressives, and would therefore represent a bipartisan effort to build a culture of life, even if progressive supporters might not look at the efforts in that way.
Pro-life legislators and activists would do well to take the path of least resistance when it comes to local and state-level efforts to curb abortion in blue states like Illinois. In addition to symbolic and potentially short-lived efforts like those represented by Danville’s ordinance, these efforts would have a greater chance of sticking around after the initial fanfare.
While I hope against hope that Danville’s ordinance might find an unlikely home in Illinois, these other demand-side efforts would be more likely to find broad support. I hope these consistent life ethic measures become more popular in states like Illinois, where supply-side anti-abortion efforts, while still worth taking a chance on, remain a hard sell.