Educating for Christian Democracy

Christian Democracy is a political movement, but it is also a way of viewing the world. Our minds are comprised of a great many parts. It is very difficult to focus one part of it in a given direction when so many others are pointed elsewhere. Many of us have come to believe that a certain set of values and policies are correct. Perhaps and encounter with the Gospel has convicted us. But the media around us, our sense of history, the voices we hear on TV - even our imaginations themselves - point in directions other than what our good sense tells us. If we are to make good on a paradigm shift toward a more sensible and humane society, we need to educate ourselves and others in good ideas. We need to fill our imaginations with images that point us to the truth.

To that end, I have assembled a list of twenty Americans whose lives, collectively, demonstrate some of the salient values of Christian Democracy: the dignity of human life, the importance of strong local communities, and call to serve others before ourselves. Not all of these individuals agreed on all matters of politics or religion. Some might even have disliked each other. But, taken together, I think they offer some fresh ways of thinking about America.

If you are someone entrusted with designing curricula, consider weaving some of these figures in. If you are looking for a new book to read, consider a biography of one of these individuals. Some are memorialized in film as well. If you belong to a book club, consider suggesting something by one of these individuals for your next discussion. You get the idea: the possibilities are practically endless.

Junipero Serra (1713-1784), missionary priest and a founding father of California.
Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832), signer of the Declaration of Independence, diplomat and Maryland and US senator (pictured above left).
Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), wife, mother, and teacher, who cared, in particular, for the poor.
George Henry Thomas (1816-1870), Virginia military officer who remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War.
Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906), abolitionist and women's rights activist.
Harriet Tubman (1822-1913), former slave who dedicated herself to freeing others.
Carl Schurz (1829-1906), German immigrant, journalist, diplomat, general, senator, and secretary of the interior.
Damien De Veuster (1840-1889), Belgian missionary who cared for lepers in Hawaii.
William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), member of the House of Representatives and secretary of state, famous for his Christian faith and regard for the common man.
Black Elk (1863-1950), Oglala Lakota Sioux medicine man who described Lakota culture to a broader audience; subsequently converted to Christianity and became a catechist.
Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) governor and president who championed racial equality and decentralized government.
T. S. Eliot (1888-1965) poet, playwright, and essayist who explored, among other topics, the meaning of being Christian in the modern world.
Dorothy Day (1897-1980) Catholic social activist who worked for economic justice, racial equality, and peace.
Thomas Merton (1915-1968), poet, social activist, monk, mystic, and student of comparative religion.
Madeleine L'Engle (1918-2007), author whose books for children and adults reflect her Christian faith (pictured right).
Isaac Asimov (1920-1999), prolific writer of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, physics, astronomy, history, religion, mathematics, and virtually every other topic.
John Glenn (1921-2016), Marine pilot, astronaut, and US senator.
Daniel Inouye (1924-2012), Japanese-American who served in the famed 442nd Infantry, received the Medal of Honor, and served in both chambers of Congress.