Abp. Listecki: Remembering Sept. 11, 2001

As of this writing, the City of New York is planning a commemorative ceremony next Sunday marking the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the United States which destroyed the World Trade Center and killed thousands of American citizens.

The date, 9-11, is branded into our memories. I can remember exactly what I was doing when I received word about a plane striking the World Trade Center and then watching in helpless horror as a second plane struck the Twin Towers. Time seemed to stop, and all attention was focused on this incredible act of violence.

As Americans we rallied our resources, private citizens and public servants volunteered their services and legislative and political leaders across the country called on religious leaders of all faiths to guide our communities through those trying times. Americans called upon God to be with them during that time of struggle and prayed to God for consolation in that time of grief.

As a pastor, I remember opening the doors of our Church for prayer and conducting an evening prayer service for those seeking solace. Church bells were rung across our country in solidarity with brothers and sisters coping with the loss they experienced. God suddenly became the source of our strength and the hope for our future. Political leaders invoked God’s name in every speech and in any address they made to the public. During that time religion was not seen as an intellectual embarrassment or a tolerated activity, but it was seen as an essential aspect of human life. It was obvious that we needed God.

Many leaders from various Christian denominations, as well as other faith traditions, have warned of the continuing exclusion of religion and faith from the public forum. Pope Benedict XVI has expressed his voice about the influence of secularism in our modern societies (a dependency upon man alone apart from God). Cardinal Francis George has expressed his view about the isolation of religion from the public discourse and public figures claiming that faith and worship is a private determination and should not have an influence in public debate.

Many hide their prejudice against faith by claiming a constitutional doctrine of the “separation of Church and State.” This false notion was adopted by Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, who himself was fearful of the Catholic presence in the United States.

Some may claim that my analysis is a type of paranoia by a religious leader. They may be right. However, just because one claims people are after them doesn’t mean they are not.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has stated that there will not be any religious leaders invited or prayers offered at the ceremony commemorating 9-11. Why would the mayor of New York City, which experienced this horrific event, eliminate a religious component to a ceremony commemorating an event that evoked such a religious response? We called upon God’s help and protection in the crisis, but we ignore Him when it comes time to remember just how we healed and were able to go forward.

Many ask why American “exceptionalism” seems to be declining. Perhaps it’s reflected in our inability to understand our dependency upon God because, when we fail to embrace the whole truth, we’ve programmed ourselves for failure.

However, it is comforting to know that we have a God who is faithful to us even when we fail to be faithful to Him. You know that He is so faithful to us that, even when He’s being ignored, He still directs us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

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