Review: Render Unto Caesar by Charles J. Chaput

Last updated on: October 30, 2014 at 12:00 pm by Joseph Reninger

Review: Render Unto Caesar by Charles J. Chaput 2014-10-29T21:30:58-05:00 Joseph Reninger

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A book relevant to the impending election in the United States (and indeed all of the future elections)…

The phrase “separation of church and state” is popular in political discussions involving intense moral issues of the day. Unfortunately the phrase is often interpreted in ways that are most congenial to the user’s argument. Looking at the history, context, and intention of the original user of the phrase is generally ignored; instead, pundits assume a personally useful interpretation. “Separation of church and state” switches from a complex idea to a rhetorical sound bite.

Archbishop Charles Chaput’s Render Unto Caesar is a book that avoids the simple rhetoric often found in discussions of how churches and states should relate. He looks at the history of the Catholic church from the very beginning, under Roman rule in the first centuries A.D., through to the modern day. He considers both the good and the bad results when the Catholic church had substantial input into governments and governments into the church. He looks at the impact of the Protestant Reformation on church and state relations. He especially considers the founding fathers of America, focusing on Charles Carroll, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. He reviews the various anti-Catholic movements in America and the rise of Catholics in society and politics, culminating in John F. Kennedy’s presidency, which again had good and bad facets to it.

Chaput also engages the arguments about the role of faith and of the faithful as citizens of a country. He compares Mario Cuomo’s approach to Robert Casey’s as ways to live faith as a high ranking politician, even quoting both of them when they spoke at Notre Dame University. Chaput’s analysis is fascinating and even-handed without being indecisive.

The role of the media’s influence on culture is another important component of Chaput’s discussion. During the Second Vatican Council, different people had different ideas on what would change in the church. The media looked for exciting stories and dramatic conflicts rather than trying to understand and analyze the council. Chaput even discusses Stephen Colbert’s use of “truthiness” as a sign (albeit a satirical commentary) of modern debates’ inability to engage in meaningful discussion, and instead focus on emotional and rhetorical sound bites.

Chaput has a heart-felt and intelligent discussion of the media’s obsession with “wafer watches,” i.e. if pro-abortion Catholic politicians would be refused communion at Mass by a priest or a bishop. The issue is not that the church is fighting with a politician, but that the integrity of the faith and the Eucharist is respected. Chaput not only discusses the varied implications of forbidding someone from communion, he gives his own opinions on how he would handle the situation.

The book is fascinating and important. Our culture is too focused on sound bites and dramatic conflict. It is great to read a well-thought out, well-researched, honest, and compassionate look at the role of the faithful in political life.

SAMPLE QUOTE: Why St. Thomas More is a man for all season:

More personifies a life lived with courage and conviction, the same virtues that each of us is called to embrace as citizens and as Catholics. More’s humanity is what draws us. He is not a plastic saint. He urgently wanted to live; but not at the cost of selling his soul. Thomas More persuades the modern heart not because he wanted to die for his beliefs, but because he didn’t[emphasis in original]. He used all his skills to avoid martyrdom, but he refused to escape it when the price came down to the integrity of his faith. In More, we see what we all instinctively hunger to believe about ourselves; namely, that we too can choose the joy and freedom that flow from loving something and Someone more than our own lives. In More, we recognize the person we secretly wish we were; the person that God created us to be. [p. 164]

Previous Post

October 29, 2014

Review: Persuasive Pro-Life by Trent Horn

Next Post

October 31, 2014 Review: The Devil Went Down to Georgia: Stories by Charlie Daniels

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Art Bible Study Bulletin Board Catholic Church Excerpt Faith-y Stuff Funny Stuff Good Deals Listening Now Patheos Book Club Personal Reading Challenge Podcast Alert Random Bookishness Resources Review Uncategorized Well Said What I'm Reading

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz