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An open letter to Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops in response to his statement of November 7, 2020 regarding the US Presidential Election.
November 9, Feast of The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica
Dear Archbishop Gomez,
In your recent statement of November 7, you appealed to Catholics and Americans to conduct themselves with virtue and self-discipline, engaging in public discourse with charity and civility following the election of 2020. I welcome this timely exhortation and will do everything in my power to heed it and encourage others to do so.
However, you then quickly proceeded to recognize and congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the victors.
I am sorry, Archbishop Gomez, I cannot follow you in this premature gesture.
Neither the news media nor the USCCB are competent to certify the results of a US presidential election. Margins were razor thin in key states, as you know. Provisional ballots are still being counted. Recounts and serious legal challenges are in process. Respect for voters and candidates alike demand that not we prejudice the process but instead allow it to proceed.
Sadly, election fraud has been a regular feature of American life. While in many past cases, corruption may not have been of sufficient extent to determine the outcome of the presidential election, this time around, it very well may have been.
Courts exist to judge such matters. I believe the evaluation of the evidence and the action to be taken should be left to the appropriate judicial authorities. In fact, this presidential election may be ultimately decided by the Supreme Court, as it was twenty years ago. Once the process is complete and the election results are certified, I will congratulate the winner. Until then, I will pray for America to Our Lady Untier of Knots.
To brush aside the skepticism of millions regarding the integrity of this election is neither just nor wise. It would leave the victors to begin their administration with a cloud of suspicion hanging over them, which is good for no one.
Featured/above image by liveslow on iStock.
Thus, everyone has a stake in letting rigorous investigations and recounts proceed. Of course, we should do our best to remain patient, civil and charitable as the matter is resolved. Mistakes, should they be found, should be corrected. Fraud, if discovered, should be prosecuted. I would hope that all Americans – Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Independents – can agree on this. We must indeed unite at this moment – together rejecting every form of deception and the kind of blatant disregard for freedom represented by election fraud.
You said in your letter that “the people have spoken.” How disrespectful and dehumanizing it would be to stand by and allow fraud, rather than the authentic voice of the people, to determine the future of America.
Archbishop Gomez, your November 7th statement called Catholics to be peacemakers at this juncture in American history. I am reminded that Pope St. Paul VI said “if you want peace, work for justice.” And how can we forget that he who said “blessed be the peacemakers” nevertheless took aggressive action to root out corruption from the Temple precincts. I believe his disciples in America would do well to have the same attitude towards corruption in their municipal precincts.
Respectfully yours in Christ,
Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Ph.D.
Director of the Crossroads Initiative
An apostolate of renewal and evangelization
www.CrossroadsInitiative.com
For the full text of the November 7th statement from Archbishop Gomez November 7th on the US 2020 presidential election to which this letter is a response, visit this page on the website of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.
For a sampling of 1298 instances of proven election fraud in the recent past, visit the site of the Heritage Foundation.
For a primer on election fraud, visit Every Legal Vote.
For confessions of a man who ran a ballot-fixing operation for years, read Confessions of a Voter Fraud.
For a broad sampling of allegations of election fraud in the presidential election of 2020, see the blog of Catholic writer Dave Armstrong.
Banner image by JJ Whitley on Pexels. Public domain.
Lorna Hornbuckle
Posted at 16:43h, 09 NovemberThank you for this letter.
God bless,
Bob Pine
Posted at 17:27h, 09 NovemberAmen, Marcelino! We support your letter 100%. We also believe neither the media nor the NCCB should proclaim the results of the presidential race, but only the electors, and if there are injustices performed, then after the legal count is verified. We will support the victor of a legal election.
Bob and Jeanie Pine
Rick Gilliland
Posted at 23:42h, 09 NovemberWhat a fantastic letter. Kathleen and I agree and support everything you said. Thank you for giving a voice to what so many of us feel.
Mary Ann Colonna
Posted at 11:26h, 10 NovemberDear Marcellino,
Thank you for such ah honest, concise and well-written response. On behalf of all Catholics who voted and want to believe that the process was equally trustworthy, I know we are faithful people who want nothing more than an honest election which as you said has not been certified legally and rushing to judgement is not a privilege we can endorse. Bravo! God bless us all!
madmemere
Posted at 16:05h, 10 NovemberThank you, Dr. D’Ambrosio, for a very wise, truthful and thoughtful letter All that you stated is true and even after the judicial findings, recounts, etc., we still have to wait for the Electoral College to meet; that will not happen until Dec. 14th. Only then, will we know “who” the winner is and only then.
Nona Combo
Posted at 22:40h, 10 NovemberExcellent response! In the meantime let us all pray for an honest outcome that is pleasing to God.
Kathleen A Brown
Posted at 11:06h, 11 NovemberA most necessary letter . . . a most respectful approach to the present day status of our election!! God bless your efforts, Dr. D’Ambrosio!!
Peggy Lockhart
Posted at 11:10h, 11 NovemberBravo! Thank you for standing up for truth and justice!
Carlos Salazar
Posted at 11:23h, 11 NovemberThank you and I honor you for speaking on our behalf and of countless others who seek only for what is true and just.
God bless you always and God bless America!
Linda Kuehl
Posted at 11:25h, 11 NovemberDr Marcellino, Thanks so much for your thoughtful truly Catholic approach to this election chaos. I wanted to write something but I don’t have your tact or smoothness. So, hopefully you’ll be ok that I repost this on Facebook. If Biden won this election I will support him just like I did Obama. But, if Trump won the election this deserves to be known. I prayed throughout the election that God’s will be done so… In Christ we believe.
Peace & blessings, Linda Kuehl MASL Viterbo La Crosse, Wi.
Steven E Braatz
Posted at 12:57h, 11 NovemberWell said Dr. Italy.
Deacon Tom Bailey
Posted at 13:29h, 11 NovemberWell done, Marcellano. You hit all the right notes. Thank you for giving voice to what so many of us feel.
Lynn Weston
Posted at 15:22h, 11 NovemberThank you for your letter. It expresses what being a true Christian is about.
God Bless You!
Jeanne
Posted at 15:30h, 11 NovemberWell written response and very respectful. Kudos.
Gina Halkjar
Posted at 16:57h, 11 NovemberMarcellino – with sincere heartfelt gratitude my husband and I thank you. God truly made you the voice for all of us who cannot put into words what we want to say. I offer this letter in faithful pray to God through his son our lord Jesus Christ. God bless you!
Gina Halkjar
Posted at 17:33h, 11 NovemberMarcellino – with sincere heartfelt gratitude, my husband and I thank you. God truly used you as the voice for all of us who cannot put into words what we want to say. I offer this letter in faithful pray to God through his son our lord Jesus Christ. God Bless You!
Raul Tovar Jr
Posted at 17:35h, 11 NovemberI totally agree with your letter Marcellino.
David Ross Thayer
Posted at 18:05h, 11 NovemberThank you for doing this letter.
Yvonne B Gomez
Posted at 18:07h, 11 NovemberThank you for your great letter. We support you 100%
God Bless you.
Bonnie Gomez
Joe Maloney
Posted at 04:44h, 12 NovemberThank you for response to this situation. I am most curious why a Catholic in authority would congratulate any politician that votes for and supports issues the church teaches is wrong.
Phillip Uro
Posted at 12:50h, 12 NovemberExcellent response. Thank you!
DeAnn Hiam
Posted at 13:42h, 12 NovemberThank you very much for your letter. Your well spoken words have renewed my peace of mind and warmed my heart.
God Bless
Susan Dessoir Haines
Posted at 09:18h, 13 NovemberWhat an intelligent, reasoned letter. Sadly, many of the Bishops are following the media and secular culture instead of
a true Catholic culture/teachings. Heartful thanks for your letter.
James Keller
Posted at 13:21h, 14 NovemberThank you for speaking the truth. All of us baptized faithful in Jesus are His Church; this includes our bishops, of course, but the USCCB does not encompass the Church in the US.
Annette Robideaux
Posted at 11:17h, 21 NovemberThank you, and well done! God bless you and your ministry.