INDIANAPOLIS (OSV News) -- Paulist Father Ricky Manolo has a rule in his large family: They can't discuss politics over text; they have to wait to do so in person, so they can better understand each other's views.
Speaking on "The Eucharist in a Time of Polarization" at the National Eucharistic Congress July 20, he provided practical suggestions like that one amid his assessment of the country's political divisions and how to navigate this landscape with love and respect for one another.
He shared statistics that demonstrate how divided the U.S. has become. He highlighted a finding from Pew that roughly 45% of Americans have stopped talking to someone about politics because of something they said. He also shared the results of a Cato Institute survey finding that "62% say that they have political views that they are afraid to share."
Perhaps most alarmingly, he referenced polling from the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institute from last year that nearly a quarter of Americans "are ready to resort to violence in order to save the country."
Father Manolo made a distinction between ideological polarization and toxic polarization, saying that while "it's actually natural to have differing views," problems arise when people believe "that it is an all-or-nothing zero sum proposition rather than acknowledging the complexity and the nuances of each issue -- and more importantly, rather than seeking peaceful mechanisms of dialogue and understanding."
Toxic polarization, he said, is marked by "strong negative feelings toward members of the other party" and the view that "the others are now the enemy, even if they are members of our own family."
"To what degree are you able to sit in front of someone who differs drastically, politically from you," he asked, saying that ability is conflict resilience, a skill we all need to develop so we can "listen with generosity" and learn to authentically assert our own view.
He offered five suggestions to build conflict resilience: engaging in empathetic dialogue; promoting education and awareness on political issues; fostering communities and collaborations to allow for a sense of shared purpose; advocating for inclusive narratives to encompass a diversity of perspectives; and encouraging our leaders to foster a culture of mutual respect and understanding.
For the faithful, Father Manolo said that "the Eucharist stands as a powerful sacrament that can bridge divides and foster unity."
His discussion focused on seven ways in which the Eucharist can help to depolarize our world today.
The first, he said, was through the "centrality of Christ," because "by centering the liturgical celebrations on Christ, the Mass redirects our attention from political allegiances to a higher spiritual unity."
The second way he saw was through "the model of humility and sacrifice that Jesus showed us." Christ's sacrifice "can inspire us to prioritize the needs of others and seek common ground rather than over-asserting one's own political viewpoints to the detriment" of others.
Thirdly, he said, the Eucharist emphasizes "our shared worship participation" as it "brings together people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives in the shared act of worship."
The fourth way the Eucharist brings the faithful together is through "our common humanity in the midst of diversity." We see this in St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians, he said, quoting Gal 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
The fifth way in which the Eucharist fosters unity is with a "message of peace and reconciliation," he said, reminding those gathered of "our call to be peacemakers and to seek and offer forgiveness. This can inspire attitudes and actions that seek to heal divisions rather than exacerbate them."
A sixth way in which the Eucharist brings unity, he said, is through a "call to love and service," for the vulnerable and marginalized that transcends political affiliation.
The final way the Eucharist crosses political divides is through the call it provides the faithful to mission and evangelization.
"Evangelization fosters unity by focusing on the shared mission of spreading God's love and teaching to all people, regardless of their background political affiliation," Father Manolo said.
He concluded with a prayer asking the Lord to "help us to navigate the toxic polarization that grips our nation and church."
"Grant us the courage to engage in empathetic dialogue, to listen deeply to one another, and to respect our differences," he prayed. "May your spirit inspire us to educate ourselves, promote understanding and serve our communities with love and compassion. We thank you for the gift of the Eucharist, a profound sacrament of unity and reconciliation."
Another afternoon breakout session, "The Eucharist and Social Mission: Body of Christ, Broken for the World," explored how truly experiencing Jesus' real presence in the Eucharist leads one to be Christ to the world.
"The Eucharist sends us forth on mission," said Jill Rauh, director of education and outreach for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Department of Justice and Peace.
Rauh said her experience of the Mass changed after a personal encounter made her realize that "Christ's sacrifice of love on the altar, and the heart of Jesus burning with love for all humankind, and especially those in great need of love: These were one in the same."
"In his letter on the mystery of the Eucharist, St. John Paul II wrote that the Eucharist causes us to recognize what value each person -- our brother or sister -- has in God's eyes if Christ offers himself equally to each one," she said.
Rauh also observed that Pope Francis writes that when we receive the Eucharist but turn a blind eye to the poor and suffering, or consent to various forms of division, contempt, and inequality, the Eucharist is received unworthily.
"In the Eucharist, we contemplate Christ's sacrifice for the world in need, and we're called and invited to imitate this in our own lives," she said, adding that her own involvement in service was derived from the love she experiences in the Eucharist.
"We are moved to self-giving action, in solidarity with the members of our human family who face great challenges," she said.
This is why not ignoring social issues that affect the peace of communities is a way to honor the body of Christ, echoed Yohan Garcia, who works in Rauh's office at the USCCB as Catholic social teaching education manager.
Eucharistic communion, he said, includes the reality of being loved, but also of loving others in return, of being compelled to follow Christ's example. He added that celebrating the Eucharist as a community "holds us to a right relationship, first of all with God, but also with ourselves, and eventually with others."
This includes considering who is missing from the table. "The Eucharist is not about just remembering the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, but also a time to remember those that have been dismembered from his body, the marginalized."
Therefore, he continued, the liturgy of the Eucharist and its concluding rites are not an end, but a beginning, "calling us to make our lives Eucharistic, so that the Christian who takes part in the Eucharist learns to become a promoter of communion, peace and solidarity in every situation."
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