Fr. Frederick Edlefsen

Today's Gospel recounts one of Jesus’ most famous lines: “Render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” As Providence would have it, this Gospel is proclaimed two weeks before America’s midterm elections. In electoral campaigns, anything goes when it comes to what people say. However, we Catholics have a blessed Tradition: two millennia of intelligent thought.

“Render unto Caesar…” is a response to a baited question from Pharisees and Herodians: “Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” It was a trap, not a genuine interest in Jesus’ policy position. Jesus either opposes Caesar or opposes the Pharisees – which in either case meant death. But his brilliant response would echo through history, contributing to western civilization’s great tradition: there is a distinction between the purposes of Church and State. Yet, both are essential players in God’s Providence. Even the Good Samaritan leaves two “denarii” (Luke 10:35) – a sovereign Roman currency with Caesar’s head on it – to love his neighbor by covering an innkeeper’s costs.

St. Paul tells us to pray for civil authorities: “First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). In other words, governments have a vocation to support people’s right to pray, prosper, civilize, create culture, love one another, and be “fruitful and multiply” in peace and security. The Church’s mission to spread the Gospel relies heavily on Caesar – whether Caesar intends it or not. After all, Roman roads, built with public funds, were useful for evangelization, commerce, and other civilized purposes.

Church and State are not often – but perhaps occasionally – happy collaborators. But Providence weaves through a fallen world. There’s a mysterious dynamic between Church and State in all times and seasons. “There is a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Otto von Bismark called politics the “art of the possible.” Catholic Social Teaching defines what politics ought to be. Though we must “render unto Caesar what belongs to Caesar,” even Caesar has an account to render. We voters are active agents of Providence. When we vote and participate in society, we must also “render unto God what belongs to God.”