Michelle Obama & A Church Worthy of our Children

Yesterday Michelle Obama gave one of the best convention addresses I have ever seen. I found myself tearing up not only for what it meant to her and our country, but also for the state of our Church and what it can be.

She passionately and movingly articulated a vision of leadership rooted in the best of who we are as people:

This “is about who will have the power to shape our children for the next four or eight years of their lives... Every word we utter, every action we take, we know they are watching... We know that our words and actions matter not just to our girls, but to children across this country."

In essence, she asked, who do you want as your children's role model? 

I think the same should be asked of those of us in the Catholic Church. And perhaps better yet:

What type of Church do we want for our children? Our daughters?

One rooted in hate, discrimination, division and fear?

Exclusion? Elitism? Clericalism?

Michelle Obama spoke of a different way. And so must me. "When they go low, we go high" she exclaimed. Yes, let's go high.

Let's embrace love. Celebration and embrace. Compassion and joy.

A Church of radical inclusion, equality, justice and peace. 

A Church worthy of the LGBTQ community. Racial justice. Women's leadership. Church Workers.

Let's go high!

Let's show the world the type of Church we know is possible. Let's model Christ's complete welcome and love. Let's be a faith that role models justice.

Because as Michelle reminds us, our children are watching. Our words and actions matter.