Today, the U.S. Church is called to stand out, too. In a nation torn apart and confused about its own identity, people are exhausted from fighting and weary from talking past one another without ever being heard. People are looking for a better way.
Amid the political and social turmoil, Catholics can offer that better way. They can offer what the bishops describe as "a different kind of political engagement: one shaped by the moral convictions of well-formed consciences and focused on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good, and the protection of the weak and the vulnerable."
And they can do it by engaging with others civilly, by creating the "culture of encounter" that Pope Francis refers to so often.
This lesson is critical for America's future. Will the next generation be raised in a culture of encounter, or in what Bush describes as a culture of "casual cruelty," marked with animosity and dehumanization? The former president notes with urgency that "our young people need positive role models" because "bullying and prejudice in our public life sets a national tone, provides permission for cruelty and bigotry, and compromises the moral education of children."
George W. Bush is right. America does need to return to her values. But first she needs to figure out what they are. And Catholics can help lay the groundwork for that, by working to create a society where people can dialogue without fear, where they discuss their different views without being attacked or demonized, ultimately a society where people can encounter truth.
As we approach the one-year mark after the most contentious election in recent history, Catholics have an opportunity to show Christian charity in their interactions with others. It's a small gesture. But it could be the first step in helping people recognize, as the former president put it, "the image of God we should see in each other."
Michelle La Rosa is deputy editor-in-chief of Catholic News Agency. She has worked for CNA since 2011. She studied political philosophy and journalism at the University of Dallas.