Evangelizing from scratch in post-Christian society

Longtime Catholic pro-life, pro-family advocate and former Virginia House of Delegates member Bob Marshall, 76, admits to some discouragement about the political and cultural situation of the United States in 2021. A speaker at Legatus events and periodic guest columnist to Legatus magazine, Marshall explained, “We have a U.S. president who identifies himself as a practicing Catholic who openly promotes abortion. And, there is an organized effort to kick Christians out of the public square, painting us as bigots, no different from the Klan other than that we don’t wear white sheets. From the Left’s viewpoint, we can have nothing to do with public policy.”

He also pointed with concern to the efforts of another self-identified practicing Catholic, speaker of the house Nancy Pelosi, to make H.R. 5, “the Equality Act,” the law of the land, which Pelosi said in a statement will be “a momentous step toward finally and fully ending discrimination against LGBTQ Americans.” Marshall, who called the act “misnamed,” noted it will apply to all ministries and institutions of the Church, and “will greatly hamper the Church in her mission.”

He explained, “You don’t have women priests? Well then, you can’t have a tax-exempt status. You won’t allow people in same-sex relationships to teach in Catholic schools? You’re violating their civil rights and we’re going to fine you.”

Things may look bleak, but in reality, Marshall said, there is no better or more necessary time for authentic Catholics to become active in public life. He chuckled as he referenced the famous Battle of the Bulge line attributed to U.S. Army General Creighton Abrams, “They’ve got us surrounded again, the poor bastards!”

Catholics need to assert their views in the public arena, he said. “We need priests in the pulpit to talk about issues which will directly affect our ability to live our Catholic life. We need parishioners to write their members of Congress. We need people at the grass-roots level to go to Capitol Hill to make their voices heard.”

Citing Canon 822, he especially encouraged Catholic bishops to use all the communications resources they have to warn the faithful about threats to religious liberty. He explained, “If we don’t, new legislation is going to threaten the existence of our Catholic schools or the operation of Catholic charities.”

He cites as a bishop role model Cardinal John O’Connor of New York (1920-2000), who “didn’t take garbage from anyone. He was a gentleman, well read, and attuned to threats to people of faith. He was not intimidated by Caesar, but knew how to negotiate with him to protect the rights of the Church. And, he would never compromise principle.”

Love for faith, and working for it

Marshall grew up in the greater Washington, D.C. area. He was baptized a Roman Catholic in elementary school and has “always had an affinity for the Faith.”

He began his career as a Catholic school teacher, when, in 1970, the father of one of his students suggested he get involved with politics. He was introduced to and went to work for Congressman John Blatnik (1911-91), a Minnesota Democrat whom Marshall described as a “right-to-life guy.”

He recalled talking with Blatnik about the Doe v. Bolton case, a companion case to Roe v. Wade; the U.S. Supreme Court’s Doe ruling would overturn Georgia’s abortion law in 1973. Marshall said, “Doe was making its way through the courts. Blatnik was sure the courts would strike it down.”

He and Blatnik were astonished to discover that the U.S. Supreme Court would affirm both Roe and Doe in 1973. He said, “I couldn’t believe the judges were that stupid. They really had to connive to come up with that result. Justice Harry Blackmun (1908-99) [who authored Roe] claimed, falsely, that the unborn child had never been considered a legal person in the ‘whole sense.’”

Marshall read Roe carefully, giving special attention to its footnotes, and concluded, “While the press may have been ecstatic about Roe, no one checked the facts Blackmun was citing. I did, and it was clear Blackmun made up his decision out of whole cloth. The unborn were considered human beings.”

Marshall went on to work as a researcher for the American Life League, and serve on the staffs of California congressman Robert Dornan and Alabama senator Jeremiah Denton (1924-2014). It was during his time in Washington he learned to live according to Our Lord’s maxim, “Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves” [Matthew 10:16]; meaning, he learned to use the language of the secular Left to champion pro-life, pro-family causes. Among his many accomplishments, he helped draft the Hyde Amendment, which prohibited the use of federal funds for abortion.

He went into politics himself, serving as a Republican in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1992 to 2018. Longtime friend Chuck Donovan, president of the Virginiabased, pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute, noted that as a politician Marshall “was a very effective leader, and not afraid to step out in front with difficult issues. He passed quite a few pieces of legislation.”

Not only did Marshall battle the Democrats, Donovan noted, “but sometimes members of his own party by raising issues they didn’t want raised.”

“Bob was known as a Catholic legislator, a fighter, and a heroic figure,” added retired Virginia senator Dick Black. “He displayed great courage, virtue, stamina, and oratory skill. He was also well-liked, and was effective at using disarming humor when in difficult arguments with his opponents.”

Getting active in public

Today, Marshall is active doing policy research and writing, encouraging his fellow Catholics to get active in the public arena to create a culture friendly to Catholic beliefs. There are many ways to positively influence elected officials, he said.

Ways he suggests include:

Writing or meeting with elected officials to express concerns. Mentioning one’s affiliation with Legatus is a positive thing, he believes, as politicians will see its members are potential campaign donors.

Discussing relevant issues, candidates, and how one intends to vote when appropriate at meetings. Such conversations can have a positive impact on lesser-informed peers.

Financially supporting the campaigns of candidates who share one’s beliefs. Black noted, “There is enormous money in vice, and very little in virtue. Our side always has difficulty raising money.”

Sending one’s children to Catholic schools. This will give them a good introduction to Catholicism and make them warriors for the Faith.

Both Donovan and Black added that qualified Christians should consider running for public office. Black said, “Start at the local level, but realize that it is the hardest thing in the world to stand up for virtue. The media will despise you, and you will attract enemies from every corner.”

Marshall cited Acts 25, in which St. Paul stood before the Roman procurator Festus. The Sanhedrin wanted to kill Paul, and wanted Festus to send Paul to Jerusalem where they could ambush him. Paul shrewdly informed Festus that he was a Roman citizen, and that he should be sent to Rome to be judged by Caesar. Festus famously ruled, “You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!”

Marshall noted, “We live in Caesar’s world, and we need to learn to use his techniques to aid our cause.”  

JIM GRAVES is a Legatus magazine contributing writer.