"Seek First the Kingdom" – Book Review

By now you’ve heard of the infamous HHS mandate, which will force every American citizen, regardless of religious objection, to subsidize contraception, abortifacients, and sterilization procedures. The new law is a dangerous threat to religious liberty and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington D.C., is appalled.

“Being forced to provide these services violates both our faith conviction and our freedom,” he says. “Our schools, hospitals, and charitable organizations will be placed in the untenable position of choosing between violating civil law and abandoning our religious beliefs.”

In response to the increasing tension between faith and politics, Wuerl has released a new book titled, Seek First the Kingdom: Challenging the Culture by Living Out Our Faith (Our Sunday Visitor, hardcover, 190 pages).

In his book, Wuerl commissions a faith that is both intimate and personal–but also decisively public. He explains that all Catholics must usher the “kingdom of God” into the secular world. Unlike some spiritualists, Wuerl maintains that this “kingdom” is not some wispy, idealistic metaphor but a real, substantial reality. It requires deeds and actions, not just empty words.

Yet, as the archbishop of our nation’s capital, Wuerl knows firsthand just how difficult this can be. To help paint a clear picture of how the “kingdom of God” fits into the public square, Wuerl surveys the teachings of Scripture, theology, and Catholic tradition in his book. He shows how faith and politics have interfaced in the past and how they can do so in the modern world.

Seek First the Kingdom isn’t a voting guide for specific political issues, but it does explore topics like religious liberty, the role of individual conscience, and the need for true Catholic identity. Wuerl handles these controversial topics with the grace and care expected of a renowned pastor and theologian and encourages more than laments.

With the political season in full swing, and the issue of ‘religious liberty’ in the spotlight, Seek First the Kingdom couldn’t be more timely. By reading it you’ll learn how to live your faith in the public sphere and thereby transform the culture.