MARQUETTE, MI – Recent surveys show many Americans believe we are more divided than united. A lot of this stems from disagreements over politics. Topics like immigration, crime, reproductive rights and taxes are some hot button issues. Sometimes when people share their opinions on them, the conversation could turn heated. We spoke with a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Marquette about political divisions and how we can move forward as a nation.
“It’s definitely on people’s minds in politics especially among their family and friends and how to continue to be civil and friends in the midst of divisions or disagreements,” said Father Ryan Ford, an ordained priest with the Diocese of Marquette in Marquette, Michigan. Father Ford sat down with us about the growing political divisions in our country.
“A lot of the times it turns into more personal attacks and we see more people as our enemies and that’s all about having power over our enemies, who’s up and who’s down rather than commonly coming together to dialogue how we can implement good things in our community,” said Fr. Ford.
According to an Ipsos survey, 81 percent of Americans said America is more divided than united. In that same survey, many believe we have much more in common with one another. We asked Father Ford how we can approach some tough conversations and hot button issues with one-another.
“A lot of times I’ll counsel them and tell them to ask questions like: why do you believe that? Help me understand your viewpoint,” said Fr. Ford. “Help me understand why you think that and hopefully that kind of vulnerability will open people to some dialogue and then you’ll have an opportunity to share what you believe and why you believe and where’s that common ground we can work together.”
He shares how we can move forward and be more united.
“You have to remember persons are prior to government,” said Fr. Ford. “So you have to look around you, look around your own community and what you can do as an individual and association with people and getting involved in community organizations, service organizations, parishes, churches, seeing needs of individuals and figuring out what we can do to love people and meet their needs.”
According to that same Ipsos survey, most people believe members of congress and pundits and TV news personalities’ words and actions increase the division. Father Ford said a good place to start in this healing process is simply just believing that we can heal from these divisions.