Setting aside childish things

In his inauguration speech on Tuesday, Barack Obama made a striking biblical allusion. "We remain a young nation," the new President said, "but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things."
The reference to St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians was apt — and not just because this is the Pauline Year. For in his long campaign Mr Obama refused to follow the crude and petty formulas ("childish things") of modern political discourse. He treated his opponents with respect, recognised what was sound in their arguments and defended his own position with polite firmness, . , We Catholics have much to learn from this. When we are prompted to criticise the Obama administration (and no doubt we will be) we must also "set aside childish things" and express our concerns with reason and respect. As Cardinal George wrote on behalf of America's bishops to the President last week: "We seek to work together with our nation's leaders to advance the common good of our society, while disagreeing respectfully and civilly where necessary for preserving that same common good. ' That must be our ambition over the next four years.