Through 13 months of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, including the President's lying to the American public, grand jury testimony by the principals, congressional hearings, impeachment and a Senate trial, Catholics should have learned some important lessons, according to Bishop Howard J. Hubbard and others contacted by The Evangelist to comment on what of lasting import could be taken from the scandal.
Bishop Hubbard believes there were four lessons, three negative and one positive.
"The whole affair highlighted the extreme partisanship and lack of civility which characterize public life today," the Bishop began. "Regardless of the position one may have taken on the actions of the President, the tone and substance of the debate in Congress during the impeachment hearings resembled not so much an enlightening exchange of ideas but a more hideous version of 'The McLaughlin Group.'"
Bishop Hubbard said that "neither side in the debate seemed able or willing to weigh carefully or wrestle seriously with the arguments of their opponents, so the whole debate was reduced to ad hominem arguments and partisan posturing and bickering."
A second lesson, he continued, is "the loss of a sense of morality in our nation. Because society places so much emphasis on choice, pluralism and individuality, we have lost our sense of moral absolutes, and there has arisen a great reluctance to judge the personal decisions or actions of another. That attitude fails to appreciate that personal actions have public consequences and can adversely affect the common good."
Another lesson from the scandal, Bishop Hubbard said, is "the negative consequences of consumerism and materialism which permeate our society. Economic values are weighed more seriously than moral values, like integrity, fidelity and honesty."
The positive lesson, he explained, is that "this year-long process highlighted the political stability of our nation. We were able to weather the storm because our Constitution provides an orderly, if somewhat ambiguous, process for addressing such a crisis."
Others who commented on the lessons to be learned from the scandal include:
* Rev. David Berberian, a judge with the diocesan Tribunal: "Honesty is the best policy. Lying is never going to help anyone, and we've all been hurt by this. We've got to move out of personal morality. If we learn to see the effect of our actions on other people, we've moved a step forward. Little by little, we're just pulling away from any standards of behavior. It's like 'anything goes.' It was a dark year for the country. I don't think any good came out of it."
* Mary Moriarty, associate director of the diocesan Family Life Office: "From the perspective of Catholic families, I hope we have learned the responsibility we have as parents to guide our children well, so they take their public duties as citizens seriously and their private roles as family members sacredly. We have been given teachable moments with our children that need not be wasted on cynicism or moral outrage; instead, we have the opportunity for open discussion about morality, values and responsibility.
"Our older children will remember this time and refer to this time as a seminal moment in their development; our younger children will probably only remember the historical fact that President Clinton was impeached. In time, history will filter the information and teach them what they need to know about this period in their young lives.
"I hope we have always had an appreciation for the truth. What we might be left with now is an appreciation for the political realities of our government. I think it will make us more cautious about politics and about what is promised to us by politicians. This might go one of two ways: either well-intentioned people will steer away from politics and work for change within other systems; or well-intentioned people will enter the political arena, vowing to change the political system as we know it.
"I am hopeful that this experience has left our representatives sober; certainly, it will be difficult for those who have flaunted the moral code by which most of us live to continue to do so. The next couple of elections will be interesting to watch."
* Rev. Paul Roman, pastor of St. Mary's Church in Oneonta, said that the ordeal "has heightened the awareness of the lack of morality. You wonder how in the name of God something like this could take place. I think it should bring to everybody's awareness the need for paying attention to morals.
"The unfortunate circumstance in all of this, from a point of justice, is all the people in our country who are spending time in jail for doing the same thing -- for perjuring themselves. If we can say that this was okay, how about all those people sitting in prison for perjurous conduct?"
* Rev. Bernard Turner, pastor of St. Monica's Church in Johnsonville and St. John the Baptist Church in Schaghticoke: "We really need to be honest and up-front in relationships with God and with each other. There are consequences to not being honest and up front, and we've seen people pay the price, no matter how contrite they are. When you try to hide things and be dishonest, you get in trouble."
The President is "paying a personal price, and the country's paying a price. It's brought up questions of what truth's all about, particularly with children. We find out what happens when the truth isn't respected.
"After any personal, political or professional crises, [we have to] go to prayer for forgiveness for the wrong done. I think Clinton has to do that, and we all have to do that. If we continue to wallow in the terrible events of the past, we'll never see how good the future can be."
* Rev. Geoffrey Burke, diocesan chancellor for personnel and public information: "As a nation, we have to realize that no person is exempt or invulnerable to human frailty, misjudgment, sin, and that our political leaders can fall, as well.
"I would certainly hope that one of the lessons we would learn is to have a better consciousness of our system of government and of the liberties that are enshrined within our Constitution, and [that we would] take the time to learn more. So often, we don't realize the liberties we have. The whole impeachment process and the questions that have arisen regarding our governmental process have been a lesson of how our system of government works and that it isn't governed by polls or popular opinion, but by the Constitution.
"I would certainly hope the whole experience may be an opportunity for families to spend more time talking about the values and morals we live for. I hope families would take time to talk about the dignity of the human person. Lessons can be learned regarding the specialness of the sexual relationship, the marriage relationship. I think [the learning is] going to take place within the family. Our values need to be enforced; they need to be revered in our family situations."
* Rev. Anthony Chiaramonte, director of the diocesan Consultation Center: "A friend from Boston said to me that one of the things that came out of this was maybe we learned more about the government than we ever knew before.
"I guess [we've also learned] that we're responsible for our actions, [that] our actions have repercussions. There's a lessening of the moral fabric in our society, and maybe the leadership is indicative of that. Maybe Lent is a time to reevaluate ourselves.
"It all brings out the question of sin and forgiveness, and how we deal with each other. [President Clinton's comments on forgiving and being forgiven] are good words. The important piece is to learn from forgiveness. We forget the impact our lives have on other people. We get so distracted by consuming and individuality that we don't look at the impact of our behaviors. [This situation] certainly made us question the impact of leadership, and the lack of good, sound moral leadership."
* Sister Mary Jane Herb, IHM, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Albany Diocese: "Very often, people try to separate values and religion. This is one situation where we realize the importance of values. We need to integrate religion and values in schools. [Another lesson learned] is that anything we do affects the entire community.
"I would hope [we learned a new appreciation for the truth.] We have a responsibility for speaking the truth in our communities. I would hope we see that there are consequences. Clinton lost credibility, and it affected our relationship with him. There are other consequences besides judicial ones. People don't respect him as much. There's been a price he's paid with his family and with the public."
* Jeanne Schrempf, director of the diocesan Office of Religious Education: "I hope that we have looked at ourselves and our respect and appreciation for virtue. When it seems either absent or a rather relative substance in a person or an office, there is a desire to compensate for that by taking a serious look within ourselves and ask if we value these ideals -- honesty, fidelity, justice, forgiveness, respect for the law.
"It has given us an opportunity to ask some deeper questions: What does it mean to live our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ? Are we willing to walk the sometimes harder path, even if it is not popular, even if it is sometimes less traveled? Have we searched within ourselves, in the Gospels, in the teachings of our faith to know that this journey of faithfulness and discipleship is the only journey that will mean true happiness -- and that it is worth the trip?
"We learned that one cannot live a private morality and public morality as two different entities. We are called to live lives of wholeness and holiness -- and that is what it really means to be fully human and fully alive.
"We learned that there are consequences for the choices and decisions we make in life. We are connected to each other as sisters and brothers; the decision of the one affects the many. Goodness affects others. So also our sinfulness. It is like dropping a pebble in the pond and seeing the ripples extend out.
"We learned more about the need for forgiveness and reconciliation. That admitting our failings and weaknesses is the first step towards a process of healing. That reconciliation is more than saying you are sorry; it is about restoring relationships with God, family, people, a nation.
"We learned that we need to be better models and mentors to our children and youth. We cannot imagine the damage that has been done to those in early formative stages. We can work to restore trust, faithfulness, respect by trying to live as disciples in the worlds of work, family, education, politics, recreation.
"We have learned that we are called to build the reign of God here in our society -- and that most of us learn more from our mistakes than our successes. We each have a responsibility to accept that challenge and to make a difference.
"I also believe that we will look for leaders who are people who believe in the importance of honor, respect, faithfulness, honesty -- not that anyone is perfect, but future leaders need to be moral leaders who act out of justice, compassion, love and respect for others.
"I think that we learned more about [truth] as a value and, hopefully, an appreciation of truth. Maybe we took too much for granted, and allowed other people and things to shape our morality. Perhaps it is a much needed `wake-up' call. We are each responsible for these difficult times. That a very public figure could take such a cavalier stance to truth somehow indicts us all. We need to be better teachers and role models, better parents and politicians. If we do not value truth in everyday life, then who will?
"Hopefully, parents and teachers could use the consequences of not valuing the truth as a positive teaching tool. I do not think anyone will see in the President a role model and someone to be emulated. Maybe in the future, depending on what he does with this and how he brings reconciliation to his life and that of his family, friends, associates and country.
"There is a concern that speaking against all of this seems self-righteous and `casting the first stone.' There is a need to temper our remarks and affirm that God alone is our judge; but in the face of something so public, we are called to speak the Gospel. We are sinners also and need to look at how we have failed in these ways. Our faith demands that we witness to what we are called to believe and live, even if we are clay vessels, imperfect followers, both saint and sinner."
(Contributing to this article was the editorial staff of The Evangelist: James Breig, Kate Blain, Maureen McGuinness and Paul Quirini.)