The US Constitution is not set in stone. The 18th amendment to the Constitution went into effect on January 17, 1920. On December 15, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution went into effect repealing the 18th Amendment. So began and ended prohibition. The point is that changes can and have been made to the Constitution. The need for changes to the Constitution was envisioned by our nation’s founders. That is why they included a process for change within the Constitution itself.
Based on the precedent of prohibition, the editors of the Catholic Jesuit magazine America have called for the United States to repeal the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution. This amendment was adopted with the rest of the Bill of Rights on December 15, 1791. It is the amendment that protects the right to keep and bear arms. The Jesuit editors support the 2008 ruling of the US Supreme Court that the 2nd amendment impedes government control of the possession and use of firearms.
The repeal of the 2nd amendment is a long shot by far, but it is heartening to see a major Christian group take a position in favor of peace and anti-violence and not afraid to be controversial or visionary.
What is even more hopeful is that this stand was taken by the Jesuits, and the newly elected Pope Francis is member of the Jesuit order. While I may not agree with some of the positions that the Catholic church insists on endorsing, I do support this Jesuit initiative which could reduce the number of guns in this country and the consequent violence and death that results. I hope that this new Pope is as committed to peace as the editors of his order’s magazine.
Prayer: We hold in prayer the new pope, Francis. He undertakes great responsibility and has the potential to make a strong, courageous witness for the gospel of Jesus Christ. While we pray for Pope Francis and the Catholic Church, we also pray for all churches of Jesus Christ and for all Christians that we might not just leave it to our leaders to work for peace in the world, but that each and every one of us might truly be peacemakers in the spirit of Jesus. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 