The Virtue of Fortitude and Lawmaking
by
Christopher Dodson
Executive Director, North Dakota Catholic Conference
June 2009
In previous columns we looked at the virtues of prudence
and justice. The third cardinal virtue is fortitude.
According to the Catechism: “Fortitude is the moral
virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy
in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to
resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral
life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear,
even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It
disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in
defense of a just cause.”
When we think of fortitude, we may recall the lives of
Thomas More or John the Baptist, saints who faced
imprisonment and death rather than give in to their fears
or comfort. Fortitude, however, is not just for those
facing dire consequences. To appreciate the need for
fortitude in our lives and particularly the making of
public policy it helps to look at fortitude’s
“components” and related virtues.
First, prudence and right reason must guide fortitude.
Second, fortitude is not really a virtue if is not directed
to an ultimate good. Third, it requires patience, which is
ultimately rooted in hope. Fourth, we must endure the
hardships that may come. Lastly, we must persevere until
the end.
Reflecting on these principles, it becomes apparent why the
virtue of fortitude is important in the making of public
policy, whether it be for public officials or Catholic
citizens. Politics, not self-interest or partisan power,
must be the aim of politics. Perseverance for narrow
interests is ultimately in vain and not consistent with the
virute of fortitude.
Similarly, struggling for the sake of ideology is
misguided, which is why hope is important. Political
ideologies tend to believe in the creation of a utopia or
perfect world. Christians, however, accept that human
efforts will never create the perfect world here on earth.
At the same, we must always work for justice. We work for
justice through the political system because we are
Christians, not because we believe that our work will
create a perfect kingdom or that we will ever see the
fruits of our efforts while on earth. Living with this
seeming paradox requires the virtue of fortitude grounded
in hope and reason.
Fortitude provides those involved in public policy with the
ability to withstand criticism, the loss of allies,
ridicule, and political retribution for doing what is
right. Sometimes this criticism comes from those who desire
the same goals, as too often happens within the pro-life
movement.
Doing good requires perseverance in the face of the slow
pace of change. Here also, the experience of the pro-life
cause is instructive. Thirty-five years of legalized
abortion is thirty-five years too long. (For that matter,
one day is too long.) It can cause some to throw away
prudence and temperance, leading to rash actions. For
others, it can cause despair and capitulation to the status
quo. Fortitude prepares us for the long road down the right
path.
I’ve written it before, but it bears repeating.
Slavery was not abolished until 94 years after the founding
of our nation. It took another 94 years before civil rights
for African-Americans were secured by the civil rights
acts. It took 144 years for women to get the right to vote
and that was 72 years after the first major push for the
right occurred at the Seneca Falls Convention. It took 42
years for blacks to see the end of apartheid in South
Africa. The people of the Soviet Union were denied freedom
for 74 years. It took over 100 years for Catholics to
regain civil rights in England. Native Americans did not
gain citizenship until 1924. The struggle for independence
in India took 90 years.
Thirty-five years is too long, but it is not reason to give
up hope or abandon the virtues of prudence and
fortitude.
