How easily done depends
on the sinner and sin done that day.
No “ I lay me down to sleep”
before this Catholic child closed her eyes.
An examination of conscience,
a deep and complete review
of my sins committed that day, as I prayed
in true contrition for my sins; and a promise
to make restitution to all I had harmed
in my self-centered, humanly-corrupted way.
Only then, could forgiveness be petitioned
and God swayed. Sister told me so in class.
Father told me so in the dark confessional.
I await an examination of conscience by all
who voted for MAGA entranced and enthralled
by promises of heavenly and earthly reward
for allowing hate to invade and invoke
the souls of nation recently made awoke
by African-Americans and women who showed
they were equally great to any American.
Make America Great Again only meant
make America white again.
And my church paved the way.
Her misogyny always ready to deprive
women of any control over
the length of their skirts,
the choice to love or escape
abuse in any man’s embrace,
manage their reproductive health,
choose or excuse another’s hate.
Abortion became the rallying cry
to bring sinners off their knees and to the polls
to vote for the liars who played priests like fools.
There is no place for judgment or blame.
Sinners all, we play the same game.
There is a need for an examination of conscience,
for restitution to a nation’s sacred tenets defamed
by such reckless, sincere but sinful moves.
Now, priests and pastors see the error of their ways
as they accompany immigrants to hearings
to protect them from MAGA misrule?
The MAGA the churches helped elect
is not a surprise. And, it remains a sin to be
examined deeply, and completely reviewed.
I await the results of such a self-examination.
I await the restitution to be completed.
I await the apology for distorting Christian theology.
I await the chance to forgive, wholeheartedly.
I know my church is only human.
If only it could remember that truth.
