“Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue…” (Deuteronomy 16:20)
The words of Scripture ring with urgency in today’s America. We are witnessing a nation dangerously divided—not merely by political differences, but by a growing chasm between those who are held accountable under the law, and those who are not. Nowhere is this clearer than in the aftermath of January 6, 2021.
We’ve all seen the headlines. We’ve watched the footage. The events of that day were chaotic and emotional. Some entered the Capitol unlawfully. Some were disruptive. But what followed has been one of the most aggressive manhunts in FBI history, resulting in prison sentences for many who committed non-violent infractions. These people—dubbed “January Sixers”—have been treated as domestic terrorists. Many are serving long sentences, not for sedition or insurrection, but for trespassing and obstruction.
At the same time, Americans have watched, stunned, as powerful political actors—largely from the Democratic Party—have committed far more serious violations of trust, process, and justice, with no legal consequences.
Let’s be clear: Catholic teaching holds that the rule of law is vital for any functioning society. Actions that break the law should have consequences. But that principle must apply equally. Otherwise, what we are left with is not justice, but vengeance—selective and political.
The Unpunished Crimes of the Powerful
Consider the so-called “Russiagate” scandal. For years, leading Democrats and intelligence officials knowingly pushed a false narrative—that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to steal the 2016 election. These accusations were fed to the media, to Congress, and to the American people. They were built on fabricated dossiers and manipulated evidence. Yet after all the investigations, the Durham Report revealed what many already suspected: it was a lie.
A lie weaponized to destabilize a presidency and divide a nation.
No arrests. No convictions. Not even public apologies.
Meanwhile, FBI agents who altered evidence, intelligence officials who leaked false information, and politicians who lied under oath continue to operate freely—many still in positions of influence.
Compare this to the average January 6 protestor—many of whom never engaged in violence—now sitting in solitary confinement, denied due process, smeared across the media, and branded enemies of the state.
A Two-Tiered System of Justice
This is not just a legal imbalance. It is a moral one.
Catholic social teaching emphasizes the dignity of every human person and the equal application of justice. “Do not pervert justice,” warns Leviticus 19:15. “Do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.”
But what we are seeing is partiality of the worst kind. We see it in the political targeting of dissenters, while political elites remain untouched. We see it in the use of federal agencies as tools for ideological enforcement, rather than instruments of blind justice. We see it when Catholic pro-life advocates are arrested in SWAT-style raids, while churches are burned and Catholic symbols desecrated without a single FBI investigation.
This is not justice. It is lawfare—weaponized law used to destroy political opponents. And increasingly, the American people are waking up to it.
Where Are the Republicans?
One might ask: where are the Republicans in all this? After gaining control of the House, they launched hearings and issued strongly worded statements. But where are the convictions? Where are the indictments for those who lied to Congress, doctored evidence, or used intelligence agencies to spy on American citizens?
Words are not enough. Action is overdue. The failure to hold the powerful accountable sends a clear message to the American people: there are two classes in this country. Those who suffer under the law—and those who rule above it.
As Catholics, we believe this dualism offends the very heart of justice. Christ did not spare the Pharisees from rebuke for their hypocrisy. Nor should we remain silent while injustice masquerades as law and order.
The Catholic Call to Truth and Justice
Now is the time for Catholics to speak clearly. We must call for truth. We must demand equal justice—not because we defend bad behavior, but because we defend the integrity of our nation. As the Catechism teaches, “Authority is exercised legitimately only when it seeks the common good of the group concerned and if it employs morally licit means to attain it” (CCC 1903).
We should pray for the imprisoned. We should advocate for their fair treatment. And we should urge our leaders, regardless of party, to restore trust in our justice system—not through slogans, but through real accountability.
If America cannot uphold the same laws for the powerful and the powerless, then it is no longer a republic under God—it is an oligarchy cloaked in flags and falsehoods.
Let us return to justice. Let us pursue truth. And let us never forget the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil… who acquit the guilty for a bribe, but deny justice to the innocent” (Isaiah 5:20–23).
Let’s not forget that before the Russia Russia gate there was the Clinton email fiasco! This article feels like Trump wrote it, it has no place in Catholic news, remember the Vatican also supported Hitler. I really flirt with the idea that someday we can emulate Jesus and have zero response for the Cesar’s of today!
I was disgusted at our President lately for being in bed with MBS and Quetar and his liking of Putin. I visited the 911 memorial while Trump was accepting gifts,and these are the folks responsible for that terrible attack.