What would it look like if the President of the United States went to daily mass? That is the question that this article will hope to answer. In the history of the United State’s we have had two Catholic President’s. While neither were daily massers, they, and the protestant President’s church attendance, have given us a hint as to what a daily masser commander and chief would look like.
1. The President Would Parish Hop
The President can’t go to the same public place at the same time everyday. If he did it would be too easy for bad people to track him, and plan something really bad. For that reason even Sunday only Presidents tend to church hop. You can look to President Biden for an example of this.
President Biden parish hops for most of his Sunday obligations. According to David R. Bains at Chasing Churches, from Sunday January 24, 2021 to March 20-21, 2021 the President bounced between Holy Trinity in Georgetown University and Saint Joseph in Wilmington Delaware. He also had private masses at Camp David, and in Wolfington Hall in Georgetown University during this period.
This inconsistency on Sunday parish attendance indicates that our hypothetical daily mass President would probably have to be very creative on where he spends time with Jesus. Which brings us to our next point.
2. He would Have to Travel, A Lot!
Going to two or three churches for Sunday obligation is one thing – the Secret Service (SS) can handle that – but going to daily mass would create too much of a consistent schedule that the SS would see as a major risk. The solution would be to add multiple parishes with varying distances to the mix.
There are over 30 Catholic parishes in Washington D.C. The nearest ones to the White House are St. Patricks (14 min walk from the White House), and St. Michael the Apostille (15 min walk). In order to secure the President’s safety there would have to be a list of the other 30 parishes, and the White House would have to organize the President’s visits with all of them on a regular basis.
Adding more parishes would definitely give the illusion of randomization, and secure the President’s safety, but it would also greatly increase the President’s travel time back and forth from the White House on a pretty consistent basis.
3. The White House Would Have a Regular Priest
There are days that the President can’t travel far away from the White House. For these days a priest would have to visit the White House to conduct a private mass for the President, and probably his Catholic staff.
Finding a priest to come do a private mass is difficult for most Catholics; Lucky the President has the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. This office coordinates the President’s engagements with faith-based organizations such as the Catholic church. More than likely this office would be in charge of finding, and initially vetting the priest.
Once the office has selected the priest, that priest would go through limited vetting by the SS. The Secret Service does not do full background checks on everyone that goes to the White House, but they would more than likely do a search using the priest’s social security number and birth date. They would probably avoid a full criminal background check unless someone requests it.
Once the priest is approved he would more than likely become a regular fixture at the White House. This would give our daily masser President a little wiggle room when he can’t travel too far, and give the SS a much needed break.
4. He Might be Criticized by the Opposing Party
No President has ever gone to church everyday. This would be making new ground in the political media sphere. It’s possible that partisan news agencies might condemn daily mass attendance claiming that the President is not giving enough time to the country.
Protestant pastors might give interviews stating that God doesn’t need daily church attendance. Perhaps some priests might also claim that the President’s state in life does not require daily mass attendance.
If the news organizations decide that this is worth exploring it might divide the country based on religious practices and affiliations. However, the news organizations might choose to respect the President’s private religious practice and not report on his morning or evening mass attendance.
5. He Would Be an Example for All Catholics
A President has one of the most difficult jobs in the world. If he can go to mass everyday then what is your excuse. Even President Biden has pretty good Sunday mass attendance. The protestant President’s not so much – Obama and Trump were not that consistent.
If we had a daily masser for a President it would definitely inspire a lot of Catholic’s to start trying to go to daily mass as well.
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