The Christian ethos, “love your neighbor as yourself,” has taken quite a beating in this MAGA moment. How have we gotten here?

What transformation in American values leads us to betray and exploit our democratic Ukrainian allies in their existential struggle against a ruthless, godless KGB dictator?

How do we countenance barbaric medieval starvation and genocidal massacre of the defenseless civilian population in Gaza by an indicted war criminal and his political cabal?

When did we condone brutal racist concentration camps, here and abroad, for harmless students, laborers, women and children whose misdemeanor crime is existing in America without appropriate documents?

What perverse immorality takes health care, food security, workers’ rights, environmental safety, civil rights, consumer protection, educational opportunity and social security benefits from struggling people in order to provide massive tax handouts to the wealthiest Americans and further empower exploitation by large corporations through dismantled oversight?

Political labels aside, is there a Christian duty to hold accountable those who have perverted our national character, betrayed our personal ideals and mocked Jesus’ admonition that ” what you do to the least of my brothers, you do to me”?

Each of us has a conscience and a voice. It’s time to use them.

Mike Shivers, MD

Altoona