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Archabbot Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel asks ‘Where are you, America?’ in TribLive editorial

Archabbot Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel asks ‘Where are you, America?’ in TribLive editorial

by Public Relations | July 02, 2024

LATROBE, PA – In an editorial published last week by TribLive, Rt. Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., S’85, archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey and chancellor of Saint Vincent College, called on America to re-examine where it is as a nation and consider what course it ought to follow.

“If we don’t much care where we want to go, then it doesn’t much matter where we are, and which path we take,” Archabbot Martin wrote. “But if we dare to maintain our historic greatness as a nation, we must not fail to ask and then act upon that probing question, ‘Where are you, America?’”

With the 2024 presidential election looming, Archabbot Martin posed several questions America must answer about itself—including questions about the value and sanctity of life, about caring for the environment, about combating injustice and discrimination.

“Instead of hiding as Adam and Eve did in the Garden, let’s honestly examine our national life, admit where we are and plan where we’d like to be as a society,” Archabbot Martin wrote. “That daunting endeavor can guide us, offering us new opportunities and possibilities.”

Archabbot Martin was elected as the 12th archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey in June 2020. He served as the administrator of the MACH1 (Monaca, Aliquippa, Center and Hopewell) Parish Grouping in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Among his many academic degrees are a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, a Master of Business Administration from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Divinity from Saint Vincent.

A former associate professor of business administration at Saint Vincent College, Archabbot Martin taught accounting, statistics, business law, school law, legal research and business ethics from 1989 to 2001.


Archabbot Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel

Rt. Rev. Martin de Porres Bartel