Slipping Quickly Down the Slope

In this current culture, there is little doubt that faithful Catholics are having much difficulty with locating and directing people toward the moral "north."  In recent history, many well-meaning people have been (and continue to be) led astray in their search for spiritual nourishment and salvation.  Yes, our human institutions (governments, associations, etc.) and, more importantly, our human souls are in grave danger.  Evil is present around every corner of our lives.

Of particular concern is the social sin perpetuated by our present civilization, which has become predicated on the "absolute truths" of relativism and humanism.  Western society in all its grandeur is one that now accepts and affirms violations of human dignity on a daily basis.  While westerners were napping over several decades, the Enemy has entered the culture and disguised evil as "convenience" and "self-gratification."  Instead, their precious liberties have been (and are currently being) trampled and eroded.

Two examples, which effectively bring to light a grotesque double standard, will suffice.  The first is a recent situation involving Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who is quite possibly the most influential legislator in our country.  In an interview this past Sunday, Pelosi mutilated the Church's clear teaching on the point at which a human life begins, and she tread not-so-lightly into the land of scandal by once again affirming her belief in "the woman's right to choose [to have an abortion]."  Without a doubt, the Speaker has helped to perpetuate the culture of death based on the "rights" of conscience and convenience.

Thanks be to God that there are still men like Archbishop Charles Chaput (Denver, CO) who are able to recognize the work of the devil; and who work to combat the spread of the culture of death, relativism, and convenience.  In a statement entitled "On the  Separation of Sense and State," the prelate took Pelosi to task on her claims.  His conclusions were that Pelosi's self-styled theological research was shoddy at best; that she is objectively an advocate of moral evil; and that she is presently leading faithful Catholics into grave sin.  He wrote:

"Abortion kills an unborn, developing human life.  It is always gravely evil, and so are the evasions employed to justify it.  Catholics who make excuses for it – whether they’re famous or not – fool only themselves and abuse the fidelity of those Catholics who do sincerely seek to follow the Gospel and live their Catholic faith.”

(Click here to read the Catholic News Agency report.) 

In close proximity to Pelosi, in her home state of California, a judge has recently ruled that doctors have no freedom of conscience to refrain from providing medical treatments that they find morally reprehensible.  According to a Catholic News Agency report, that state has required that homosexual women be provided with artificial insemination by two physicians who are conscientious objectors.

"You must merely obey what the state says, you have no right to follow your own moral guide," stated the attorney who worked in defense of the physicians, seemingly sarcastically.  So, we have entered a period in our national history when freedom of speech and association are guaranteed only when they are not contrary to the opinions of certain legislators and judges.  Vital protections of our personal dignity and liberty seem to have been erased from this country's consciousness.  No longer can we expect to think and associate freely.  Neither can we choose what work we will and will not do.  Rather, we have accepted the qualities of fascism, tyrrany, and dictatorship, and they are veiled as tolerance.  Indeed, the dictatorship of relativism is real, and it has a tight grip over our nation!

This proverbial culture of death "cake" has been iced with attractive misnomers like "I can do anything I want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else," or "It's not a baby; it's a fetus!"  (Hint: look up the English translation of fetus.)  And, since the icing is so attractive and "liberating," people fail to see the inherent contradictions in speech and action.  For example, those who decry efforts to end abortion and euthanasia as "violations of conscience" are the same people who will support the denial of two doctors' "right to choose" to refuse certain services.

Does anyone else see these trends?  Are we headed for total darkness?  The evidence would seem so.  However, our current situation is not without hope!

Christ is the answer!  It is He who illuminates our lives with the wisdom and truth of God; He who teaches us that we must respect each and every person's free will, whether that will chooses wisely or poorly.  It is He who teaches that we must protect "even the least of these," a category that scientifically includes those who are not yet born.  It is He who proclaimed that the "utopian" world is to built on self-sacrifice, service to our fellow humans, and virtues such as humility, patience, chastity, and integrity.  (Hint: Read the Beatitudes; Matthew 5:1-11.)

Let us remember these principles as we act out our daily lives, and especially as we choose to be active in our nation's culture.

God bless!