Okay, I know, I'm supposed to be not blogging for a couple of weeks. Right after this, I am going to get back to work on homeschooling. Why are we homeschooling? Because, right now in our world, the most important thing we can do for our children is to teach them how to live in the strength and beauty of their Catholic faith. They need to be battle-ready to defend their faith and to stand up for their beliefs in the face of increasing persecution. Yes, we need to be always be living the Truth in love; however, we need not be naive about the forces which are trying to destroy the freedom to practice and live our faith completely.
Thought this was an interesting contrast between two leaders in our Church today. What do you think?
Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput, source Lifesite News:
"Systematic Discrimination Against Church Now Seems Inevitable"
…we cannot dispense with our history out of some superficial concern over offending our non-Christian neighbors. Notwithstanding the chatter of the "new atheists," there is no risk that Christianity will ever be forced upon people anywhere in the West. The only "confessional states" in the world today are those ruled by Islamist or atheist dictatorships -- regimes that have rejected the Christian West's belief in individual rights and the balance of powers.New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, source To Whom Shall We Go blog:I would argue that the defense of Western ideals is the only protection that we and our neighbors have against a descent into new forms of repression -- whether it might be at the hands of extremist Islam or secularist technocrats.
But indifference to our Christian past contributes to indifference about defending our values and institutions in the present. And this brings me to the second big lie by which we live today -- the lie that there is no unchanging truth.
Relativism is now the civil religion and public philosophy of the West. Again, the arguments made for this viewpoint can seem persuasive. Given the pluralism of the modern world, it might seem to make sense that society should want to affirm that no one individual or group has a monopoly on truth; that what one person considers to be good and desirable another may not; and that all cultures and religions should be respected as equally valid.
In practice, however, we see that without a belief in fixed moral principles and transcendent truths, our political institutions and language become instruments in the service of a new barbarism. In the name of tolerance we come to tolerate the cruelest intolerance; respect for other cultures comes to dictate disparagement of our own; the teaching of "live and let live" justifies the strong living at the expense of the weak.
What do I think? Well, while I have a great deal of respect for both Archbishop Dolan and Archbishop Chaput, I believe that now is not the time to remain neutral and try to build bridges. Dialogue may be well and good, but let us not be naive in thinking that there are not forces out there that are trying to destroy us. May God have mercy on us and guide our shepherds in Truth.Sometimes, how we do things is as important as what we do.
Never has this been truer than in our present discussion, where civility and regard for the dignity of others must be our priority.
Presuming the worst in others always puts dialogue at risk; mutual respect is basis of all good listening.
This is a good time for all of New York, in its varied cultural, ethnic, and religious communities, to come together in thoughtful and respectful exchange so our real healing can begin. Although I have no strong sentiment about what should be decided about the eventual where of the Islamic Center, I do have strong convictions about how such a discussion should be reached: civilly and charitably. The hot-heads on either side must not dominate. While I’m hardly an expert in this area, and there are certainly far more competent voices than mine, the Archdiocese of New York would be honored to be part of any such conversations.
Pope John Paul II’s life was an example of how this kind of good will can resolve centuries-old hatreds, building new bridges between Christians, Jews and Muslims. In this same spirit, the Archdiocese of New York hopes to cooperate with other religious leaders in laying the groundwork for a long-term relationship with the City’s diverse Islamic groups, extending the hand of friendship long overdue between both of our communities. Similarly, now is the time for all of us to rededicate ourselves to binding up the unhealed wounds of 9/11, and to consoling the ongoing suffering of its survivors.
As the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, our challenge as New Yorkers is clear: to keep our proud heritage of religious freedom and a warm hospitality to newcomers alive, so that the twin goods of both welcoming and healing are never left unbalanced.
Update: Archbishop Chaput's entire address he gave in Slovakia entitled "Living Within the Truth: Religious Liberty and Catholic Mission in the New Order of the World." is posted at Zenit.com
I'm Canadian but I'd welcome Chaput as a bishop here because he is the man. So clear spoken and clear headed. So faithful to the Church.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do not know Archbishop Chaput, but have some really good friends that had him as their Bishop for awhile. They say he is the man. He ALWAYS remembers their name when they see him.
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