True heroism often stands alone

One of the forgotten – but integral – tenets of Catholic teaching is that of objective truth. This is the reality of hard moral truth, even if societally unpopular, or nonconforming to someone’s newfound ‘identity.’

But when people become fixed in their attachment to subjective truth, they seek affirmation in it – even legalization and groupthink-embrace of it. They relish consensus that bolsters it. They’re ‘mature’ in their vice – it undergirds their lifestyle, enjoyment, and popularity. It’s finally deemed ‘correct’ in polite society, and sophisticated Catholics now advocate non-imposition of their faith. The get-along Catholic mutates into the nice-guy neighbor, tolerant of all. He doesn’t call a spade a spade, it’s whatever he wants it to be. God takes a back seat as a malleable fan. After all, no one’s run into Him on the street lately, or had an uncomfortable tangle with Him in the post office. He’s quiet, so He’s surely acquiescent.

Human respect – the temptation to enjoy esteem and ease – is often at cross-purposes with Truth. Christ said, “I have not come to unite, but to divide… a man’s foes will be those of his own household” (Matt 10:34-36). He meant His teaching will inevitably divide those who abide by it from those who won’t. Even among groups seen as likeminded or close relations.

Fortunately, the Church, in her timeless wisdom, holds to the ancient teachings of objective truth. No one – no matter his or her position in the Church – can claim otherwise. There is no ‘re-reading’ of doctrine pertaining to longstanding moral law. It stays fixed, settled, unchangeable. The long-ago Roman Catechism – the comprehensive one compiled at the Council of Trent – goes through each Commandment and elucidates the moral teachings and boundaries pertinent to it. What is deemed objectively wrong – is still just that – wrong. Then, now, and forever.

Even if a person is unaware that something is evil or disordered, it remains objectively so (though his culpability before God depends on his knowledge at the time.) Further, every sin affects more than the perpetrator, it affects society in disruption and disturbance – known and unknown – over time. The day-to-day contest for each of us is stepping up and calling sin what it is – then working to stop it. People need to hear the Truth, before it’s too late. The stakes have never been higher, nor the risks greater. But God’s reward will be commensurately grander.

Recently, we’ve had two incredibly effective priests at our parish moved to invisible assignments, ostensibly because people were ‘offended’ by their sermons and counsel. These priests had likewise kept themselves available for Confessions and spiritual direction during the pandemic – even when other priests hadn’t, and always took phone calls. They expounded on the hard teachings of the Church, and gave spot-on counsel, even when it was hard to hear – and harder still to live.

Real, heroic ambassadors of Christ – particularly His faithful priests – are true to Him even when they must stand alone. A number of them are being called to that right now.

CHRISTINE VALENTINE-OWSIK is Legatus magazine’s editor.