Is the fight for religious liberties going to sidetrack the Church from its main mission?

[Robert_Sock]

By main mission I’m referring to the preaching of the Gospels and increasing the spiritual wellbeing of its members. While I think it’s a fight worth engaging in, I fear that it will sidetrack the church to a significant degree.

 

[JimG]

To the extent that the Church is penalized by the government for what it teaches, it will make it more difficult for the Church. But it will not sidetrack it from its mission.

 

[Least]

Sort answer: No

To the extent that the Church is penalized by the government for what it teaches, it will make it more difficult for the Church. But it will not sidetrack it from its mission.

To the extent that the Church is penalized by the government for what it teaches, the government becomes more and more irrelevant.

 

[Corki]

By main mission I’m referring to the preaching of the Gospels and increasing the spiritual wellbeing of its members. While I think it’s a fight worth engaging in, I fear that it will sidetrack the church to a significant degree.

At least in the US, the opposite is happening. Because of the fight for religious freedom, the Church is being heard in venues and by people that have not paid much attention before. People who may have misunderstood Church teaching are hearing it clearly. The path is the same, it’s just a broader message. That’s a very good thing.

 

[Nimzovik]

Both battles are requisite. One facilitates the other.

 

[Lancer]

They are one and the same…I don’t think you can separate **fighting for religious freedom–liberties **from preaching the Gospel…both are explicitly integral parts of the Missionary Mission of the Church…The Great Commission of Matthew 28…for 2000+ yrs…and is still done every day in numerous Countries throughout the World…its just that we (and many Western Culture Countries)…are just now getting thrown into the “hot water”…so, while our bishops and priests and religious in the Missionary fields are always dealing with this…we have been blessed…up to now at least.

Pope Francis gives the reason: both hearing the Truth of the Gospel…the Good News of Our Lord Jesus Christ…and having the Freedom to choose to practice one’s religious beliefs or not to practice…that Freedom to hear and choose by our conscience…is directed to all human persons…all created in the image and likeness of God**. God has given us freedom to choose**…even to reject him…but freedom based on our conscience…so…The Church cannot just preach the Gospel…and do nothing active to help the flock practice that Faith. So if God is going to ultimately judge us on our choices in this life…Freedom is critical…and when it is denied…no matter to what degree…God wants the Church to not only feed his sheep…but to tend his sheep also.

The only caveat in fighting for religious freedom…we cant distort the Gospel and instigate a “liberation theology-style/methodology”…that’s where the danger lies…distorting the Charity and Peace of Christ and his message…for a valid end…but by using an evil method.

And if we lose the Freedom fight…we have the same powerful “tool” they have in the mission fields…The Cross…we will be required to risk a lot more just to practice the Truths of our Faith…and follow our conscience…and suffer the consequences.

Pax Christi

John 21: 15-17
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSV-CE)

Jesus and Peter

15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.[d] .”

“We must promote religious liberty for all people. Every man and woman must be free to profess his or her faith, whatever it may be. Why? Because that man and that woman are children of God.” - Pope Francis

usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/

 

[Schatzl]

No. By fighting for our freedom, we are allowing ourselves to teach the Gospel message to an increasingly secular world. If we lose the freedoms we are fighting for, next comes our freedom to preach the Gospel. If we don’t fight for our freedom, then who will? But I wouldn’t worry. This is God’s Church, and He won’t let that happen to us.

 

[mek42]

I will freely admit that I like very under a rock, to the point I learned about a major flood two miles from my house by running into a couple emergency service workers twenty five miles away. With this in mind, exactly what religious freedoms have been lost?

 

[CradleJourney]

By main mission I’m referring to the preaching of the Gospels and increasing the spiritual wellbeing of its members. While I think it’s a fight worth engaging in, I fear that it will sidetrack the church to a significant degree.

I think you have an honest concern but I’d refer you to what I understand is the most often spoken phrase in the Bible - “Fear not”.

As a my dear friend and the Pastoral Associate for our parish says - “It’s a big church.”

If we each do as we are called to do, being guided by the Spirit, and accept that role (whatever it may be), I believe there will be plenty of energized people to do both. For example, at this point in my life, I know I am called to mainly evangelize my children, my extended family, and my friends. I have looked into, thought about and prayed about this - I feel strongly that my calling is in that role - not to be active in the pro-life ministries, or the political groups, or any of the other dozens of roles I could try to do that would be doing good. But the role I am called to do is good as well.

Many parts - one body. God is good. He has plans for us. Fear not.

 

[Robert_Sock]

If I had to do it over, I would become a Monk where I could largely escape from all social issues and only praise the power and glory of God. I would want no news media, or any other part of the mass media, affecting my goals of growing closer to God. Imagine such a life, if you possibly can. I’m envious, and I’m anything but a St Paul! The Hasidic Jews also comes to mind here. Oh, to escape from the hustles and bustles of the ‘modern’ world, which negatively affect the full worship of God!

 

[JimG]

If I had to do it over, I would become a Monk where I could largely escape from all social issues and only praise the power and glory of God. I would want no news media, or any other part of the mass media, affecting my goals of growing closer to God. Imagine such a life, if you possibly can. I’m envious, and I’m anything but a St Paul! The Hasidic Jews also comes to mind here. Oh, to escape from the hustles and bustles of the ‘modern’ world, which negatively affect the full worship of God!

The cloister might be good for one spiritually, but it may not protect anyone from government restrictions on religious liberty. In the French Revolution, where Reason was enshrined as a God, cloistered nuns, who wished nothing more than to remain in prayer and and cloister, were carted off to the guillotine for execution.

 

[manualman]

I think the question is backwards. The gradual erosion of religious liberty will begin to constrict the church’s ability to preach the gospel via the spiritual and corporeal works of mercy.

To another poster’s question, this has begun already. Catholic Charities in IL (and MA?) has already lost their state licenses to facilitate adoptions because we cannot and will not place children with gay couples. Thus, we aren’t allowed to be involved in ANY adoptions (as if the state couldn’t just direct those folks elsewhere!).

In IL for a time (for now relieved by the courts), licensed pharmacists would lose their license to practice if they declined to fill prescriptions for RU-486 abortion pill because of their own opposition.

Catholics schools, hospitals, universities and charities will soon be forced to provide contraceptive and sterilization coverage for all employees (perhaps “protected” by a shell game that pretends to insulate them).

Catholic Relief Services has been lauded as one of the best global programs for refugee relocation assistance programs and has historically been allowed to operate under funding from the government since they can do it better and cheaper than government employees. Recently they were barred from such contracting arrangements solely because they refuse to facilitate abortions to pregnant refugees.

And right now, the dam is only leaking. When it breaks, things will get a lot worse for a while.

 

[livingwordunity]

No. By fighting for our freedom, we are allowing ourselves to teach the Gospel message to an increasingly secular world. If we lose the freedoms we are fighting for, next comes our freedom to preach the Gospel. If we don’t fight for our freedom, then who will? But I wouldn’t worry. This is God’s Church, and He won’t let that happen to us.

Actually, in the end times (which there’s strong evidence that it is now dawning) God allows the Church to be persecuted for a time. Revelation 13:4-10:

Men worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?”

And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months;

it opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.

Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and tongue and nation,

and all who dwell on earth will worship it, every one whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain.

If any one has an ear, let him hear:

If any one is to be taken captive, to captivity he goes; if any one slays with the sword, with the sword must he be slain. Here is a call for the endurance and faith of the saints.

Most biblical scholars believe that the beast it talks about was the Roman Emperor Nero and the early persecution of the Church. I believe they are correct. But this is also about the End Times beast or Antichrist which Nero prefigured. And that’s consistent with the teachings of the Catholic Church which affirm that there will be an End Times “spirit of the Antichrist” as well as a man who will be the embodiment of this.

 

[JimG]

Yes, it’s true that Christians have been persecuted before and will be again, and still are in many places.

Many people make the observation that it’s all going to be okay because God’s in control. Yes. He is. That’s a truism. It doesn’t mean that things can’t get very bad before they get better.

 

[edwest2]

By main mission I’m referring to the preaching of the Gospels and increasing the spiritual wellbeing of its members. While I think it’s a fight worth engaging in, I fear that it will sidetrack the church to a significant degree.

If we end up with restrictions to speak, straight out of The Bible, or our liberties are curtailed in other ways, our main mission will get sidetracked. Pope Francis is speaking in a crystal clear way about how we, as Catholics, should see ourselves and is doing a wonderful job of guiding the flock - all we have to do is listen and act. For some, it will take a lot of effort, meaning abandoning certain things in our lives. For others, it’s keeping up our guard for those things that so easily ensnare us. We remain sinners but as long as we listen, pray and act, we have hope. And it’s best to deal with this now than wait for it to get worse.

Peace,
Ed