Should the Church take partisan sides to evangelize?

[Maranatha]

The Catholic Church successfully organized against an Italian referendum on in-vitro fertilization and a Spanish protest against liberalizing their gay marriage law. Some have argued that by supporting the demonstrations we were taking partisan sides. The downside to this strategy is the potential alienation of large section of a population.

Should the church evangelize by taking stands that may seem partisan?

I believe we should. We need to stand up for what is right but always in a charitable way. If we alienate people opposed to Church teaching, then so be it. The Church’s main philosophical opponent today is secularism. The Church has not had such a formidable opponent since the Reformation. The Counter Reformation was successful because it took sides – they were partisan.

One organization that took the initiative during the Counter Reformation was the Jesuits. They did not shrink from using scholarly, military, exploratory and street evangelization. They were the conservative orthodox militant Catholics of their day. Interestingly, they were also outside the normal organization structure of the Church which was not equipped to coordinate a response to the opponent of the day. Which group, if any, will fill this role today?

 

[MilesJesu]

I agree with you whole heartedly in your answer to the question:

[
Some[ have argued that by supporting the demonstrations we were taking partisan sides. The downside to this strategy is the potential alienation of large section of a population.

](All Things Catholic Redirect Page)](All Things Catholic Redirect Page)

As faithful Catholics, we will alienate not only a large, but the majority of the population and the world. We can count on it! Even in this country christians are being villified.

Who will be the new Jesuits? I think even more basic than that it needs to be faithful Catholics doing there part, everyday, in their families, in their parish, in their vocation. This is consistent with what Pope John Paul II called the New Evangelization and thrust of Escriva and Opus Dei.

Peace,

MilesJesu

 

[Mike_KOC]

MilesJesu:

As faithful Catholics, we will alienate not only a large, but the majority of the population and the world. We can count on it! Even in this country christians are being villified.

I’m more optimistic. Most people have not heard good arguments for the position of the Catholic Church. They mostly get the Church’s positions vilified and dismissed out of hand. When most people hear good reasons for the Church’s positions, they will support what’s right.

 

[Liberian]

Maranatha:

The Catholic Church successfully organized against an Italian referendum on in-vitro fertilization and a Spanish protest against liberalizing their gay marriage law. Some have argued that by supporting the demonstrations we were taking partisan sides. The downside to this strategy is the potential alienation of large section of a population.

Should the church evangelize by taking stands that may seem partisan?

Maranatha,

If I may suggest, the Church was not organizing to evangelize in these cases so much as she was organizing for the protection of the faithful and society at large. And I think it is an Extremely Good Thing for her to do so. The only people who are being really alienated are those who disagree strongly enough with the Church’s teachings that they are trying to force them on the rest of society, and these people are probably already alienated.

• Liberian

 

[Maranatha]

Liberian:

Maranatha,

If I may suggest, the Church was not organizing to evangelize in these cases so much as she was organizing for the protection of the faithful and society at large. And I think it is an Extremely Good Thing for her to do so. The only people who are being really alienated are those who disagree strongly enough with the Church’s teachings that they are trying to force them on the rest of society, and these people are probably already alienated.

• Liberian

Whenever we stand up for what is right we evangelize. It might not be the primary objecctive of the demonstration but it is there.

 

[Liberian]

Maranatha:

Whenever we stand up for what is right we evangelize. It might not be the primary objective of the demonstration but it is there.

Maranatha,

Good point there. But all the same, if political party A is for something evil and political party B is against that evil thing, I think it is a very good thing for the Church to side with political party B on that issue. I believe you said pretty much the same thing.

• Liberian