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Epistemes
Guest
Our Holy Father recently stated at World Youth Day the following:
There is also something sinister which stems from the fact that freedom and tolerance are so often separated from truth. This is fuelled by the notion, widely held today, that there are no absolute truths to guide our lives. Relativism, by indiscriminately giving value to practically everything, has made “experience” all-important. Yet, experiences, detached from any consideration of what is good or true, can lead, not to genuine freedom, but to moral or intellectual confusion, to a lowering of standards, to a loss of self-respect, and even to despair.
I reference what the Pope said because of his comments concerning the dangers of relativism, the lack of a moral absolute, and the prevailing notion throughout the world, as a result of increasing international business and relations, democratization, and the influence of the media (both press and popular), that individualism must be embraced thereby simultaneously affirming the differing ideologies, theologies, moralities, etc. which follow in tandem with the individual. The individual is given value by having, expressing, and utilizing unique opinions concerning race, religion, politics, and morality, but those opinions are typically shaped by social and cultural mores and even then are nonetheless understood by the listening public as relative truths, an “expert’s opinion,” or another brick in the wall. As a result, the world society is left in a general state of confusion and maxims such as “to each his/her own,” “whatever floats your boat,” etc. rule the day; the world’s religions are just another voice shouting in the wilderness, another individuality expressed amongst the rest; and God is multiple choice
What does this mean for Catholics? And what does this mean for relations with non-Catholics?
As Catholics, we believe we hold the fullness of truth in Christ and his Church. As a Christocentric people, our beliefs, our livelihoods, and our methods of worship are to be lived and proclaimed as the One Absolute Truth of the entire universe, applicable to all men regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, time, place, political circumstance, etc. But we also believe in the mercy and justice of God who reconciles all men unto himself through his own mysterious means; that non-Catholics and non-Christians have chances for salvation through these same myserious means; but Christ is still the universal law, the universal precept of salvation, the way, the truth, and the life.
How then must the Catholic engage the world which, in its increasingly secular ideology, attempts to be “neutral, impartial and inclusive of everyone” but which, in reality, shapes society “in a godless image” (PB XVI)? When dealing with the individual who prides his or herself upon intellectualized notions of race, religion, politics and morality, quoting from a dynamic ensemble of thinkers, philosophers and authors, what chance does the Catholic stand in being heard as the voice of moral absolutism rather than just another voice proclaiming moral relativism? Even when the lone Catholic falls back on his/her Church, even within the Church there exists such relativism and a true lack of solidarity. Catholics who support anti-Catholic opportunisms such as contraceptives, abortion, stem-cell research, in vitro fertilization, etc. dilute the authority of the Church in the eyes of non-Catholics and non-Christians thereby making our witness for a true moral absolutism futile. Without solidarity in the Church there can be no solidarity in the world. In the past, the Church has to fight against heresies and schisms, a lack of solidarity concerning its theology, but only now is the Church faced with a lack of solidarity concernings its fundamental morals.
If you do not believe in the moral absolutism of Christ and His Church, then why do you profess to be a part of the Body of Christ, a body that clearly does not sanction such morality? I am not saying that we have no need of you, nor am I asking you to leave Holy Mother Church for “the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,” but “if one member suffers, all suffer together.” The witness of us all does, in truth, suffer when some of us choose to ignore the moral absolutism which God Himself is. If we all proclaim Christ together, how can non-Catholics or non-Christians know who Christ is or what he taught if we ourselves fail to adhere to his law?
There is also something sinister which stems from the fact that freedom and tolerance are so often separated from truth. This is fuelled by the notion, widely held today, that there are no absolute truths to guide our lives. Relativism, by indiscriminately giving value to practically everything, has made “experience” all-important. Yet, experiences, detached from any consideration of what is good or true, can lead, not to genuine freedom, but to moral or intellectual confusion, to a lowering of standards, to a loss of self-respect, and even to despair.
I reference what the Pope said because of his comments concerning the dangers of relativism, the lack of a moral absolute, and the prevailing notion throughout the world, as a result of increasing international business and relations, democratization, and the influence of the media (both press and popular), that individualism must be embraced thereby simultaneously affirming the differing ideologies, theologies, moralities, etc. which follow in tandem with the individual. The individual is given value by having, expressing, and utilizing unique opinions concerning race, religion, politics, and morality, but those opinions are typically shaped by social and cultural mores and even then are nonetheless understood by the listening public as relative truths, an “expert’s opinion,” or another brick in the wall. As a result, the world society is left in a general state of confusion and maxims such as “to each his/her own,” “whatever floats your boat,” etc. rule the day; the world’s religions are just another voice shouting in the wilderness, another individuality expressed amongst the rest; and God is multiple choice
What does this mean for Catholics? And what does this mean for relations with non-Catholics?
As Catholics, we believe we hold the fullness of truth in Christ and his Church. As a Christocentric people, our beliefs, our livelihoods, and our methods of worship are to be lived and proclaimed as the One Absolute Truth of the entire universe, applicable to all men regardless of race, culture, ethnicity, time, place, political circumstance, etc. But we also believe in the mercy and justice of God who reconciles all men unto himself through his own mysterious means; that non-Catholics and non-Christians have chances for salvation through these same myserious means; but Christ is still the universal law, the universal precept of salvation, the way, the truth, and the life.
How then must the Catholic engage the world which, in its increasingly secular ideology, attempts to be “neutral, impartial and inclusive of everyone” but which, in reality, shapes society “in a godless image” (PB XVI)? When dealing with the individual who prides his or herself upon intellectualized notions of race, religion, politics and morality, quoting from a dynamic ensemble of thinkers, philosophers and authors, what chance does the Catholic stand in being heard as the voice of moral absolutism rather than just another voice proclaiming moral relativism? Even when the lone Catholic falls back on his/her Church, even within the Church there exists such relativism and a true lack of solidarity. Catholics who support anti-Catholic opportunisms such as contraceptives, abortion, stem-cell research, in vitro fertilization, etc. dilute the authority of the Church in the eyes of non-Catholics and non-Christians thereby making our witness for a true moral absolutism futile. Without solidarity in the Church there can be no solidarity in the world. In the past, the Church has to fight against heresies and schisms, a lack of solidarity concerning its theology, but only now is the Church faced with a lack of solidarity concernings its fundamental morals.
If you do not believe in the moral absolutism of Christ and His Church, then why do you profess to be a part of the Body of Christ, a body that clearly does not sanction such morality? I am not saying that we have no need of you, nor am I asking you to leave Holy Mother Church for “the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you,” but “if one member suffers, all suffer together.” The witness of us all does, in truth, suffer when some of us choose to ignore the moral absolutism which God Himself is. If we all proclaim Christ together, how can non-Catholics or non-Christians know who Christ is or what he taught if we ourselves fail to adhere to his law?
