Pastor’s Corner — July 9th, 2023
We Need Healthy Critical Thinking: A New Solid Website and an Article Recommendation
I think it’s important for us as Christians to be engaged in critical thinking about the world through the lens of faith. This is a theme I come back to often. Not only does Christian critical thinking prevent us from falling into destructive errors ourselves, which rob us of joy and relationships, but it can also help us serve others who are often victimized by sophisticated lies. We need hope today and sometimes popular Catholic commentators and websites are so negative that they engage in a hopeless and fear-based condemnation of the world while not offering a solution to anything. That is not helpful or hopeful. It’s possible to have a sober mind about what’s happening in the world and at the same time live in hope and joy in the love of God.
To this end, I’m happy to say that I’ve found a new and wholesome substack website called “What We Need Now.” In their first post this is what how they describe the new publication.
“As a Substack, it will publish essays and interviews that address the nature of today’s cultural realities, and theneed for faithful, authentic Christian reform. Our goal will be frank but constructive reflections and guidance that can help Church leaders pursue lifegiving renewal. Content will be guided by five qualities: fidelity; intelligence; prudence; candor; and courage. Bitterness is not on the list.”
While perhaps intended for leaders, I believe these wholesome reflections are absolutely for laity who are serious in their faith as well. I want to recommend one article posted here from one of my favorite Catholic authors, Francis X. Maier called, Rubicon and Its Consequences: What We Need Now In Our Personal Lives, Our Church, and Our Culture.
We need not give into hopelessness and anger. Jesus Christ has saved us and we have a mission to bring his love into the world until we can be with him forever.
U.S. Bishops Issue Rebuke of Thirty-One Catholic U.S. Congress Members
This news is important for us as Catholics today. Why? Because so many Catholics, including Catholic politicians, use poor reasoning to justify their support for abortion. In their press release on June 28th (“U.S. Bishops’ President and Chairmen Rebuke Distortion of Church Teaching in Abortion Statement by Members of Congress”) the bishops expertly exercise their teaching office as they correct thirty-one Catholic members of Congress who use poor reasoning in order to support abortion. Here is an excerpt of the bishop’s statement:
“On June 24, the one-year anniversary of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, thirty-one Catholic members of Congress authored a public statement of principles, falsely invoking specific teachings of the Catholic Church to defend their support of a legal right to abortion…..
…It is wrong and incoherent to claim that the taking of innocent human life at its most vulnerable stage can ever be consistent with the values of supporting the dignity and wellbeing of those in need. ‘Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception,’ including through the civil law [Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2270, 2273]. Abortion violates this with respect to preborn children and brings untold suffering to countless women.
“Conscience rightly enjoys a special regard both in Church teaching and in the public sphere. And policymakers should support the freedom of Catholics and of others to serve the common good in accord with their beliefs in a wide range of areas – from services and assistance to recently arrived migrants, to offering health care and social services.
“Nevertheless, conscience is not a license to commit evil and take innocent lives. Conscience cannot and does not justify the act or support of abortion. In fact, conscience ‘must be informed and moral judgment enlightened’ with the Word of God in faith and prayer, and ‘guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church’ [CCC 1783, 1785]. Moreover, the reality that the preborn are our living sisters and brothers is not only a matter of faith, but is attested to by science and sound reason…”
For more, please click on the statement. After the Dobbs decision it’s important for us to think clearly about our faith and the role of conscience. These bishops do a great job in helping us think through this issue, which isn’t going away any time soon.
Your servant in the Lord,
Fr. Mathias