OPINION: We're The Same, You & I

Have you ever noticed that there are no differentiating characteristics which separate people from one another? Have you ever noticed that all people, throughout the world, are one, bland, homogenous mass? No, neither have I – and to act as such is downright foolishness, if not a recipe for disaster.

Which is why the message I received from this Sunday’s homily, the platitude that it was, struck me as so disingenuous and contrary to the nature of the Catholic faith. Father’s message was as follows: categories and labels – such as liberal, conservative, gay, and straight (yes these exact examples were specifically cited) – in reality mean nothing and only work to divide us.

If his premise is true, the question then becomes: is division a positive or negative aspect of ascribing labels to one another? This is the real crux of the matter, and needs to be probed further. Frankly, it is very generic to say, “Oh, X and Y only divides us." Moreover, such statements only work to further arouse the ears of modern, secular liberals who already have such a stronghold on our Catholic pulpits.

Father’s message seems to implicitly denote division as a negative aspect of society, and more specifically, the Christian life. But is that true? Is division really a pitfall? Let’s break down the problem Father presented. Namely, the dichotomy between conservative/ liberal and gay/straight.

In assessing the modern American political landscape, it is fair to say that party lines are becoming at once more important and less important at the same time. Less important, because party affiliation is becoming much more deeply rooted in ideology, not party platforms. The emerging Libertarian strain within the GOP signals that the fight of the future is not Elephant or Donkey, but liberty or tyranny.

Contrastingly, party affiliation is simultaneously becoming much more important as the ideology takes deeper roots into each party. In essence, with liberty and tyranny being your options, it becomes even more critical to take a side and defend our rights granted to us by God. As such, it is nothing but a platitude to say that labels such as conservative and liberal are divisive, and therefore we should avoid them.

The opposite is, in fact, true. With our nation and Holy Mother Church under attack on all sides, now is the time to be vigilant as to the moves of the enemy. To pretend that someone who comes bearing the title liberal, progressive, humanist, or secular has no differing intentions and perspectives as to how they view the nature of our Church is naive at best, and at worst, dangerous.

The very destruction of our liturgical format, music, and pious devotions have all been wrought under the banner of progressive thought and liberalism. There is realistically no arguing that point, even if one thinks that the spirit of Vatican II has been a blessing. The Church is in crisis, and no rational mind could say that it is due to the overflow or abundance of tradition or conservatism.

It is therefore imperative that we do recognize labels and categories of people, so we at the very least will be able to rationally discuss what it is that ails the Church. The absurdity in pretending that labels do not matter can be illustrated by looking at the natural and social sciences. Demographics, atomic arrangements, chemical structure, socio-economic statuses – all of these factors, or labels, are a necessity in making sense of the world around us. Why should we conclude that such logic fails within the walls of the Church?

Moving on to the even more scandalous message I received last Sunday, apparently now there is no reason to differentiate between gay and straight, as it only serves to divide us. I can only imagine how many impressionable minds left Mass that day confused as to the Church’s teachings on homosexuality. “Ah, this must be what Pope Francis is talking about,” they think to themselves.

This is dangerous. Not because homosexuals are dangerous, but because the idea that there is no difference between a natural, God sanctioned human activity and committing a sin which is explicitly called out throughout scripture is tantamount to saying that adultery is no longer a sin. Which, hopefully, we can all avoid becoming a reality at October’s Synod, lest we go down the path of our separated Orthodox brothers and sisters.

Let’s play this logic out. If the label of gay or straight is irrelevant, how do we correctly attend to the sins of the faithful on a pastoral level? How are we to offer guidance to those who commit homosexual acts if we are supposed to be blind to the fact that they even are homosexual? This is akin to a “don’t ask don’t tell” policy, which is completely contradictory to the nature of sacramental confession and reconciliation with God. I would hope that our pastors are asking that question, and I would hope that those living in that sin would confess and repent – just as I must for my own sins of the flesh.

The Church, as a necessity, must draw boundaries. We function under the guidance of a hierarchy which by design must be recognized as different from the laity. We have sins that may be considered venial and some mortal. We have among us men and women that are sinners and some that are saints. We have those that practice charity and those who do not.

The list could go on and on, but the idea is as plain as day. Labels matter, categories matter. If we affirm the contrary then we are nothing but relativists, and I did not convert to Catholicism because I embrace relativism. Our Lord himself said that he came to divide families, and that at the last judgment will divide the sheep from the goats. Christ is not a relativist. Should we not, above all, imitate Him?

#opinion