“All I want to know,” the student asked coyly, “is how
far I can go with a passed-out drunk girl before I break the law.”
I gritted my teeth and tried not to show my disgust,
knowing that at least a couple of students would react appropriately and put
this guy in his place. The journalism class had taken this unexpected turn. It
began as a discussion about media coverage of a famous athlete accused of – but
not charged with – sexual assault. But then a young woman mentioned an incident
involving a party, two frat boys, and a drunk freshman co-ed. The floodgates
exploded.
For the next half hour, the young ladies gave example
after example of unrelenting, vulgar harassment that made them feel like prey.
The guys countered with claims of mixed messages, “girls asking for it” simply
by going to parties and, finally, wanting to know how they, too, could escape rape
charges. How in the world did our society come to this?
As a journalism professor, I have always stressed ethics
in my classes – the critical differences between objectivity and overt bias,
fact and opinion, right and wrong. And also the difference between what’s legal
and what’s moral. My usual example is my own divorce and remarriage – completely
legal and not uncommon in civic life but, without my annulment, considered
immoral by my Church.
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| Our nation, which guarantees the free practice of any religion.was founded on basic Judeo-Christian values that are increasingly challenged by our culture. |
Our culture’s sense of right and wrong has changed
drastically. Most of us could list all sorts of examples. Unfortunately, the
worst of the worst gets the most attention. Many of us don’t realize that,
slowly and over time, a lot of secular culture has crept into our lives – culture
that is completely at odds with the tenets and teachings of our Church.
One example is a passionate lecture I got a few years ago
from a friend and fellow parishioner. He was worked up about health care.
“I work hard for what I have,” he insisted. “I take care
of my own health insurance. Explain to me why I should have to contribute to anyone
else’s health care. It’s my money. I earned it. Let them work for theirs, too.”
Many Americans would agree. Our culture honors hard work,
self-reliance, individualism, initiative, and responsibility. Those traits made
our country great. It’s our heritage and we are proud of it.
My friend, though, picked an awkward time and place for
his lecture. It was right after Mass, by the foot of the altar, after the
Gospel reading of the Good Samaritan. But it was the homily that lit my
friend’s fuse. The homily included a mention that the Church believes access to
health care a basic, universal right.
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| It is becoming increasingly difficult to accept our "secular morality" while at the same time being faithful to the teachings of the Church. |
Health care is just one issue that exposes the schism
between American values and Catholic values. The fact that the US Conference of
Bishops had to sue the federal government for abortion and contraception exemptions
is just one example of the difference between what most Americans accept and
what our Church teaches us to reject.
Our understanding of what is right and what is wrong in
America is moving farther and farther away from our Catholic beliefs. And,
unfortunately, it seems more and more Catholics are lining up with the changing
values of our society.
To be completely transparent, I try to be more forgiving
than legalistic. I embrace Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation that promotes understanding
and pastoral responses to the difficult, complicated and challenging situations
many families face. Yet we must acknowledge that issues such as immigration,
criminal justice, and health care are most often judged by economic standards,
not traditional Judeo-Christian teaching. In other words, Americans make
decisions based on what’s best for the bottom line. And when we do that, we
reject the teachings of our faith.
Most of us would know what to do with a passed-out drunk
girl – take care of her, get help, make sure she’s safe. That’s easy. Answers
to other social questions aren’t nearly as easy. Then again, no one – not even
Jesus (Mt 7:13-14) – ever said being a follower would be easy.
Thanks Peter! Nice, thought provoking, commentary. We would all like to think that keeping the golden rule in mind could guide us through life. But, things are not always so clear cut. In the real world helping one, may sometimes mean hurting another, so your choices are not so clear cut.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words, John. Not clear cut at all. As I tell my students - math is easy compared to ethics... two legitimate issues in conflict with each other.
ReplyDeleteWhen our church was very young, its values were totally out of sync with the values of the world; both the Jewish and Roman/Greek world.
ReplyDeleteAs we have heard, we are "in" the world but should not be "of" the world. Here are the last 3 lines from Sunday's Gospel:
"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven."
Peter makes an interesting observation: "And, unfortunately, it seems more and more Catholics are lining up with the changing values of our society." To semi-quote Jesus: you know someone by their "fruits" (i.e. actions). In Roman times, those who were put on trial for following "The Way" were given a choice: acknowledge the emperor as "god" or go to jail (and in many cases - die). Many chose the former option. We know this because the early church had to decide how to treat those who "sinned" by worshiping the emperor; and then sought reconciliation. The church exercised mercy; but the penance was significant; and it didn't occur in the privacy of the confessional.
About 45-48% of people who self-identify as Catholic voted in direct opposition to church teaching in the last election. Did they "worship the emperor?" I fear for their souls.
The choices can be difficult, and are not always strictly black and white. Rev. Gary Manning from Grace Episcopal Church in Wauwatosa, Wis., had an interesting quote in an AP story about the current refugee order. He said, "It's incumbent upon me to remember that the people in my congregation are doing their best to live out their Christian values."
ReplyDeleteAs it has been said, "There, by the Grace of God go I." We are all the Body of Christ , all called to be Disciples and Make Disciples. We may be blessed through our hard work but that is because we are sanctifying God's Gifts to us in our work. We did not create ourselves and our talents, and we were created to seek and perform God's Will. The love in our veins is Divine and is useless if kept to ourselves.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Rolf. I like to think most of us recognize that we work with the gifts God grants us. That eliminates a lot of the "I, me, mine" and recognizes out responsibility to others. I hope you are well!!
ReplyDelete