On
January 19, Pope Benedict addressed bishops from the District of
Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia, the U.S.
Archdiocese for the Military Services, and the Virgin Islands. These
U.S. bishops were in Rome for their periodic “ad limina” visits, which
included meetings with the pope and Vatican officials, covering a wide
range of pastoral matters.
His words provide some sober reflection
for us. As is usually the case, I would like to provide excerpts of the
Pope’s remarks from a
CNS News Article and then present my own comments in red.
Pope Benedict XVI warned
visiting U.S. bishops that “radical secularism” threatens the core
values of American culture, and he called on the church in America,
including politicians and other laypeople, to render “public moral
witness” on crucial social issues.
This will call for greater courage and hard work than is evident in many clergy and laity in the Church today. Too often the instinct is to play it safe. And when we are
outspoken it is only in the safety of like-minded family and friends.
Public moral witness must begin with clergy but it cannot end there.
Also public moral witness requires a deep commitment in terms of time
and even money.
Increasingly for clergy, the pulpit cannot be a place for abstractions and generalities like “do good, avoid evil.”
We have to speak clearly to the issues of our day and be willing to
name them. Clear assessments like sin, mortal sin, hell, judgment,
right, wrong, good, and evil, must once again find a place in our
homilies. Further, we must name issues clearly, abortion, homosexual
acts, fornication, contraception, neglect of the poor, greed, corruption
and so forth. Ambiguity must give way to clarity. But clarity must also
reflect charity. We are to speak the truth in love.
Parents too and every level of the laity must give clear moral witness to their children.
Parents must be willing to raise and discipline their children and
instruct them clearly in the faith and moral life. It is not enough to
say what is taught, but good teaching must also address why. This takes courage and the sacrifice of time.
Catholics in general must be far more willing to enter the public square without apology or fear,
and be willing to speak the truth in love. In so doing we must be
willing to accept that we will be misquoted, misunderstood and
ridiculed. We must accept that we will get it with both barrels and
learn that, just because people are angry with us, does not mean we did
anything wrong.
