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IN<\/strong> response to my article\u00a0On Criticism of the Clergy<\/a>,\u00a0<\/em>one reader asked:<\/p>\n Are we to be silent when there is injustice? When good religious men and women and laity are silent, I believe it is more sinful than what is taking place. Hiding behind false religious piety is a slippery slope. I find too many in the Church strive for sainthood by being silent, out of fear of what or how they are going to say it. I\u2019d rather be vocal and miss the mark knowing there may be a better chance of change.\u00a0My fear for what you wrote, not that you are advocating for silence, but for the one who may have been ready to speak up either eloquently or not, will become silent out of fear of missing the mark or sin. \u00a0I say step out and retreat into repentance if you must… \u00a0I know you\u2019d like everyone to get along and be nice but…<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n IN SEASON AND OUT…\u00a0<\/p>\n There are several good points above… but others that are fallacies.\u00a0<\/p>\n There is no question that it is harmful when Christians, especially the clergy who are charged with teaching the faith, remain silent out of cowardice or a fear to offend. As I stated recently in\u00a0Walk With the Church<\/a>, <\/em>the lack of catechesis, moral formation, critical thinking and basic virtues in Western Catholic culture are rearing their dysfunctional head. As Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia himself said:<\/p>\n \u2026there\u2019s no easy way to say it. The Church in the United States has done a poor job of forming the faith and conscience of Catholics for more than 40 years. And now we\u2019re harvesting the results\u2014in the public square, in our families and in the confusion of our personal lives.<\/strong> \u2014Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Rendering Unto Caesar: The Catholic Political Vocation<\/em>, February 23rd, 2009, Toronto, Canada<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In the same speech, he adds:<\/p>\n I think modern life, including life in the Church, suffers from a phony unwillingness to offend that poses as prudence and good manners, but too often turns out to be cowardice. Human beings owe each other respect and appropriate courtesy. But we also owe each other the truth\u2014which means candor.<\/strong> \u2014Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., \u201cRendering Unto Caesar: The Catholic Political Vocation\u201d, February 23rd, 2009, Toronto, Canada<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n In other words, we Christians\u00a0must\u00a0<\/em>defend the truth and proclaim the Gospel:<\/p>\n …preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season, convince, rebuke, and exhort, be unfailing in patience and in teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Note the word “patience.” Indeed, in the same letter to Timothy, St. Paul says that…<\/p>\n …the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, forbearing, correcting his opponents with gentleness. (2 Tim 2:24-25)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n I think what’s being said here is quite self-evident. Paul is not advocating silence or that “everyone get along and be nice.” What he’s advocating is that the Gospel\u2014and the correction of those who don’t follow it\u2014always be done\u00a0in the imitation of Christ.\u00a0<\/em>This “gentle” approach also includes our attitude toward our leaders, whether they are clergy or civil authorities.\u00a0<\/p>\n Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for any honest work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all men. (Titus 3:2)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n <\/p>\n PRACTICALLY SPEAKING<\/p>\n The question was, are we to remain silent in the face of injustice?\u00a0<\/em>My immediate question is,\u00a0what do you mean?\u00a0<\/em>If by “speaking up” you mean, for example, going onto social media and raising awareness, that may be very appropriate. If it means defending someone who needs our defence, then probably yes. If it means adding our voice to others in order to resist an injustice, then probably yes. If it means speaking up when others won’t (but should), then probably yes. So long as all is done according to love,\u00a0<\/em>because as Christians, that’s who we are!<\/p>\n Love is patient and kind… \u00a0it is not arrogant or rude… it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. (1 Cor 13:4-6)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n However, if it means going onto social media or other\u00a0forums and attacking another person in a way that violates their dignity, is disrespectful, etc. then no. One cannot defend Christianity while behaving in an unChristian manner. It’s a contradiction. The Scriptures are clear that one cannot simply “step out and [sin and then] retreat into repentance if you must,” as my reader puts it. One cannot solve one injustice with another.<\/p>\n Further to what the Catechism states on avoiding slander, calumny and rash judgments against others, [1]<\/sup><\/a>see On Criticism of the Clergy<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/span>\n
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