Praktiškai kalbant

 

IN atsakymas į mano straipsnį Apie dvasininkų kritiką, vienas skaitytojas paklausė:

Ar mes turime tylėti, kai yra neteisybė? Kai geri religingi vyrai ir moterys bei pasauliečiai tyli, aš manau, kad tai yra nuodėmingiau nei tai, kas vyksta. Pasislėpimas už melagingo religinio pamaldumo yra slidus šlaitas. Manau, kad per daug Bažnyčios siekia šventumo, tylėdamos, bijodamos, ką ar kaip jie tai pasakys. Verčiau būsiu balsingas ir praleisiu ženklą, žinodamas, kad gali būti didesnė tikimybė pasikeisti. Mano baimė dėl to, ką parašėte, ne dėl to, kad jūs pasisakote už tylą, bet tas, kuris galbūt buvo pasirengęs kalbėti iškalbingai, ar ne, nutils, bijodamas praleisti žymę ar nuodėmę. Aš sakau, kad išeikite ir atsitraukite į atgailą, jei turite ... Aš žinau, kad norėtumėte, kad visi sutvarkytų ir būtų malonūs, bet

 

IN SEASON AND OUT… 

There are several good points above… but others that are fallacies. 

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 Pasivaikščiojimas su bažnyčia, 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:

... nėra lengvo būdo tai pasakyti. Bažnyčia JAV daugiau nei 40 metų dirbo prastai formuodama katalikų tikėjimą ir sąžinę. Dabar mes renkame rezultatus - viešojoje aikštėje, savo šeimose ir painiavos savo asmeniniame gyvenime. - arkivyskupas Charlesas J. Chaputas, OFM Cap. Perteikimas Cezariui: Katalikų politinis pašaukimas, 23 m. Vasario 2009 d., Torontas, Kanada

In the same speech, he adds:

Manau, kad šiuolaikinis gyvenimas, įskaitant gyvenimą Bažnyčioje, kenčia nuo apgaulingo nenoro įžeisti, kuris yra apdairumas ir geros manieros, tačiau per dažnai pasirodo esąs bailumas. Žmonės skolingi vienas kitam pagarbą ir tinkamą mandagumą. Bet mes taip pat esame skolingi vienas kitam tiesą, o tai reiškia pasipiktinimą. - Arkivyskupas Charlesas J. Chaputas, OFM Cap., „Atlikimas Cezariui: Katalikų politinis pašaukimas“, 23 m. Vasario 2009 d., Torontas, Kanada

In other words, we Christians turi defend the truth and proclaim the Gospel:

…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)

Note the word “patience.” Indeed, in the same letter to Timothy, St. Paul says that…

…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)

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—and the correction of those who don’t follow it—always be done in the imitation of Christ. This “gentle” approach also includes our attitude toward our leaders, whether they are clergy or civil authorities. 

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)

 

PRAKTINIAI KALBĖJIMAS

The question was, are we to remain silent in the face of injustice? My immediate question is, ką turi galvoje? 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 mylėti, because as Christians, that’s who we are!

Love is patient and kind…  it 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)

However, if it means going onto social media or other forums 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.

Further to what the Catechism states on avoiding slander, calumny and rash judgments against others, ^[1]matyti Apie dvasininkų kritiką its teaching on the use of social communications is clear:

The proper exercise of this right [of communication, particularly by the media] demands that the content of the communication be true and—within the limits set by justice and charity—complete. Further, it should be communicated honestly and properly… the moral law and the legitimate rights and dignity of man should be upheld. It is necessary that visi nariai of society meet the demands of justice and charity in this domain. -Katalikų bažnyčios katekizmas, n. 2494–2495

There is also the importance of the “internal” versus “external forum.” When an injustice occurs, it should be handled in the private or “internal” forum whenever possible. For example, if someone injures you, it would be wrong to go onto Facebook (the “external forum”) and attack that person. Rather, it should be handled in private (the “internal forum”). The same applies when issues appear in our parish family or diocese. One ought to speak to one’s priest or bishop first before taking issues to the external forum (if justice demands that one should). And even then, one can only do so as long as “the moral law and legitimate rights and dignity” of the other are respected.

 

NOT THE MOB 

There is a growing mob mentality in the face of the sexual abuse scandals or papal controversies in the Church that all too often violates basic justice and charity; that bypasses the internal forum or dispenses with mercy and removes one far from the imitation of Christ who always sought the salvation of even the greatest sinners. Don’t get sucked into a vortex of hostility, name-calling or seeking vengeance. On the other hand, niekada be afraid to be bold, to charitably challenge others or to step into a vacuum of silence with the voice of truth, always showing “perfect courtesy toward all men.”

For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it… whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. (Mark 8:35, 38)

Admittedly, it is sometimes a fine line when we should speak and when we should not. Which is why we need the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit more than ever in our days, particularly Wisdom, Understanding, Prudence, and Fear of the Lord. 

I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call. (Eph 4:1-5)

 

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