This is a continuation of my reflections on the Archbishop’s summary of the Listening Sessions. If you missed past bulletin columns, you can find them online at www.franklinhardincatholic.org under “News and Events” on the right hand side of the web page; OR can see previous bulletins at the same website and click on “Bulletins” tab.
Since the beginning of Christianity, the Church has always had to live in the tension between:
- How to remain faithful to all the Christ came to teach and reveal, and
- And how do we apply that to new and different questions, contexts, situations, etc. (especially those not explicitly addressed in Scripture).
Thus, over the centuries, Christians have wrestled with, discussed, and, most importantly, prayed through these questions as they’ve arisen.
We recognize that there are foundational, unchanging Teachings of the Church that will not change. That there is objective Truth, and there is objective Good (morality, right and wrong). These objective things do not change, and are not a matter of popular vote or opinion.
All that being said, while the foundational truths/doctrines are unchanging, some things that can change are things such as the particular way we articulate those truths. What can change is the prudential application in explaining those truths, and accompanying people who are struggle in various ways.
Example 2 – Regarding Marriage: Another example of an unchanging truth and teaching is the sacred dignity and meaning of marriage, as being established by God between one man and one woman, and bound together in marriage for life.
While we hold to what God established marriage to be, we also recognize that we live in a culture/society that is not conducive to strong, healthy, marriages; and thus, results in many experiencing divorces. So, how do we both better prepare people for marriage, and also, compassionately accompany people after a divorce (including some remarried after that divorce)?
There are many factors that play into this – too many to discuss at length here. But one aspect is that we live in a society that has created a false deceitful double standard that:
1) on the one hand, that you cannot have deep, intimate friendships without sex, and
2) on the other hand, the hook-up culture, that tries to totally divorce intimacy from sex.
It’s an impossible double standard that leaves people more depressed and miserable than ever, and does not prepare individuals for healthy relationships. All the more reason why the world needs the Catholic Church’s teaching on sexuality – which is a beautiful gift of intimacy between those vowed to each other in marriage, (and is life-giving, both in the metaphorical/relationship and literal sense); and also that sex is not the only form of intimacy.
Furthermore, our society also does not value celibacy (to remain in an intentionally unmarried/single state) as a valid way of life. It is simply viewed as a sexually repressive way of life that is void of intimacy or experiences of deep love.
But again, the world needs the Catholic Church’s teaching, that celibacy for a Christian is actually an invitation to a unique relationship of intimacy with the Living Lord. And furthermore, that one can experience deep human love and intimacy through chaste, authentic, intentional friendships (authentic friendships are also undervalued in our society).
Then, questions arise: How do we compassionately share this with people and compassionately accompany people in this especially for those who experience same-sex attractions or gender dysphoria?
Peace,
– Fr. Kevin
