From the ocean's depths!
Throughout my lifetime, all sixty-seven years, from the days when catechism classes became the backbone of my faith experience, there was a word that slipped in even during the early years of learning. At the outset, of course, my mind was not able to comprehend fully what was being taught. To hear that the Pope was the successor to St. Peter did not sink in significantly until there were a few whiskers on this chin. At the same time, my Jesuit teachers on Eye Street brought us to understand another word related to all of this: magisterium, the teaching authority of the Church. Even then, in those teen-age years such a reality seemed so far away: how many could get to Rome in eight hours in those days? In our world today, because of the rapidity in which we all live and move and have our being, we hear the phrases "successor to St. Peter" and "magisterium" more frequently.
For those who profess a faith in the Roman Catholic Church genuine challenges confront our creedal commitment almost daily. The concept of freedom, espoused in those "amber waves of grain," remind us that to be free is one of our most treasured characteristics as an American citizen. It is this very core of our American citizenship which is tested in the life of the committed Roman Catholic at this time in our history as Catholics and as American citizens. In short, our faith is challenged by contemporary realities.
Recently, in the national discussions about a successor to the current President, the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on abortion has become an issue of major interest. So, for the next few minutes I wish to reflect upon the present and constant teaching of the Church on the matter ... a subject which demands great sacrifice from many.
Before his death, Resurrection and subsequent Ascension, Jesus Christ promised us that he would not leave his followers, his Church, as orphans. Those chosen, the Twelve as they were called, were anointed with the Holy Spirit with a simple charge: teach all that I have taught you. Proclaim what I have taught to all the world. It was in this atmosphere that the successor to St. Peter was established. These very close followers of Jesus were to speak with authority when teaching on matters of faith and morals.
Even in the earliest days of the Church, the accounts in the Acts of the Apostles and St. Paul’s writings, recount the challenges that were put to the faith of Jesus’ followers. Even Peter and Paul had their moments of serious and strong debate. It was made clear from the beginning, these men and their successors possessed the teaching authority of the Church. That authority was assisted by the Holy Spirit who would guard them in all the truth they taught as Jesus made clear. His words, in Matthew’s gospel are strong: "Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always, yes, to the end of time." Jesus could not be clearer about the authority entrusted to the Twelve in his name.
It is this tenet of the Catholic Church that makes the abortion issue more significant today when the matter of rights is put forth. There is only one group of people who are entrusted with the proclamation of the official doctrine of the Catholic Church: it is the Successor to St. Peter in union with the bishops . This teaching of the Church does not afford me and other pastors, you and other Catholics the freedom to make a decision in this and other matters as we see fit.
The Church teaches us that abortion is more than an evil. It is a great moral evil. This has been and will continue to be the teaching of the Church. It is a part of the authentic faith Popes and Bishops are charged with protecting. And our Popes and Bishops and other church leaders have affirmed this teaching since the first century ... when, ironically, abortion was rampant. Recently St. Augustine, whose feast we celebrated on Friday, was cited in a national discussion of the matter. If you would like to know precisely what Augustine thought and taught in regard to this matter, you can find that information in his book, On Marriage and Concupiscence. I suspect those who take one sound bite from his writings to oppose the Church’s position on abortion would throw out the same book because of Augustine’s thoughts and words on concupiscence.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which has the same power and authority as the well-remembered Baltimore Catechism, our Church teaches, "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception... Since the first century the Church as affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to moral law." (Catechism, 2270-2271)
Out the outset of these remarks, you may recall that I said that our faith is challenged by contemporary realities. Abortion is one such challenge. In the second reading of today’s liturgy, St. Paul’s words to the Romans stand for us in this battle for life, for life at all stages, from conception to natural death: Paul was strong. "Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect" (Rom 12:2). And only on Friday of this week, the words of Jeremiah proclaimed a similar message to the leaders of Judah and a charge to those who followed the prophet’s words ... the same charge given through the decades by Moses, Isaiah and Ezekiel: "Gird your loins; stand up and tell that all that I command you. Do not be crushed on their account.... For this day ... I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord" (Jer 1:17-19). The feast on Friday was that of the Martyrdom of John the Baptist. These words reminded us of the sacrifice that martyrdom was for John as well as many who would walk in his footsteps ... men and women and even children who were not afraid to stand strong in the battle for their beliefs, for their faith.
During one of the "homilies" delivered during the first political party convention last week, one of the memorable lines might be used by our Church in response to those who believe the Church is wrong is the following with a very slight adaptation by this blogger:
They just don't get it. It's never been about me. It's about you. It's about your human dignity! Every year many parents pick up acorns fallen from the might oak trees. They hold one in a hand and usually will say, "See this big tree. You know what is inside this acorn? It's this big tree that has grown up." That acorn has within it the life of the new tree. Doesn't this sound familiar?
This is the challenge to all Roman Catholics and all who believe what Jesus taught. Now is a time for us to affirm together with all our sisters and brothers of our Catholic faith that the destruction of innocent human life at any stage is wrong. And for me and you, part of the martyrdom that we may face is sacrificing some of our personal desires, nurtured in American freedom, because we are Catholics who believe what the Church teaches and are willing to stand up for those beliefs.
This is the challenge to all Roman Catholics and all who believe what Jesus taught. Now is a time for us to affirm together with all our sisters and brothers of our Catholic faith that the destruction of innocent human life at any stage is wrong. And for me and you, part of the martyrdom that we may face is sacrificing some of our personal desires, nurtured in American freedom, because we are Catholics who believe what the Church teaches and are willing to stand up for those beliefs.
