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Thursday September 02, 2010
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Family
Church : Family
Taking a larger canvas, what does one say about an entire country that has two moral weaknesses: undermining marriage and the family, and losing sight of the dignity of the human being? These weaknesses, surely, would be enough to undermine everything else in that nation's life. At the end of October 2008, Anne Leahy, Canada's new ambassador to the Holy See, met with Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father used this occasion to speak to all of Canada. He was most gentle, as he always is, but equally in keeping with his character, did not allow political correctness to conceal what he perceives to be a disturbing truth. He alluded to "profound changes" in Canadian culture that "at times cause concern to the point of asking ourselves if it does not mean a regression in the understanding of the human being." The two concerns he specified are "the defense of the promotion of life and the family based on natural marriage." Given the fact that the family is the basic unit of society, and marriage between husband and wife is fundamental to the family, then these two regressions alone would be sufficient to unravel the fabric of all of society. Therefore, given the utter seriousness of the matter, Benedict went on to "encourage all Canadians to reflect deeply on the path that Christ calls is to follow." That very path, as Christ, himself, stated, is "narrow": "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Mt. 7: 14); "Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able" (Lk 22: 24). The Holy Father is concerned about Canada adopting a notion of freedom which is so broad that it is taken as absolute. When freedom is "wrongly perceived as an absolute value," he stated, it clashes with society's "communal dimension." In other words, to perceive freedom as an absolute value is to disregard the rights of others. Freedom will miss the narrow path if it is used so broadly that it disregards the role of the natural family, and the dignity of the person. As history amply reveals, freedom can trample rights. Freedom, properly understood, is in the service of life. We need not think that life narrows freedom as much as it gives freedom its proper direction and ensures that one act of freedom leads to another act of freedom. Paradoxically, absolute freedom is destructive, whereas freedom in the service of life and love ensures its continual and uninterrupted expression. The Holy Father invites Canadians to think deeply about these things. His invitation is both philosophical as well as theological. He encourages Canadians to reflect on the narrow path that Christ advises. At the same time, he urges them to think about how the natural law guides their use of freedom so that it serves them without betrayal. People are free to eat, but overeating works against them. In a spirit of hope, Benedict said to Canada's new ambassador, concerning the proper use of freedom, "I know it is possible and that your country is capable." He also expressed his "support to all the Canadian Bishops' initiatives in favour of family life and thus of the dignity of the human being." Honest reflection can be fruitful. When it is, we come to realize that we need only what is essential, and that we do not gain when we add things that are meddlesome and counterproductive. We can be healthier by eating less. Reflecting is a narrowing activity because it separates the sensible from the spurious. In this way, it is also a Christian activity. Our culture is infatuated with freedom and has, to a certain extent, forgotten that unrestricted freedom can be a formidable enemy to the two most fundamental goods of any society—the dignity of the person and the sacredness of marriage. Too much freedom, like too many cooks, can spoil the culture. We should heed the Holy Father's invitation to reflect deeply on these matters. Reflection does not cost anything, but can be richly rewarding. Dr. Donald DeMarco is a professor emeritus at St. Jerome's University and an adjunct professor at Holy Apostles College and Seminary. © Copyright 1997-2006 Catholic Insight
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