The Denial of Truth
We live in an era where the denial of not only the ability to discern what is true from what is false runs rampant, but also the rejection of objective truth itself. Interestingly, everyone speaks about truth, whether it is politicians, doctors, journalists, celebrities, athletes, academics, or the common person, but rarely are they capable of providing a succinct definition of truth. All too often, the truth is intended to be or referred to as being possessive; for example, the truth is referred to as being my truth, your truth, their truth, or our truth. Subjective truth appears to be elevated over objective truth. And all too often we hear the mantra, “That is your opinion,” or statements such as “That may be true for you, but not for me,” which inherently is meant to shut down any further discussion. Whenever my daughter says something like this, I respond, “Some opinions are better than others, and furthermore, some may actually correspond with the truth.” Sadly, some professors do not fair much better than teenagers in such conversations. I recall, as a master’s student at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, one of my professors (who considered herself an ecofeminist) uttering in a lecture that there was no such thing as truth. When I questioned her as to whether that was true, she responded that she meant “truth with a capital T.” Then I pressed her further and asked whether that statement itself was true; regrettably, the point seemed to be lost on her since I did not press any further and the lecture continued. Unfortunately, this is what happens when theology is infected by postmodern “epistemology,” if one can call it that. Nevertheless, the claim that objective truth does not exist is a self-contradictory one, since to deny its existence is to affirm it. This is a matter of basic logic. Unless one is a metaphysical relativist or postmodernist, such a claim is uncontroversial; either way, it’s incontrovertible regardless of one’s beliefs. However, the implications of accepting relativism and defending untruths run deep within and outside of the church.
On Gender Ideology
One may start to wonder if the truth is under constant siege. And what kind of madness have we descended into over the past few years? Western civilization is undergoing a period of great confusion at best and, at worst, great depravity, malevolence, and pure idiocy. Christianity is not exempt from this and is a very active participant in this confusion or even psychosis. Untruths are clung to at all costs. Evidence is disregarded. People from all walks of life are embracing this period of unreality. Defenders of gender ideology deny the reality that humans are a sexually dimorphic species and, in the same breath, affirm that a man can become a woman and vice versa, all the while not providing a proper definition of what it means to be either. But it is much worse than that; we are forced to accept untruths, and if you do not, you will be punished with the force of the law. If you question gender ideology, you are liable to lose your position as an educator, or, as a student, you can also be arrested and be prohibited from entering your high school premises. Going a few steps further, if you’re a Christian minister and you object and protest against convicted pedophilic transvestites (also known as drag queens) reading sexualized and inappropriate stories to innocent children, you will be arrested.
On Truth and Reconciliation
Another example includes the burning of churches, which is justified by the majority of our institutions in the name of social justice, but no evidence of human remains was found after two years of claiming “mass graves” in Canada. Ironically, despite this, we now have a federal holiday named ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ on October 2nd. A recent book titled Grave Error: How the Media Misled Us (and the Truth about Residential Schools), argues that reconciliation will only take place once the truth is exposed and accepted. A collection of essays exposes the following questionable claims and exaggerations:
- Thousands of “missing children” went away to residential schools and were never heard from again.
- These missing children are buried in unmarked graves underneath or around mission churches and schools.
- Many of these missing children were murdered by school personnel after being subjected to physical and sexual abuse, even outright torture.
- The carnage is appropriately defined as genocide.
- Many human remains have already been located by ground-penetrating radar, and many more will be found as government-funded research progresses.
- Most Indian children attended residential schools.
- Those who attended residential schools did not go voluntarily but were compelled to attend by federal policy and enforcement.
- Attendance at residential school has traumatized Indigenous people, creating social pathologies that descend across generations.
- Residential schools destroyed Indigenous languages and culture.
On Political Deception and Hypocrisy
The ones burning churches are declared virtuous, but those protesting in defense of bodily autonomy and informed consent against experimental treatments are called ignorant, scientifically uninformed, immoral, and worse, Nazis and terrorists. Similar verbal attacks are hurled against parents who stand against indoctrinating their children with the falsity of gender ideology, which is polluting the minds of countless. All the while, medical doctors push bodily mutilation, such as mastectomies and hormonal treatments, that will cause children irreversible physical and psychological damage. Those who question and object to this form of barbarism are demonized. The same government and many members of parliament who declared that those supporting the trucker convoy were Nazis gave Ukrainian war veteran Yaroslav Hunka, who served in the Nazi Waffen SS, a standing ovation. Not to mention that our deputy PM, Chrystia Freeland, was seen holding a Ukrainian Nazi banner in public and her grandfather’s ties to Ukrainian Nazis—this, of course, is never scrutinized.
On COVID Madness
It is truly dystopian when the Nobel Prize in Medicine is awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, which has proved to be an utter failure, since the therapeutic treatment has caused irreparable damage to thousands upon thousands of people, including conditions such as pericarditis, myocarditis, cerebral palsy, accelerated cancer, and sudden death. Not to forget about the fact that it also does not even prevent the contraction or transmission of COVID. Let’s also not forget the demonization of effective early treatments that would’ve rendered the so-called COVID vaccine unnecessary. Nonetheless, people continue merrily about their way, taking their next booster shot. (Interestingly, one of the main architects of the mRNA technology who has been warning about the danger of the COVID vaccine has been constantly censored and demonized, while almost being stripped of his medical degree from Harvard University.) Dr. Malone’s words fit well with the upside narrative pushed by the pharmaceutical industry and the complicit mainstream media concerning the ineffectiveness of the COVID vaccines: “First time in history that the ineffectiveness of a medicine is being blamed on those who haven’t taken it.”
This begs the question as to why many Christians and people of other religious persuasions were deceived by their faith community leaders. Faithful Catholics were misled by church authorities, including Pope Francis. Pope Francis has referred to vaccination as an “act of love,” even if the Janssen vaccine and the mRNA vaccines are created and/or tested in laboratories using fetal cell lines that have been aborted. Additionally, the Vatican made an effort to calm worries about “material cooperation” with evil by asserting that vaccination was not associated with the abortion business. Bishop Athanasius Schneider, however, clarifies why this is untrue:
The theological principle of material cooperation is certainly valid and may be applied to a whole host of cases (e.g. in paying taxes, the use of products made from slave labor, and so on). However, this principle can hardly be applied to the case of vaccines made from fetal cell lines, because those who knowingly and voluntarily receive such vaccines enter into a kind of concatenation, albeit very remote, with the process of the abortion industry. The crime of abortion is so monstrous that any kind of concatenation with this crime, even a very remote one, is immoral and cannot be accepted under any circumstances by a Catholic once he has become fully aware of it. One who uses these vaccines must realize that his body is benefitting from the “fruits” (although steps removed through a series of chemical processes) of one of mankind’s greatest crimes.[i]
First off, it is disconcerting to characterize any association with the abortion industry—no matter how tenuous—as an “act of love.” Second, it is also deeply unsettling and misleading to describe coercive dictates as an act of love. Third, it is not only useless but also unduly dangerous to vaccinate youngsters who, for the most part, already have a natural immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. It should be mentioned that developing herd immunity depends on having healthy, unvaccinated children. Fourth, it is hardly “an act of love” to ignore and silence dissenting voices both inside and outside the Church, including some well-respected authorities in their domains. This includes the firing of the Swiss Guard, Pierre-André Udressy, who ended up blowing the whistle on vaccine coercion in the Vatican. Fifth, employing vaccinations generated using aborted fetal cell lines should not be excused due to the vaccines’ low efficiency and lack of value, as evidenced by the fact that their protection faded over a few months. Sixth, it is not “an act of love” to dehumanize people who refuse to comply. Seventh, it is undeniably not an “act of love” that the COVID vaccines have caused serious injury, including death. It inevitably compounds evil.
An act of love has to be voluntary and cannot be forced. Pope Francis stated that “I believe that morally everyone must take the vaccine” in an interview on January 10, 2021. He also underlined that “it is the moral choice because it is about your life but also the lives of others.” “Getting vaccinated is a simple yet profound way to care for one another, especially the most vulnerable,” stated Pope Francis in August 2021. Pope Francis’s views have been mirrored by several cardinals and archbishops. The Pope never distinguishes between people who should and shouldn’t receive the vaccination. Not a single word about the possible damage and severe side effects. There was no reference to innate immunity at all. Regarding the various abuses that governments around the world commit against free and independent people, the Church has also said absolutely nothing.
Morally repugnant to many conscientious Catholics, including Bishop Schneider, Udressy, and others, is the requirement that people comply in order to receive the COVID injection. It is unfortunate that many devout Catholics were misled—whether intentionally or not—into getting the COVID-19 vaccination by Pope Francis. It’s interesting to note that Pope Francis and Albert Bourla, CEO of Pfizer, had private meetings. For those who don’t know, Pfizer settled the biggest health care fraud case in American history in 2009, paying $2.3 billion. For a comprehensive scientific, ethical, and theological analysis of all the COVID measures implemented, one can refer to COVID-19: A Dystopian Delusion.
On Peace and War
When it comes to peace and war, years ago, Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and then led America into war by launching airstrikes or military raids in at least seven countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, and Pakistan. But the media from the onset declared President Donald J. Trump a warmonger, who, in contrast, was able to facilitate peace deals between the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco. Things are getting worse with America’s proxy war against Russia with the Ukraine, as western nations funnel billions of dollars to the Ukraine. And yet, Ukrainians continue to suffer while Zelensky’s pocketbook grows exponentially. Not to forget the ensuing war between Israel and Hamas under the presidency of the doddering Joe Biden. A spokesperson for Hamas said the following: “We thank Iran who provided us with weapons, money and other equipment. They gave us missiles to destroy Zionist fortresses, and helped us with anti-tank missiles!” It looks as though the $6 billion that Biden gave to Iran is being well spent. And of course, and in good measure, the mainstream media will keep this hidden, leaving the common person in the dark. Then, the US backs up Israel after the attacks, despite playing a role in this chaos. This is nothing new since imperialist powers such as the US have played both sides for years.
The media incessantly deceives the people; that is part of their intended function. It’s just that many do not realize this. Actor Denzel Washington nailed this on its head when he stated, “If you don’t read the news, you’re uninformed. If you do read the news, you’re misinformed.” All of this insanity is only possible in an upside-down world where people are blinded to the truth, i.e., in a fantasy land where unicorns wander freely, pun intended. Finally, Orwellian mathematical illiteracy imposed through brute force is here. Indeed, 2 + 2 = 5, and if you say otherwise, you will suffer the consequences of poor ol’ Winston.
On Pope Francis’s Incongruencies
In addition to the odd statements and supporting COVID vaccines, the pope has engaged in other questionable actions. We have witnessed a number of popes who were morally evil throughout the history of the church, but typically these popes, regardless of how bad they may have been, defended the orthodox teachings of the church, even if their actions contradicted living a holy life. However, something seems off with Pope Francis because of some of his ambiguities and the punishment of bishops in good standing who uphold the gospel’s truth and Catholic church traditions.
First, he has never rebuked communist dictators and promotes social justice in a way that is ultimately tantamount to thievery. Second, authoritarian actions against faithful clergy. Take, for instance, Pope Francis’s removal of Bishop Joseph Strickland, a critic of Francis. Strickland is a conservative bishop who is faithful to the Gospel and a staunch defender of Catholic doctrine. Despite this, he has said that we must continue to pray for Pope Francis. Most recently, Cardinal Raymond Burke’s Vatican apartment and salary were taken away by Pope Francis, sending an unmistakable warning to bishops worldwide: either accept Pope Francis’s progressive goal to transform the Catholic Church or face official cancellation. Pope Francis is again showing his heavy hand and making it clear that he will not be holding talks with traditional and devout Catholics, who are the ones who are actually being left out of this pontificate.
Third, in 2020, Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Guo Xijin of Mindong went into hiding from communist authorities in China and eventually resigned because of the Sino-Vatican agreement. This allows the Communist Party of China to select bishops and prevents the Vatican’s ability to veto them. Despite China’s countless human rights abuses, Francis praised this as an act of diplomacy and compared it to connecting with the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War. The only difference is that Saint Pope John Paul II was involved in confronting the Soviet Union’s reign of terror and was a participant in its collapse. Unlike Francis, JP II did not acquiesce to communist dictatorships. Frighteningly, the arrest of Cardinal Zen, a 90-year-old, along with a number of Catholic bishops advocating for human rights and democracy have not deterred the Vatican and Pope Francis from upholding this agreement. Pope Francis has also not lived up to his words about holding bishops and priests accountable for sexual abuse crimes.
Most recently, in the Vatican Declaration titled “Fiducia Supplicans,” the Pope has approved leaving the blessing of people in same-sex union to the discretion of individual priests or bishops. Although the document is clear that this would not be a liturgical blessing, since the document emphasizes that the Church does not recognize any extra-marital unions (anything other than marriage between a man and a woman), it opens the door for error in interpretation by priests who support the lifestyles of members of the LGBTQ+ community. In the face of all these oddities and not following through with what is good and true, he still entertains and meets with the likes of pro-LGBT Fr. Martin, who has abandoned sound Catholic teaching on homosexuality while offering no direct correction of such views. This is a slap in the face of faithful Catholics who have homosexual proclivities but have restrained themselves from entering into same-sex unions.
Those outside of the Church have gone on to suggest that now that Pope Francis approves of same-sex unions, the question is, why even allow for such confusions since people, whether homosexual or not, transsexual or not, can already receive blessings? Inevitably, this can lead to confusion among those giving and receiving the blessing.
Nevertheless, whether the pope and the Vatican are trying to score points with progressives and LGBTQ+ activists, albeit misleadingly, the Church’s position on such matters is clear, and, although Christ extends his love and grace to all, he did not sit with the sinners to condone their sins but to lead them to repentance and salvation. There is no real reason to offer blessings to such couples, aside from repentant individuals.
Final Reflection: On Unchanging Truth and the Incarnation
One could go on and on. We haven’t even discussed the lies about economics that we have been made to swallow for years. Leaving that aside, how did this all happen? How did we get here? This did not happen overnight. Humanity’s denial and opposition to truth extend back through the annals of human existence. Theologians and Christian philosophers have argued that sin has caused this noetic deficiency. Rest assured that the denial of truth is predominantly a moral dilemma, not an intellectual one. What I mean by this is that although acknowledgements and discernment of truth fall under the domain of philosophy in logic, their denial is done for questions of the heart. Hence, if we obscure moral truths, then it is easier to shirk away from moral responsibility and accountability. It should be no mystery as to why Pontius Pilate asked what truth was to Christ while staring at truth in the flesh right before his eyes or why, centuries prior to that, Protagoras asserted that man is the measure of all things. Given the sorry state of the world with all its deceptions, it should be as clear as day that that is not the case.
We can place our hopes in the unchanging transcendent realm of God despite all the falsehoods and denials of truth that surround us. Now, if we venture beyond political and cultural decadence and toward a profound and ultramundane reality, we enter the realm of the eternally transcendent, where we encounter the most mysterious of all truths, its personification in the God-man Jesus of Nazareth, who boldly claimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6), a truth that grounds all truths. Thus, truth is neither owned nor possessed, as our culture based on subjectivism and relativism would have us believe, but rather transcends the subjective realm of the human mind, the scientific endeavour, social justice, the odd actions and words of popes past and present, and the physical world, even though it is manifested and entrenched within it. For Christians, truth is ultimately grounded in the person of Jesus and the Trinitarian Godhead, and that reality makes all the difference in not only understanding truth and the universe but also our place in it, as we become active participants created in the image-likeness of the Creator. Participants who can discern truth and defend it while recognize its mystery and how it is wound up in the Incarnation.
So, as we quickly approach the celebration of the birth of the Saviour of the world, let us always be assured of the truth of God’s love for us. Darkness has not and cannot overcome the eternal light of God, who is the source of all goodness, beauty, and truth.
A blessed Christmas to all!
[i] (Editor’s note: The Vatican has previously clarified this issue, in the CDF instruction, Dignitatis Personae, (2008) allows children (at least) to receive vaccines that have some remote cooperation with abortion (cf. par. 35): Of course, within this general picture there exist differing degrees of responsibility. Grave reasons may be morally proportionate to justify the use of such “biological material”. Thus, for example, danger to the health of children could permit parents to use a vaccine which was developed using cell lines of illicit origin, while keeping in mind that everyone has the duty to make known their disagreement and to ask that their healthcare system make other types of vaccines available. Moreover, in organizations where cell lines of illicit origin are being utilized, the responsibility of those who make the decision to use them is not the same as that of those who have no voice in such a decision.)