We continue to see stories in the news about surveys that say people of faith hold the same values as people who don’t go to church. \u00a0For example, the divorce rate among Catholics is nearly the same as among the\u00a0general population. \u00a0I will note that some of the surveys are finally beginning to distinguish between people who say they are Christian versus those who actually go to church. \u00a0Among those who go to church regular, the divorce rates are lower. \u00a0The same is true for people’s values on abortion and same sex marriage.<\/p>\n
This leads me to the question, “Is our faith guiding our culture or is culture dictating our faith?”<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, I believe that our culture is dictating our faith far more than our faith guides our culture. \u00a0It’s not that we want it this way. \u00a0We sort of fall into it without even realizing it. \u00a0It starts with seeing people who do not live in accord with our faith. \u00a0At first, they might be few in numbers and we voice our objection to their actions but then their numbers begin to increase so it becomes “common”. \u00a0Common\u00a0<\/em>simply means we see it regularly. \u00a0Common\u00a0<\/i>does not reflect whether something is\u00a0good\u00a0<\/em>or\u00a0bad<\/em>. \u00a0To say something is “common” just means we see it repeatedly. \u00a0From\u00a0common,\u00a0<\/em>as we see more and more people do it, so it becomes\u00a0normal<\/em>. \u00a0Perhaps the distinction I can make between\u00a0common<\/em> and\u00a0normal<\/em> is that with\u00a0common\u00a0<\/em>we are not surprised to see it. \u00a0With\u00a0normal<\/em> we expect to see it.<\/p>\n As something becomes\u00a0normal<\/em> we begin to think it is OK. \u00a0This is especially true in the culture of\u00a0relativism<\/em>\u00a0where one is free to believe whatever they want as long as they keep it to themselves. \u00a0This includes matters of faith. \u00a0So we end up not standing up for our beliefs because we don’t want to offend anyone. \u00a0This might seem innocent enough. \u00a0After all, isn’t it worth it to keep the peace?<\/p>\n Jesus calls us to be peacemakers (cf. The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12a<\/a>) but He also tells us in Luke 12:51<\/a>,\u00a0“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?\u00a0No, I tell you, but rather division<\/em>.” \u00a0Jesus does not want to start wars but He does want us to stand up for what we believe in.<\/p>\n The problem with keeping silent about our beliefs is that we end up forgetting what we believe ourselves (or at best know what our faith teaches but not why) and we don’t share it with our children. \u00a0So our beliefs end up no different from those who don’t practice our faith.<\/p>\n I write this on October 17th, the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr in the second century. \u00a0As he was travelling to Rome to be executed for being Christian, he wrote letters to communities along the way. \u00a0He had heard that some of them were plotting to rescue him and take him to a safe hiding place. \u00a0He told them not to (even though he knew he faced certain death). \u00a0He knew he needed to face the trial to stand up for the faith. \u00a0If he renounced Christian, he knew it would lead others to give up their faith. \u00a0He stood up for what he believed in. \u00a0Do we? \u00a0It is only when we stand up and declare what we believe that our faith guides our culture.<\/p>\n Peace,<\/p>\n Fr. Jeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We continue to see stories in the news about surveys that say people of faith hold the same values as people who don’t go to church. \u00a0For example, the divorce rate among Catholics is nearly the same as among the\u00a0general population. \u00a0I will note that some of the surveys are finally beginning to distinguish between …<\/p>\n