\u201cTolerance\u201d has become a frequently used word.\u00a0 We do well to ask ourselves what does it mean to \u201ctolerate.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why?\u00a0 Because I think it is being used beyond its actual meaning.\u00a0 It seems to me that it is being used more in the sense of \u201crelativism\u201d than its actual meaning.\u00a0 Relativism says that you are free to believe whatever you want and that is okay.\u00a0 Relativism says there is no universal truth and anything goes (as long as you aren\u2019t hurting anyone).\u00a0 Tolerance calls us to \u201callow\u201d a behavior without condoning it.\u00a0 Before continuing, please allow me to say that my use of terms like we, they, us, and other pronouns is not meant to foster divisiveness or offer any judgment.\u00a0 Such use is only to distinguish between different opinions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, some people who call for universal \u201ctolerance\u201d accuse Catholics of hate speech when we say behaviors like same-sex relationships go against God\u2019s ways, misunderstand our intent.\u00a0 It is not our intent to promote hate in any way.\u00a0 In fact, we speak up for the morals that we believe in because we love, heeding Jesus\u2019 command to love our neighbor.\u00a0 We speak the Truth that comes from Jesus because if you love someone, you want them to know what the Truth is.\u00a0 You want to help them make good choices.\u00a0 We hate the sin but love the sinner.\u00a0 We do not wish to judge anyone.\u00a0 Jesus tells us, \u201cstop judging<\/em>\u201d (Matthew 7:1, Luke 6:37).\u00a0 For example, our goal (rooted in love) regarding sexual behavior is to help everyone live a chaste life.\u00a0 Chastity is a goal we support for all, regardless of sexual orientation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The thing that seems odd to me is that, in the spirit of tolerance, some of those who disagree with us want to silence us. If we were promoting hate, then it would be correct to stop that. However, properly understood (there lies the problem), we are not promoting hate. We need to ask God\u2019s grace to help us to know how to speak the truth in a way that promotes love, not hate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When speaking of tolerance, we recognize that people must be free to follow their conscience.\u00a0 The Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em> discusses both freedom of conscience and having a well-formed conscience in paragraphs 1776-1789<\/a>.\u00a0 God does indeed give us free will to make our own choices (see my article on \u201cConscience<\/a>“).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n To truly be free to make one\u2019s own choices, one must know what one\u2019s choices are.\u00a0 It is our intent to help everyone understand what the choices are and the effects of their choices.\u00a0 Why would anyone not want this?\u00a0 Could they be afraid that we are right?\u00a0 In Acts 5:17-40<\/a>, we hear of some disciples on trial.\u00a0 Here I offer what Gamaliel says in verses 38-39, \u201cSo now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go.\u00a0 For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.\u00a0 But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It is not our intent to force our beliefs on others. Are there things we would like to see made illegal? For example, do we want to make abortion illegal? Yes. However, it is not to force our beliefs on the person choosing the abortion. We want to stop abortion because we love the child that has been conceived in the mother\u2019s womb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For tolerance to really be \u201ctolerant\u201d, it must allow for us to be able to speak up for our beliefs.\u00a0 Additionally, in the spirit of tolerance, we should not be forced to go against our beliefs.\u00a0 Yet, government mandates and funding abortions and contraception use our tax dollars to support behaviors that go against our beliefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I want to be clear that what I am about to say is not<\/u><\/em><\/strong> a rallying cry for hate speech or protests.\u00a0 I simply want to encourage people of faith to speak up for what God has taught us.\u00a0 We have been silent too long.\u00a0 We have allowed society to dictate our beliefs, even how we practice our faith, when it should be our faith that dictates what goes on in society.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is not a new problem.\u00a0 Psalm 106<\/a> speaks of how the Israelite people fell away from following the Lord\u2019s ways because they \u201cmingled with the nations \u00a0and imitated their ways<\/em>\u201d (verse 35).\u00a0 I feel it is very important to acknowledge here that verse 34 speaks of how the Lord commanded the Israelites to destroy their enemies.\u00a0 I do not believe the Lord wants us to destroy other human beings in this way.\u00a0 I point to Luke 9:5, \u201cAnd as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet\u00a0in testimony against them<\/em>\u201d (cf. Matthew 10:14, Mark 6:11).\u00a0 We are to offer people the Truth of Jesus Christ.\u00a0 It is each individual\u2019s choice whether to accept it or not (see the Parable of the Sentinel in Ezekiel 3:17-21<\/a>).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n One should heed the words found in Revelation 3:15b-16<\/a>, \u201cI know your works; I know that you are neither cold nor hot.\u00a0 I wish you were either cold or hot.\u00a0 So, because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth<\/em>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n We ask the grace we need to be on fire (hot) with a faith, rather than just be lukewarm where we say we believe but we do not fully live it.\u00a0 We must not abandon our faith (cold), choosing society over our faith.\u00a0 Yet, just as much do we need grace to never practice hate speech.\u00a0 Rather, we ask the Holy Spirit to help us always speak with compassion and love.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n With that in mind, I end with the final two verses of the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11<\/a>) where Jesus is compassionate to the woman, \u201cThen Jesus straightened up and said to her, \u201cWoman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?\u201d\u00a0 She replied, \u201cNo one, sir.\u201d Then Jesus said, \u201cNeither do I condemn you<\/u><\/strong>. Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more<\/u><\/strong><\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are interested in reading on good dialogue, see my article, \u201cSeeking Real Dialogue.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Peace,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fr. Jeff<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTolerance\u201d has become a frequently used word.\u00a0 We do well to ask ourselves what does it mean to \u201ctolerate.\u201d\u00a0 Why?\u00a0 Because I think it is being used beyond its actual meaning.\u00a0 It seems to me that it is being used more in the sense of \u201crelativism\u201d than its actual meaning.\u00a0 Relativism says that you are …<\/p>\n
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