President Obama gave the commencement address at Notre Dame today, this causing great angst among the throng of people whose sole knowledge of said educational institution is that Catholics play football there.
Which is more than they know about Catholicism.
It’s amusing to see a group of people who individually and collectively don’t give Catholicism or Catholics the time of day suddenly rise in outrage and handwringing angst over a Catholic university inviting someone to speak there whose fervent pro-abortion stance is anathema to the Church’s teaching on life beginning at conception. How could they? How dare they? Heretics! Blasphemers! Apostates! Excommunicate them now! Bring back the Spanish Inquisition! Someone find us a stake to which we can tie these people!
In short, they’re behaving like the haters usually accuse Catholics of behaving.
One of the elements of Catholicism seldom understood is how the church is simultaneously rigid in its adherence to moral and doctrinal absolutes yet quite tolerant and patient with those who deviate from its teachings. To a point, that is. The church is not blind to the excesses of some of its members in whatever direction they happen to be headed. It can and will pull in the reins. However, it’s also quite willing to let those reins hang loose far longer than people are willing to give it credit.
A large part of this tolerance stems from the church knowing it’s right, case closed, end of discussion. Regardless of what one believes in terms of whether the Catholic church is what it says it is, namely the one true Church founded by Christ Himself when He said to Simon the fisherman, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven,” it is right to feel this way. Jesus Himself said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Don’t like it, go argue with Him. We’re just saying what He said.
Because of this confidence in the absolute correct nature of its foundation, the church is far more willing to engage those who disagree with it than those who live their lives seemingly forever running in fear from that which they believe will harm their faith. You say the abortion debate should be approached with an open mind, Mr. President? We chuckle. Our minds are closed on the matter, for Christ Himself has closed them. There will be no debate on the sanctity of life, for there is no debate. Yet we extend the open hand as we offer a better way, one that teaches love for life. Don’t see it that way? The hand remains extended, the offer intact.
The church disciplines its own. It is far from a perfect entity; the inexcusable actions of a few pedophiliac priests are a source of grief and anger to all members who truly believe as opposed to having nothing but a denominational affiliation. Yet as a whole it lives and walks in Christ’s light, a light so strong it says without fear of corruption to those standing in a corner of the shadows come stand with us. When you know you’re right, you act like it. When you know you’re right, you know no fear for you know there is no one and nothing to fear.
So to my Protestant brethren breathing fire over the matter, I say it’s all right. We are one in Christ. There is no harm done to our faith or the Gospel by having the President speak at Notre Dame. Thanks for the outrage; we appreciate the concern. However, we’ve already ordered from a menu negating the need for outrage. It is the one spoken of by Isaiah:
“Come now, let us reason together,”
says the LORD.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.”
Read the whole chapter as it speaks of judgment for sin tempered with mercy for those who seek Him.
Trumps a commencement speech anytime.
