Lately I’ve really been struggling with what seems to be an over-fixation on the negative happenings of the Catholic Church in many Catholic blogs and magazine articles. At times I feel I cannot escape conversations with many well-intentioned and orthodox Catholics wherein criticism serves as the primary modus operandi. I myself am consistently guilty of sustaining a nit-picky and hypercritical view of the world at the expense of a more optimistic and charitable outlook. In a recent homily, Fr. Philip Powell, O.P. suggested that this cantankerousness at times becomes habitual to the point where even minute issues turn into even bigger ones; however, in reality--says Fr. Ph--they are more likely to be compared to the debate over the difference between a dime and two nickels.For me this translated into the realization that there is something addictive in highlighting “what’s wrong with the [Catholic] world.” It is surprisingly easy to find incongruity and rejoice in that discovery as the product of a true and right usage of reason. The “problem” with pessimism, however, is that it deceives us (me!) into thinking we’re actually being virtuous. Granted we are called to make moral judgments and obligated to voice concern over the potential and/or real peril of certain errors. But in my life this easily depreciates into cowardice. The incongruities of life demand an excellent degree of fortitude and charity to overcome them, and because I am lacking in both, I recoil to that which is easier: taking satisfaction in my own ability to note imperfection. Jesus says thus concerning the Pharisees, who were possessed by this very tendency: “They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger” (Matt 23:4).
As I contemplated writing this blog, I felt like I was completely mired in this whole spirit of criticism. Am I not being critical of the critical and thus contributing to the same oppressive pessimism? Maybe. My hope though is to diagnose with as much clarity as possible the source of this negativity in order to more authentically treat the symptoms. And because I am limited in my own views, I invite any and all comments or suggestions. But already I sense that St. Paul gives us a hint at the answer when he tells us, “we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph 6:12).
-CS
4 comments:
Agreed. It seems that criticism only works when one is sure that it will serve a definite purpose. That is, if one's intentions aren't finally directed toward a good end, then it's probably not worth taking that jab or copping that pout or uttering that imprecation.
p.s. why did you tape up Shrek?
hah! This guy does look like Shrek.
So the question remains in my mind: how is it that in an academic environment, when conversations tend toward the abstract, that the "good end" becomes substantiated?
And please...no sophist-icated responses.
hehe...why did I tape up Shrek. I'm still laughing.
Part of the answer is that it's enough to intend a substantial good end. That is, if you venture off into the abstract, you should have a concrete, meritorious reason for doing so. If your audience fails to see that, it may not be your fault. If you've offered an abstraction for the sake of a good concrete end, making it as clear as possible that you're doing so, but the other guy still just takes it as some kind of gassy intellectual exercise, then you're not responsible.
Arinze I think was quoted a few months ago in disaproval of public criticism of the Church. His argument, as I remember, was based on the understanding of Church as mother. Would we, he asked, speak of our mother to others as we speak of the Church?
This points out what is often missed, I think, when people engage in criticism of the Church. We are nurtured by the Church, by the milk of the sacraments, and we thereby owe in return our piety. We should never criticise the Church in the presence of those for whom such a criticism would be an impediment to joining or remaining in the Church, nor should we engage in criticism except when it lies in our power to effect some positive result in the Church through our criticism.
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