BY FR. SHAY CULLEN
REDUCING the Gospel to rites and rituals without social commitment to action for justice is a contradiction of the Gospel message. The sacraments should be the source of spiritual strength to challenge corruption, abuse and injustice. In reality, without social action, they are in danger of becoming like magical rites and rituals without a prophetic voice speaking truth to power and standing for moral values.
This is clearly seen in the proliferation of crimes against children, human trafficking, online sexual abuse of children, sex bars, drug dens and the widespread pornographic child abuse materials. Government allows it by issuing licenses and operating permits to the bars and dens where minors are abused. Law enforcement is paralyzed, not knowing what to do or how to do it.
The Church ignores social evil, it seems, to the extent it has withdrawn from the real world of sin. Silence and permissiveness is another sin that is bordering on social acceptability of child abuse. It could be a serious failure of religion to uphold the dignity and rights of children and a failure by clergy and lay Christians to openly oppose these crimes and the evil that causes it. If the Catholic faith means anything, it is taking a stand as did Jesus of Nazareth against such evil and giving protection and justice to the child victims.
The relative silence and absence of Catholic social action today is glaring. Many years ago, youth leaders could rally thousands to protest injustice and protect child rights. If we believe with conviction that working for truth, justice and goodness will overcome evil, we will win.
The Kingdom will be a reality. That is what Jesus of Nazareth taught by words and action. Living out the beliefs that are the bed-rock of Christian Faith is the only true authentic Christianity. Without that action, Faith is dead, said Saint James. We are left with empty rites and rituals and millions of children abused.
Jesus of Nazareth himself has made it absolutely clear that the most important in the kingdom here on earth are children and unless adults are as innocent as children, they will not enter the Kingdom. In the Gospel of (Matthew 18 – 1-7) (LK :46-49) (Mark: 11:33-37) he said we must be as innocent as a child and to accept one such child was to accept him and the one who sent him.
For the abusers of children that destroy their faith in Him, he declared they must be brought to accountability and justice with a millstone around their necks in the deep sea.
Strong words indeed but mostly ignored by some church leaders that prefer to deny and cover up the widespread reality of child sexual abuse and especially the most shameful of all- clerical child abuse. This has to change as Pope Francis has tried to do. If enough people have the Faith, the conviction and the belief that goodness and truth in social action will move mountains of evil, then they will win. (preda.org)/PN
