BOTH of them may share a lot of similarities. They can share some common ground. But they too have a lot of differences, and sharp and radical differences at that!
We have to be keenly aware of these similarities and differences as much as possible so that we can be properly guided in our life. We cannot deny that nowadays many people just go by what they see around — the fads and trends — without checking on the basis and orientations of these fads and trends.
The similarities between political correctness, and for that matter, any idea or sense of correctness, on the one hand, and moral correctness on the other, stem from the fact that the basic truths about man cannot be denied.
Everyone wants to know the truth and to pursue what is good and beautiful. That common, universal desire can put political correctness and moral correctness on the same footing. It’s when knowing what is true and what is genuinely good and beautiful when differences start to appear. And the differences can be sharp and radical.
The main source of their sharp differences is none other than that political correctness is based only on some political consensus that perhaps at the start and for a while can coincide with moral correctness, but it can stray from it to the point of contradicting God’s laws. Sad to say, we are seeing this trend in many places.
The idea of political correctness often regards God’s laws as not the primary consideration to make. What is considered of primary importance is what people want. And when they gather enough consensus, it can happen that God’s laws end up marginalized, then ignored, and then contradicted and rejected. Thus, some countries have now legalized abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, etc.
In many countries nowadays, to refer to God’s laws in the discussion of social and political issues, for example, is considered a violation of political correctness. Nowadays in many places, to practice charity and mercy in politics is often deemed anathema.
In the understanding of many people about political correctness, one can be brutal and even violent in defending his position and views. They believe that is the only way truth and justice can be ferreted out from the many options placed on the table.
Part of the mistaken assumption behind this attitude is the belief that there is supposed to be separation between Church and state, and therefore anything that has reference to the Church, to God, to religion and faith, should not be made part of any political and social discussion.
Moral correctness, on the other hand, is based on God’s laws that are interpreted by the Church and by the individual consciences of persons. It covers the entire scope of our moral life. It is, of course, a very dynamic thing, for it requires nothing less than a vital identification with Christ that can and should take place in all aspects and levels of our life.
It involves a lot of things or requirements — study of the faith, development of one spiritual life, recourse to the spiritual and supernatural means made available by Christ in the Church, development of virtues, especially prudence and justice, etc.
Moral correctness is not rigidity or blind adherence to unbending principles. There definitely is something absolute, essential, immutable and universal in it, but because its fundamental principle is charity, justice and mercy, it would also know how to adapt itself to changing circumstances. It would know how to flow with the times, updating itself constantly as new developments emerge.
We have to strive our best to aim at moral correctness, and not just political, or social, cultural correctness. Better said, our political, social, cultural correctness, etc. should be inspired by moral correctness.
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Fr. Roy Cimagala is the Chaplain of the Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise, Talamban, Cebu City (roycimagala@gmail.com)/PN
