A Tale of Two Churches – Francis Cardinal George

In his recent column, “A Tale of Two Churches,” Francis Cardinal George pithily recounts the history of how the Catholic Church flourished in this country, in part due to the promise that the government would not be confessional in nature, a promise to which it has remained true “Until recent years.”

Now “[t]he ‘ruling class,’ those who shape public opinion in politics, in education, in communications, in entertainment, is using the civil law to impose its own form of morality on everyone” to the point where today “we are warned” that “those who do not conform to the official religion . . . place their citizenship in danger.”  This kind of pressure (from, no less, those “who regard themselves as ‘progressive’ and ‘enlightened’”) inevitably results “in a crisis of belief for many Catholics.”  As George notes: “It already means in some States that those who run businesses must conform their activities to the official religion or be fined, as Christians and Jews are fined for their religion in countries governed by Sharia law.”

Some may dismiss this as hyperbole and fear mongering from an aging ecclesiastic.  Others will see the new order of the day as the movement of the Holy Spirit, as the state helping to effect the will of God, updating the Church on matters of marriage, sexual morality and abortion.

But a clear-eyed view of history and fidelity to the apostolic faith says otherwise.  The Church does change, she develops over time and in different cultures.  But authentic development is never the product of coercion.  Indeed, it is in resisting the powers of this world in true freedom that the Church comes to more deeply understand the faith given to her.  Genuine discipleship means being willing to swim against the tide.  What will this look like in the near future?

It means that those who choose to live by the Catholic faith will not be welcomed as political candidates to national office, will not sit on editorial boards of major newspapers, will not be at home on most university faculties, will not have successful careers as actors and entertainers. Nor will their children, who will also be suspect. Since all public institutions, no matter who owns or operates them, will be agents of the government and conform their activities to the demands of the official religion, the practice of medicine and law will become more difficult for faithful Catholics.

Read the whole thing.