Scottish Catholic Observer

When does resentment boil over into a fight? Right now, it would seem. As Christians who face a constant onslaught on our beliefs, we are finding that simply to react to initiatives brought about by those who seek to de-Christianise this country is not enough. Immediate responses to the threats to Christian values do nothing to stop them. Now, it seems, we must act rather than simply react.  There is readiness for this among the faithful, among Christians.

A barometer of the degree of readiness was shown by the response to Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s Easter message.  His call to wear the Cross as a symbol of our beliefs resulted in a huge surge of support. His message was a clarion call. The response of the faithful came loud and clear. Enough is enough. This constant erosion of Christianity will continue unless battle lines are drawn up. To prepare for that, we need strong leadership at every level. Our hierarchy give a strong lead. They are frequently criticised for the strength of their language in stating their case. They have no choice but to express their objections in uncompromising terms. There can be not the slightest hint of appeasement in this. Consider recent events…

In recent weeks, the Catholic Education Service in England and Wales asked their 385 secondary schools to circulate the recent letter read in parishes, which defended the traditional definition of marriage. The petition accompanying the letter had already been signed by nearly half a million people. There was an immediate attack on the CES by the Humanist Association and the National Secular Society, who alleged ‘political indoctrination,’ warned that schools reading out the letter could be breaking equality laws and rules against promoting political causes in schools. It is interesting to note that the Humanist Association numbers some 28,000 in England and Wales and the National Secular Society has considerably fewer members. Rules against promoting political causes in schools? Does that mean that politicians will stop using schools for photo opportunities and suchlike?

There is, of course, a much more serious business underlying this. It is a measure of the determination of a minority who seek to promote homosexual ‘marriage.’ Those whose particular orientation leads them to lobby for homosexual ‘marriage’ make up around three per cent of the population but they make their case aggressively, use the media and the cult of celebrity constantly and with some success. They have political connections and this country is in the grip of a seriously flawed political system, the consequences of which are compounded by the constant intervention of a strongly secular EU. The shockwaves of such circumstances are being felt by the Anglican Church. Recently, a coalition of Anglican leaders from Africa, the Americas and Australasia met in London. They called for a change in the structure of the Anglican Church, stating that the Church in England had failed to provide adequate leadership, alleged ‘revisionist attempts’ to basic doctrines, and stated that the worldwide Anglican Church was ‘in crisis’ as a result of this.  The perilous state of affairs in the UK is clearly attracting attention abroad…

We too, as Catholics, can hear rumblings of dissent nearer home. A group of Irish priests is questioning priestly celibacy, asking about the ordination of women, and have gone as far as to challenge Papal authority. Surely they should be looking in on their own priesthood at a time like this, and asking themselves if that priesthood is equal to meeting the challenges to be faced. Never has there been a time when priests are called upon with such urgency to be leaders, to be possessed of missionary zeal to evangelise, to recognise Papal authority… to connect with the faithful who look to them for leadership.

For if we are to counter the present onslaught on our Christian beliefs and principles, our ‘battle lines’ must be drawn first of all at parish level. Our priests are of paramount importance as leaders, as role models for the young, as links with our hierarchy. For a man to subsume his whole life into his priesthood is, to use modern idiom ‘a big ask.’ We thank God for those who do it so well and so unselfishly. A job has terms and conditions. A vocation has no such limits.

Today, it calls for something akin to missionary zeal, for sureness in

leading people. Young seminarians presently studying for the priesthood face these challenges.  They are destined to be missionaries, in a manner of speaking, in the developed world. Will their training change in any way to help them meet the demands of the 21st century?

These challenges come, of course, at a time when there is a shortage of priests. There is, in a way a parallel here with Penal times. Then, at the very start, the number of priests in Scotland could be measured in single figures. Their training was arduous but it turned out men who were both single-minded and self-sufficient. They faced danger, worked tirelessly and, in the end, they triumphed. Adversity seemed to spur them on.

Today, priests and people face a different kind of adversity. It is insidious and carries with it what has been called ‘the inevitability of gradualness.’ We need strong leaders to inspire us, to encourage the young, in particular, to become involved. For instance, as attention is focused on this proposal for homosexual ‘marriage,’ there are other figures coming to light that should cause concern. Scotland is the only part of the UK and indeed one of only six countries in the world where Humanist weddings are legal. Here, in Scotland, the Humanist Society has 7000 members. In the last five years, demand for Humanist weddings has increased to the point where more Humanist celebrants are being called for.

In the same period of time, secular weddings have overtaken religious ceremonies by almost 10 per cent. And at a time when weddings are growing more and more elaborate and expensive, there is a growing tendency for some young Catholics to bypass a Nuptial Mass for ‘the short service,’ simply as a matter of convenience.

While the personal nature of Humanist weddings might be thought increasingly popular because it reflects a self-absorbed society, it is another reminder of the erosion of Christianity.

The repose to the cardinal’s Easter message came loud and clear. Now, we must build on that…