In Your Face

In what way or ways do you see the Church confronting the values of society in the world today?

The Catholic media encourages discussion and debate and helps to raise awareness about topical social issues, and provides a platform for communicating the Church’s social teachings in these regards.

The local bishops’ conference has been more vocal in recent times, issuing statements and directives so that Catholics will know that it’s okay to stand up for what is right rather than remain silent in the face of injustices: xenophobia, the situation in Zimbabwe, human trafficking, the NPA’s decision not to prosecute Jacob Zuma, the denial of a visa to the Dalai Lama, political leaders seeking church endorsement ahead of the elections, and general guidance in the proper principles of democracy.

There are also church organisations that make an effort to demonstrate Christian values, like the Mater Dei homes who aim to give practical and material help to unwed mothers who go ahead with their pregnancy – rather than merely bulking up the number of Catholics who are only willing to spend a Saturday morning demonstrating outside an abortion clinic pronouncing judgement on people who so desperately need to hear a word of hope about God’s plan for them and their children.

While in some instances I think the Church is doing a good job of confronting the norms and values of today’s world, there are also many instances where I think we the Church have our work cut out for us in examining ourselves and removing the logs from our own eyes before we tell people about the specks in their ‘worldly’ eyes.