Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki
Archbishop of Milwaukee
 

For 26 years, we were privileged to have the direction and insights of Pope John Paul II, now St. John Paul II. His writings gave us a solid theological direction based on the doctrine of the Church, and his pastoral commitment made him the most travelled pope of the century. He knew the world in which we lived, and had a clear moral perspective that supported all those witnessing to the Church’s teachings. However, an area which perhaps is overlooked by many was the prophetic voice he offered to Catholics throughout the world.

Prophecy is often thought of as a type of future “telling” predictions. But in reality, it is a truth telling. It’s seeing things as they are. When one clearly sees the impact of various perspectives, it’s not a great leap to be able to determine the consequences that emerge from the wrongful direction that individuals embrace.

For instance, it’s easy for me to see that the majority of the problems we face are due to the elimination of the spiritual in today’s world. This robs the world of a total picture of human beings. It denies our responsibility to a higher authority and an ultimate accountability beyond this world; there is an objective right and wrong.

In one of his most insightful presentations of his pontificate, St. John Paul II warns of the culture of death over the culture of life. Borrowing from Vatican II’s Lumen Gentium (36:3) the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: (909) “…let the laity so remedy the institutions and conditions of the world when the latter are an inducement to sin, that these may be conformed to the norms of Justice, favoring rather than hindering the practice of virtue. By so doing they will impregnate culture and human works with a moral value.”

As we sink deep into the ideologies that try to redefine objective reality, we must never fall into the trap of accepting the insights they present as truth. Those wishing to redefine the culture do so with language. When the antiabortion groups became “pro-life,” the opposite would be “pro-death.” Not being able to tolerate that moniker, they invented the term “pro-choice,” but when did it become a choice to directly kill an innocent life? It seems that choice is limited by political persuasion, since choice does not extend to educational choices.

In the area of euthanasia, the fashioning of language expresses the killing of the elderly or physically challenged as “mercy killing.” When did it become merciful to extinguish a life which is a gift granted to us by God? We are determining that some lives have less value than others, and therefore can be extinguished. Certainly, if you don’t believe in God, you are taking away the only possession a person has to understanding his unique dignity. That is, if you also believe in equality.

Although I only mentioned two aspects of the attack on the culture of life (abortion and euthanasia), Christianity offers a whole perspective rooted in a Christian anthropology that is denied by those who wish to alter the perspective that affirms our human dignity.

It is up to us to inform that culture and to challenge the attacks that may come from our communities, schools and even sometimes from our families. We do so by supporting candidates who share a vision that respects life – from conception to natural death.

It seems like a monumental task. Relying on the words of Scripture for man, it is impossible. But for God, all things are possible. This is our time to step forward and battle those who would deny the dignity afforded to all life. The early Christians proudly entered the amphitheater knowing that their death was a testimony to the dignity of their life in Christ. Today, the love of Christ compels us to stand for life out of love for our brothers and sisters, for Jesus tells us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.     
 

Note: This blog originally appeared as the March 7, 2023 "Love One Another" email sent to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee by Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki. If you are interested in signing up for these email messages, please click here.