MORAL RELATIVISM & CONTEMPORARY CONSECRATED LIFE

MORAL RELATIVISM & MORAL RELATIVISM & CONTEMPORARY CONTEMPORARY

CONSECRATED LIFECONSECRATED LIFE

The Da Vinci CodeThe Da Vinci Code

Dan Brown Dan Brown based himselfbased himself on a non-canonical on a non-canonical “Gnostic gospel” “Gnostic gospel” andand on a fiction [ on a fiction [The Holy The Holy Blood and the Holy GrailBlood and the Holy Grail]]

This story of Jesus was according to This story of Jesus was according to Brown’s Brown’s sheer imaginationsheer imagination….and so, is very far from the ….and so, is very far from the recognized four canonical gospels!recognized four canonical gospels!

Such fictitious efforts make Such fictitious efforts make the objective truth the objective truth about Jesus get distortedabout Jesus get distorted in the long run in the long run

Relativism Relativism

Often, in today’s world the objective truth about things have been Often, in today’s world the objective truth about things have been diluted or even completely diluted or even completely distorted by the subjective opinions of distorted by the subjective opinions of individuals and groupsindividuals and groups

This, in fact, is This, in fact, is a direct result of personal experiences acquiring the a direct result of personal experiences acquiring the status of a ‘source of knowledge’status of a ‘source of knowledge’

Of course, personal experience has its own place in the acquiring of Of course, personal experience has its own place in the acquiring of knowledge, but it surely knowledge, but it surely does not give the entire picture of things, does not give the entire picture of things, the whole truththe whole truth

Unfortunately, today, all such individual-personal relationships are Unfortunately, today, all such individual-personal relationships are granted granted an equal status of truthan equal status of truth. “Your opinion is true, and so, also . “Your opinion is true, and so, also is my opinion”!is my opinion”!


When each and every opinion is granted equal status, When each and every opinion is granted equal status, then, then, relativism simply followsrelativism simply follows!!

Relativism is when all points of view are accorded Relativism is when all points of view are accorded equal equal status and valuestatus and value. .

It is when a point of view It is when a point of view lacks a common reference lacks a common reference pointpoint. It is . It is exclusive subjectivismexclusive subjectivism. It excludes any link . It excludes any link with other viewswith other views

Giuseppe di RosaGiuseppe di Rosa: The individual becomes the measure, : The individual becomes the measure, the standard of everythingthe standard of everything


When each and every exclusive individual point When each and every exclusive individual point of view [that is cut off from a common reference of view [that is cut off from a common reference to reality] is assigned an equal value, then, each to reality] is assigned an equal value, then, each and every such individual point of view and every such individual point of view automatically acquiresautomatically acquires a relative, “true” a relative, “true” representation of reality.representation of reality.

Thus, Thus, all points of view become “relatively true”!all points of view become “relatively true”!

Every opinion acquires Every opinion acquires the status of “truth”!the status of “truth”!

Moral RelativismMoral Relativism

Every community/society has Every community/society has its own accumulated its own accumulated ‘wisdom’‘wisdom’ [eg., fire will burn; better to store food for the [eg., fire will burn; better to store food for the off-season,…etc.]off-season,…etc.]

Every community/society has Every community/society has also its own accumulated also its own accumulated ‘moral wisdom’,‘moral wisdom’, i.e., of what is right and what is wrong i.e., of what is right and what is wrong [eg.,respecting elders is praiseworthy; killing is wrong,[eg.,respecting elders is praiseworthy; killing is wrong,….etc]….etc]

But if and when But if and when the individual person/group becomes the the individual person/group becomes the unique arbiter/judgeunique arbiter/judge of what is right and what is wrong of what is right and what is wrong [without any reference to the accumulated moral wisdom [without any reference to the accumulated moral wisdom of the community/society], then, we have of the community/society], then, we have moral moral relativism.relativism.


We as human persons, We as human persons, do not live in isolated ‘monads’!do not live in isolated ‘monads’! We live We live inin society society withwith other persons. Thus, morality or other persons. Thus, morality or moral truths cannot be reached except in and through moral truths cannot be reached except in and through others and with others.others and with others.

The individual person is The individual person is not the creatornot the creator of what is right of what is right and what is wrong, or of moral truth.and what is wrong, or of moral truth.

What is right and what is wrong What is right and what is wrong exist independent of exist independent of human subjectshuman subjects, and so, we need those ‘others’ in , and so, we need those ‘others’ in reaching those moral truths. For simply as individuals cut reaching those moral truths. For simply as individuals cut off from others, we just cannot reach them at all!off from others, we just cannot reach them at all!


Moral and immoral actsMoral and immoral acts: three criteria for judging : three criteria for judging [the act-in-itself, the circumstances and the [the act-in-itself, the circumstances and the intention]. intention]. All three criteria are essentialAll three criteria are essential in order in order not to fall into moral extremisms [Thomas Aquinas]not to fall into moral extremisms [Thomas Aquinas]

Those who judge the morality using only the act-Those who judge the morality using only the act-in-itself, in-itself, fall into the error of objective absolutismfall into the error of objective absolutism!!

Those who judge the morality using only the Those who judge the morality using only the intention, intention, fall into the error of subjective relativismfall into the error of subjective relativism!!

Moral Relativism & CLMoral Relativism & CL

Along with materialism and hedonism, Along with materialism and hedonism, another serious ‘ism’ which the CL has another serious ‘ism’ which the CL has been attacked with today is surely moral been attacked with today is surely moral relativism. relativism. In fact, the latter can be held In fact, the latter can be held responsible for the former two, alsoresponsible for the former two, also!!

In what follows, I will In what follows, I will try to highlight just try to highlight just eight concrete areas of CLeight concrete areas of CL where moral where moral relativism has had negative effectsrelativism has had negative effects

1.The Meaning of a life-long 1.The Meaning of a life-long CommitmentCommitment

““Is it humanly possible to make life-long Is it humanly possible to make life-long commitments?”commitments?”

““How can we make a commitment for life when How can we make a commitment for life when we do not know what is to come tomorrow?”we do not know what is to come tomorrow?”

They forget our human history They forget our human history andand also the life also the life of Jesus Christ who never wavered in his of Jesus Christ who never wavered in his commitment in spite of the ever-changing commitment in spite of the ever-changing circumstances!circumstances!

2. Individual over/above the 2. Individual over/above the CommunityCommunity

For a relativist community and others are of least For a relativist community and others are of least importance, because importance, because only what he/she holds only what he/she holds and does, matters.and does, matters.

In this way of thinking, the individual person is In this way of thinking, the individual person is said to have said to have individual rights over and above the individual rights over and above the community and community obligationscommunity and community obligations..

The main error here is to forget that The main error here is to forget that whether in whether in CL or anywhereCL or anywhere, we, human beings, live with , we, human beings, live with others, others, in society/communityin society/community


Some even go to the extent of invoking the sacred Some even go to the extent of invoking the sacred Catholic principle of ‘conscience’, Catholic principle of ‘conscience’, to justify their to justify their relativistic positions!relativistic positions!

But the cherished Catholic teaching on conscience has But the cherished Catholic teaching on conscience has always upheld the right of every human person to always upheld the right of every human person to uphold, follow and live according to his/her conscience uphold, follow and live according to his/her conscience that is properly formedthat is properly formed [GS 16; DH 2,3,14; VS [GS 16; DH 2,3,14; VS 54,58,59,64].54,58,59,64].

It is surely It is surely not an individualistic, isolated consciencenot an individualistic, isolated conscience that that the Church upholds as sacred [the Latin etymology: the Church upholds as sacred [the Latin etymology: ‘con’ ‘con’ + ‘scientia’,+ ‘scientia’, together would mean: together would mean: “to know with”“to know with”]]


Pope Benedict XVI at RegensburgPope Benedict XVI at Regensburg

Some religious Some religious even daring to talk of individual, even daring to talk of individual, personal rightspersonal rights! [! [Timothy RadcliffeTimothy Radcliffe: “on the day : “on the day of his/her profession, a religious relativizes of his/her profession, a religious relativizes his/her individual rights in order to absolutize the his/her individual rights in order to absolutize the institute’s common projects”]institute’s common projects”]

Legitimate authority of a superior, too, is Legitimate authority of a superior, too, is often often diluteddiluted, as a result of relativism! [VC 43], as a result of relativism! [VC 43]

3. Commitment VS Job3. Commitment VS Job

Since a life-long commitment is Since a life-long commitment is perceived as perceived as impossibleimpossible, any task is , any task is seen as a jobseen as a job [“lack of [“lack of job satisfaction” for some religious!]job satisfaction” for some religious!]

Tasks of Religious Life are Tasks of Religious Life are often paralleled with often paralleled with secular jobssecular jobs [talk of ‘retirement’ even before a [talk of ‘retirement’ even before a person gets old or incapable!]person gets old or incapable!]

Sandra SchneidersSandra Schneiders: tasks of CL are seen as : tasks of CL are seen as “just one aspect of life”“just one aspect of life” – CL itself becomes – CL itself becomes just just relative to their other commitments, which at relative to their other commitments, which at times may have priority!times may have priority!

4. Being VS Doing4. Being VS Doing

A necessary logical consequenceA necessary logical consequence of regarding of regarding CL as a mere job, is CL as a mere job, is the prevalent craze to be the prevalent craze to be ‘work-oholics’,‘work-oholics’, to be “achievers”, to be “doers” of to be “achievers”, to be “doers” of things!things!

Doing becomes more important than beingDoing becomes more important than being

Activity has become so important that Activity has become so important that being or being or spiritualityspirituality for doing those acts become for doing those acts become irrelevant [irrelevant [T.S. ElliotT.S. Elliot: to do the right thing for the : to do the right thing for the wrong reasons!]wrong reasons!]

5. The Meaning of Religious Vows5. The Meaning of Religious Vows

The 3 vows of CL are The 3 vows of CL are ‘counter-signs’‘counter-signs’ to the to the prevailing secular trends.prevailing secular trends.

They imply They imply a swimming against the secular a swimming against the secular currentscurrents of Hedonism, Materialism and a of Hedonism, Materialism and a Distortion of the concept of Freedom [VC 87]. Distortion of the concept of Freedom [VC 87]. The vows The vows relativize these currents and relativize these currents and absolutize God and his Kingdomabsolutize God and his Kingdom..

But, today, Relativism, But, today, Relativism, has reversed this orderhas reversed this order in in most of our CL!most of our CL!

6. The Interpretation of 6. The Interpretation of CharismsCharisms

Relativism goes by Relativism goes by each and every individual each and every individual whims and fancieswhims and fancies!!

In its legitimate evolution, CL has gone through In its legitimate evolution, CL has gone through many changes, but there are also many changes, but there are also certain certain essential elementsessential elements like the basic like the basic charismcharism and and other essential traditions which are peculiar to a other essential traditions which are peculiar to a congregation/order [VC 3, 37]congregation/order [VC 3, 37]

The recent The recent lament of a Superior Generallament of a Superior General of a of a well-known male clerical Congregationwell-known male clerical Congregation

7. Erroneous Comparisons of CL 7. Erroneous Comparisons of CL with Marriagewith Marriage

CL has CL has a special placea special place in the Church and the in the Church and the world.world.

Both Marriage and CLBoth Marriage and CL have have their own unique their own unique dignitydignity, and so, they cannot be compared and , and so, they cannot be compared and contrasted, whenever it suits us!contrasted, whenever it suits us!

““CL is not natural”, “CL is an abnormal life”,CL is not natural”, “CL is an abnormal life”,….etc.!!!….etc.!!!

8. Aberrations in Formation8. Aberrations in Formation

Haphazard programs of formationHaphazard programs of formation, influenced , influenced not by a spirit of CL, but purely by not by a spirit of CL, but purely by individual individual whims & fancies of formatorswhims & fancies of formators, based mostly on , based mostly on modern psychology, sociology,…etc.modern psychology, sociology,…etc.

Some formators Some formators subjectively interpreting the subjectively interpreting the charismcharism of a congregation of a congregation, and passing it on to , and passing it on to future generations!future generations!

The The importance of the importance of the ratioratio of formation of formation for for every congregation: every congregation: an anti-dotean anti-dote to relativistic to relativistic tendencies of some formators [VC 68]tendencies of some formators [VC 68]

Conclusion Conclusion

Today, moral relativism is a given, and it has come to Today, moral relativism is a given, and it has come to stay!stay!

The Church’s remedy to this is to emphasize the need to The Church’s remedy to this is to emphasize the need to put our individual subjective moral judgments put our individual subjective moral judgments into an on-into an on-going dialoguegoing dialogue with the objective moral norms/practices with the objective moral norms/practices [a common reference point] of the Church and the [a common reference point] of the Church and the Congregation.Congregation.

The Church invites us in CL to follow The Church invites us in CL to follow a a via mediavia media between the two dangerous extremesbetween the two dangerous extremes of subjective of subjective Relativism and Objective absolutism in CL. In fact, CL Relativism and Objective absolutism in CL. In fact, CL has has a duty to lead the waya duty to lead the way in this respect for the other in this respect for the other followers of Christ.followers of Christ.

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MORAL RELATIVISM & CONTEMPORARY CONSECRATED LIFE