All of us remember the experiences of so many of our national soldiers who went through arduous, exhausting and seemingly interminable combats. How many of them saw numerous companions fall, and they themselves were uncertain of their own survival…but the desire to defeat the enemy, to save their country, and to fight on like heroes encouraged them to continue without desisting, and even to give their lives if necessary. How many nations have the glory of numbering among their sons men of this valor; men who are more concerned with fulfilling their duty than enjoying a life of betrayal and egoism.
But now, let’s imagine a hypothetical situation: a general, who in the midst of one of the worst conflicts that his country ever faced, has under his command a certain number of soldiers who start to drag their feet, and instead of promptly obeying orders, react with an attitude of relativism towards the commands received, start leaking information to the enemy and go so far as to persecute the few soldiers who remained faithful to their military ideal and discipline. Would there be any possibility that such an army could defeat the invaders, obtaining peace for their country?
Would there be some way that the general could rectify this situation? The remaining true soldiers would certainly hope so! And they would justly hope that for their efforts and courage, in face of the enemy and their slovenly and disparaging comrades in arms, they would receive military honors and that the others would be duly punished.
However, observing the pathetic state of his army, let’s suppose that the general summons his soldiers and delivers a speech to encourage …the dissenters! ‘No army drops down from heaven perfectly formed…we cannot harshly judge those who have tired of the fight. It is time to put the demands of military discipline and honesty in proper perspective…’ And in ending his dissertation, he rewards some of the soldiers…the most insubordinate ones.
Do we need to finish the story? Would the few good soldiers want to keep fighting?
Failure to encourage the good is the same as promoting vice. In any life circumstance, the human being has the innate necessity to aim toward elevated goals, but requires incentive and challenge. We don’t need to give examples; everyone has already experienced the daily situations where the expectation of a reward or the fear of scrutiny by a supervisor makes everyone give much more of themselves… If we need a little ‘push’ even in undertaking ordinary things, why would it not be so in the spiritual life?
“Seeing things in a proper perspective”… a relativistic expression that we would never have wished to encounter in an encyclical, much less so in one on marriage. If there is something in which absolutely no form of relativism should exist, it’s in conjugal union, which is the basis of society.
What intention does he who fails to demand – and even dispenses from – perfection, purity of intention and consistency in family life have? If these virtues are not required, he will be classifying the faulty, false and inconsistent fulfillment of matrimonial duties as something good….
What kind of instruction for spouses is this? It is absolutely discouraging for those who fight to remain faithful. And what kind of formation can parents give to the poor children who are born in such an atmosphere where heavenly blessings are not felt?
What does the Church say about the virtues essential for Christian marriage? Does it permit relativism? Read on..
I wonder if the tradition Islamic family is what Francis believes we Christians should follow. It seems to fit into his idea of family morals better then the traditional catholic family. Maybe that is what he means with his “Seeing things in a proper perspective”…
John Paul II talked so much about the family as the domestic church. Bergoglio is really trying to destroy the Church by loosening family morals. What would St. Therese’s parents say about this document? Why did he canonize them, are they not suppose to be a model for all of us? His comments are as discouraging as those of my atheistic colleges. After he accused all of us with large families of being rabbits…. I realized that he must hate God and his laws. Everything and everyone in this world pass away, but God’s laws are eternal, and what matters is our fidelity to the truth, not our adherence to impostors. This page should be spread around to all the catholic families of America, I do believe that it would be read with joy by most families, I do not miss reading any of your studies. God bless you all!
A student in my high school came crying to class saying that her father declared he was going to divorce her mother: “I have been putting up with your mother all these years because I was married in the church and I thought I had to stay with her forever, but now I see I am wrong, the Pope himself has made it clear that I can leave her”. That is the message people struggling to be faithful understand from Amoris Leatitia. I gave her this study to prove to her father that nothing in catholic doctrine has changed. He read it and is thinking… Thanks to you, and not to Francis, the family might pull through. Prayers!
The more I hear about Bergoglio’s stands and attitudes concerning Catholic Doctrine, the more I am convinced he is an anti-Christ. Does he forget that the gates of Hell will not prevail against the Chruch, why does he keep on trying to destroy her?! He talks about his love for children, yet, he is the one who is destroying their lives belittling family morals. Bergoglio, beware, the voices of the innocent are crying up to heaven!