COURAGE IN THE FACE OF CAPITULATION

On May 19, 2020, a former Catholic university president, David Mulroney, explained why Catholic universities are abandoning their traditional pro-life position:

·       “When it comes to defending the sanctity of human life, many Catholic colleges would rather ‘betray their Catholic values’ than appear out of step with the secular majority.” https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/why-many-catholic-universities-betray-when-it-comes-to-abortion-former-catholic-university-president?utm_source=LifeSiteNews.com&utm_campaign=965ed26cb1-ProLife_5_21_2020&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_12387f0e3e-965ed26cb1-404307557

This kind of betrayal is a virus marching its way through many formerly faithful Christian institutions. In its wake, it has turned many into faithful cynics, repulsed by what is manifestly a lack of courage. However, there is a great danger that their repulsion will push them to another extreme.

I’m not saying that we shouldn’t retain our cynicism. A proper measure of cynicism is a healthy reminder of the threats, which can also turn against upon us. Rather, cynicism must be balanced by self-cynicism, an awareness of our own failures and weaknesses. We call this “humility.”

To some degree, humility should lead to self-despair, but self-despair should lead us to focus upon our ultimate hope. This is something that only comes with pain:

·       For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us. (2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (NKJV)

Potentially, self-despair – the awareness that we too can succumb to the same fears – can lead us to a deeper trust in our Lord. Later, Paul wrote:

·       Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. (Philippians 1:27-29)

Our Christ-based courage serves as a powerful testimony of eternal realities.