Synod Question #3: How to be Catholic in a Post Christian, Apostolic Oregon

 I'm starting out by reformulating the question in a way that indicates I've been listening to my Archbishop:

Synod Question #3:  How to be Catholic in a Post Christian, Apostolic Oregon

We need to recognize that we live in a post-Catholic- even post-Christian- world.  We can't assume even our children are absorbing Catholic Morality, let alone anybody else; in fact the indications in the world around us, from the lack of forgiveness central to "woke" theologies like CRT, to our involvement in wars around the world, to our abuse of wealth to bully smaller cultures, to the grand hidden genocide of abortion and euthanasia; the economy of Oregon is built upon a culture of death that is completely opposed to the Gospel and all it stands for.

That's our starting point.  Our starting point is we live in an entirely hedonistic culture that is aware of Christ but no longer cares- or worse yet, sees our traditions as a threat to be eliminated.  We're almost back to Know Nothings in both the Democrat and Republican Parties, as they fight out how best to exploit the poor and vulnerable.

So what do we do in such a situation?  Well, as a Knight of Columbus, my focus is on Charity, Unity, and Fraternity.  Charity to the outside- we are the religion of the 490th chance, and we need to act like it.  Yes, we need to in many cases teach morality before we can teach repentance, and we need people to repent if forgiveness is to be effective- BUT we are asked by Our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive 70 times 7 times, and as long as anybody is willing to admit that their sins are sins, regardless of whether they have been able to break free of the habit of sin or not, we need to meet them with mercy and understanding.

Likewise, it does no good to forgive sin, without providing for the material health and welfare of those who we are given to serve.  To that end, St. Clare's has done well with our SVDP food bank.  

The corporal works of mercy and the spiritual works of mercy- these should be our watchword.  The more we are generous and serve others, the more others in this age of selfishness and hedonism will ask "Who are these people who care for the poor?  Who are these people who want to let the unwanted live instead of killing them?  Who are these people who judge actions instead of skin color?"

Finally, I hope soon to return to our breakfasts, dinners, and picnics at church.  I hope soon to return to a life where we don't discriminate against people because of vaccination, skin color, or masks worn.  Where one's worth depends on what one DOES instead of whose child one IS- even for those of us truly privileged to be children of God.