What to do?

IT’S a question I don’t want to ask. It’s fraught with delicate and even dangerous implications. But I’m afraid it has to be asked and its answer or solution sought, no matter how agonizing.

What do we do with Catholics who occupy high public offices or are in positions of great influence, but who are espousing views openly in conflict with Catholic teaching on Christian faith and morals?

The process is clear for erring theologians, but how about those congressmen and congresswomen, and other high-profile political animals who are officially known as Catholics and yet are in effect preaching immoralities clearly condemned by the Church?

In one instance, a friend met in church (not in Cebu) one of these officials who came in looking and acting like Cleopatra, complete with the elaborate eye make-up and an annoying puffed-up presence. He had to force his best appearance, though inside he felt sick.

I read one of her interviews explaining her position in a specific issue with a prominent moral question involved, and frankly, I thought it was obscene and that she had more sense than what she articulated.

But basic decency dictated I had to give her the benefit of the doubt. I might be missing factors that must have come to play. Could it be money or popularity that was clouding her reasoning, I could not help but suspect, and promptly rectified myself and dismissed the thought.

Still I was deeply disturbed that she could cause great damage especially to the young and vulnerable ones with her charming but deviously deceptive rhetoric, a clever honeyed poison!

Remember our Lord saying: “Whosoever shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” (Mk 9,42)

In the US and in other places, there’s an emerging trend to give public corrections to these clearly erring officials and prominent personalities who are publicly known as Catholics. I wonder if something like that could be done here.

I know it’s a decision difficult to make on the part of the corresponding Church authorities. A lot of weighing and balancing has to be done, a flurry of consultations to be made, especially with experts in Canon Law and in pastoral care.

But I believe the effort has to be done, simply because it is necessary. Despite its price, giving corrections has gospel basis and long Church tradition.

Together with his teaching about boundless mercy and compassion, our Lord himself said: “If your brother shall offend you, go and rebuke him between you and him alone. If he shall hear you, you shall gain your brother.

“And if he will not hear you, take with you one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand. And if he will not hear them, tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to you as the heathen and publican.” (Mt 18,15-17)

And then you have the fact, a common-sensical thing, that the Church as a society and a human institution also has rights that need to be respected and protected, for it at least to live and function decently.

Let’s remember that the authority, rights and teachings of the Church come directly from Christ. They are not man-generated. They have to be defended with utmost care, combining truth and charity together, forcefulness and understanding, as Christ himself showed. Even if the price is one’s life!

Any offense against these rights has to be duly handled. Please, let’s bury the crazy idea that due to the separation of Church and state, the Church should not meddle in any state affairs, much less censure officials who are Catholics and who are clearly scandalizing others.

Of course, some critics may twit that the Church herself is mired with all sorts of human mistakes and other despicable acts. But these do not take away the right of the Church authorities to make public corrections, just as the government, despite its deep mess, does not lost its right to rule.

As I said, this matter has to be studied thoroughly. But definitely a certain discipline has to be followed by all the Church faithful. I invite all of us to pray for our Church authorities who have to tackle this matter sooner or later.

It’s a concern they cannot ignore for long without harming the Church and their own accountability before God and men.