Showing posts with label rules. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rules. Show all posts

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Gratitude, Authority, and Duty

I wrote about gratitude, emotions, and reason last Sunday; also imaginary turkeys:
Like I said then: "gratitude" can be something I feel, an emotion; or it can be a reasoned decision. There's nothing wrong with emotions, by themselves, and that's another topic. (December 18, 2011)

Another Angle on Gratitude, and Authority

By the time I finished writing last Sunday's 'being Catholic' post, I'd gone off on a tangent - nothing new there.

Oddly enough, the tangent had nothing to do with geometry or pianos, and that's yet another topic.

I deleted the 'extra' text after copying and saving it. Later I decided that there was enough there to make another post: after a bit of editing.

Authority: Legitimate and Otherwise

There's a connection between gratitude and authority. That doesn't mean that people who aren't the boss should behave like Uriah Heep's unctuous brother. And it certainly doesn't mean that anybody who sits behind a big desk or wears a suit is always right.

I used to think I didn't like authority. Then my wife pointed out that I was quite comfortable with authority: it was pompous nitwits who claimed authority that bothered me. She was right, of course. (March 30, 2011)

Sadly, authority can be misused. Sometimes folks with authority hurt those who they're supposed to help. Yes, I know about the pedophile priests.

But authority, and sensible respect for authority, is important. It starts in the family: or should.

Families: Society at the Cellular Level

The family is the "original cell of social life." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2207) It's where we're supposed to learn about taking care of each other. (Catechism, 2208)

I was blessed with good parents. They made mistakes, sometimes major mistakes, but I never doubted that they loved me. Sadly, not everyone has that experience.

Too many parents apparently demand respect from their children, without earning it. I think some attacks on 'traditional values' trace back to parents who abused their authority. I've been over this before:

Duties for Everyone

Parents are supposed to lead a family, which doesn't mean that kids 'have no rights:'
  • Families are important
    (Catechism, 2210)
  • Family members have duties
Children are supposed to respect their parents. That respect is supposed to come from a sense of gratitude. Bear in mind that this is the way families are supposed to work: not what happens when broken parents fail their children.
"Respect for parents (filial piety) derives from gratitude toward those who, by the gift of life, their love and their work, have brought their children into the world and enabled them to grow in stature, wisdom, and grace. 'With all your heart honor your father, and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother. Remember that through your parents you were born; what can you give back to them that equals their gift to you?'19"
(Catechism, 2215)
Not all parents make it easy for their children "to grow in stature, wisdom, and grace:" but that's the way it's supposed to work.

Nations

It's a big jump, going from from families to nations: but there's still a need for authority, respect, and (usually) obedience.
"The duty of obedience requires all to give due honor to authority and to treat those who are charged to exercise it with respect, and, insofar as it is deserved, with gratitude and good-will.
"Pope St. Clement of Rome provides the Church's most ancient prayer for political authorities:18 'Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability, so that they may exercise without offense the sovereignty that you have given them. Master, heavenly King of the ages, you give glory, honor, and power over the things of earth to the sons of men. Direct, Lord, their counsel, following what is pleasing and acceptable in your sight, so that by exercising with devotion and in peace and gentleness the power that you have given to them, they may find favor with you.'19"
(Catechism, 1900)
"It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. The love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community."
(Catechism, 2239)
I've run into folks who apparently thought that 'good' citizens should submit to national authorities.

That's not what the last paragraph said:
"...Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community."
(Catechism, 2239) [emphasis mine]
Here's where it gets interesting.

Moral Legitimacy

Obedience and respect for authority are important. I can't disregard leadership that I don't like, and claim virtue.

But that doesn't mean everything a leader says is right:
"Authority does not derive its moral legitimacy from itself. It must not behave in a despotic manner, but must act for the common good as a 'moral force based on freedom and a sense of responsibility':21
"A human law has the character of law to the extent that it accords with right reason, and thus derives from the eternal law. Insofar as it falls short of right reason it is said to be an unjust law, and thus has not so much the nature of law as of a kind of violence.22
"Authority is exercised legitimately only when it seeks the common good of the group concerned and if it employs morally licit means to attain it. If rulers were to enact unjust laws or take measures contrary to the moral order, such arrangements would not be binding in conscience. In such a case, 'authority breaks down completely and results in shameful abuse.'23"
(Catechism, 1902, 1903)
"The eternal law" is natural law, the set of ethical laws woven into the universe. They're as real as the physical laws.

Consequences of ignoring physical laws can be as obvious as a brick dropped on one's foot. Consequences of ignoring ethical laws are real, too: but can take longer to become obvious. My opinion. I've discussed natural law before. (July 4, 2012)

'I was Only Following Orders'

Folks who had helped Germany's 1933-1945 leadership had some explaining to do when the 'Thousand Year Reich' failed to perform as advertised.

It wasn't the first time folks said they 'were only following orders,' it wasn't the last. Sometimes claiming that being ordered to do something nasty worked as a defense, sometimes it didn't. (Superior orders, Wikipedia)

My opinion is that Thomas More and John Fisher were right, and that my long-term plans are best served by doing what's right: not what's easy or expedient.

Will I follow through on that brave sentiment? Ask me after the Last Judgment, and that's still another topic.

"...Contrary to the Demands of the Moral Order..."

Unthinking obedience is not a good idea. Not if I take what the Catholic Church says seriously:
"The citizen is obliged in conscience not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or the teachings of the Gospel. Refusing obedience to civil authorities, when their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience, finds its justification in the distinction between serving God and serving the political community. 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.'48 'We must obey God rather than men':49
"When citizens are under the oppression of a public authority which oversteps its competence, they should still not refuse to give or to do what is objectively demanded of them by the common good; but it is legitimate for them to defend their own rights and those of their fellow citizens against the abuse of this authority within the limits of the natural law and the Law of the Gospel.50
"Armed resistance to oppression by political authority is not legitimate, unless all the following conditions are met: 1) there is certain, grave, and prolonged violation of fundamental rights; 2) all other means of redress have been exhausted; 3) such resistance will not provoke worse disorders; 4) there is well-founded hope of success; and 5) it is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution."
(Catechism, 2242, 2243)
Note: the Church doesn't say that armed resistance to oppression by political authority is never legitimate. On the other hand, Catechism, 2243, says that using force to resist a rogue ruler is acceptable only if:
  1. Violation of fundamental rights is
    • Certain
    • Grave
    • Prolonged
  2. All other means of redress have been exhausted
  3. Such resistance will not provoke worse disorders
  4. There is well-founded hope of success
  5. It is impossible reasonably to foresee any better solution

Faith, Government, and Conscience

America's national government still allows citizens to follow our faith: inside a church. For that, I'm grateful.

The other 167 hours a week, though, the government expects us to follow government orders: even if doing so violates basic ethical principles.

Looking at today's America and item #2 in that five-point list, I believe that we still have quite a few options.

We're stuck with the current chief executive for another four years, but there's a midterm election coming. It will be an opportunity to swap out some members of Congress.

Finally: As a Catholic, I wouldn't be allowed to force another person to believe what I do, even if I had that sort of power. We're told that:
  • Religious freedom is vital
    (Catechism, 2104-2109)
    • For everybody
      (Catechism, 2106)
  • Some actions are always wrong
    (Catechism, 1789)
    • Even if the President says it's okay
      (Catechism, 2242)
  • Human life
    • Is sacred
      (Catechism, 2258)
    • Begins at conception
      • (Catechism, 2270, 2274)
  • Murder is wrong
    (Catechism, 2259-2262, 2268-2269)
By the way, another blogger posted an excellent list of reasons for celebrating. I agree with her, even though I agree that recent American election results were disappointing:
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Sunday, November 18, 2012

Sin, Bingo, and Love

I'm a Christian, and I can walk on water.

Don't be too impressed. I live in central Minnesota, where folks drive trucks to their ice fishing houses during winter. Once in a while someone drops into the lake, but that doesn't happen as often as a person might expect.

Ice fishing houses on Sauk Lake, Sauk Centre
Ice fishing houses on Sauk Lake: Sauk Centre, Minnesota. December 2005.

I'm no more able to walk across open water, on my own, than Peter was. (Matthew 14:22-33)

"I am Doomed!" (But Keep Reading)

As for assuming that I'm so 'saved' that I don't need help getting into Heaven? I feel like Isaiah fairly often. Which doesn't mean that I think Seraphim make regular flights to Sauk Centre, Minnesota:
"4 Then I said, 'Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!' "
(Isaiah 6:5)
I do, however, recognize that nothing is impossible for God; that I am a created being, dependent on the Almighty; and, happily, that God is merciful. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 208, 268-278, 396, and Job, for starters)

Sin and the Tax Collector

Maybe you've run into someone who acted like the Pharisee in this story:
"He then addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else.

" 'Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

"The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, "O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity - greedy, dishonest, adulterous - or even like this tax collector.

"I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income."

"But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, "O God, be merciful to me a sinner."

" I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.' "
(Luke 18:10-14)
Or maybe you know someone who acts as if he or she is the worst sinner in the world: and that anyone who doesn't feel the same way is damned.

My guess is that some of the world's billion or so living Catholics sincerely believe that they're 'holier than the Pope,' or that wallowing in exaggerated guilt and self-hate is a virtue. Like I've said before: Sincerity does not guarantee accuracy.

Scaring Folks Silly

Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" made quite an impression back in 1741.

Edwards used colorful imagery and Biblical references to convince folks that Hell is real, and sin is a bad idea. So far, so good.

By the time my generation came along, it was fairly easy to assume that at least some varieties of Christianity involved scaring folks silly: then asking for money. Not, I think, what Edwards had in mind.

About a half-century back, quite a few folks in America got fed up with 'angry God' assumptions: understandably, I think.

In my youth, 'Christian' radio's steady drumbeat of guilt, anti-communist rants, and perennial end-time 'Biblical' prophecies, led me to appreciate rock music: and eventually to become a Catholic. And that's another topic. Topics.

Goofy About Guilt

I've run into folks who seemed to make assumptions close these extremes:
  1. Sin doesn't exist
    1. At all
    2. Except for
      1. Corporate greed
      2. Pollution
      3. Hurting animals
  2. Sin exists
    1. We're all saved
    2. I'm saved, you're damned
    3. We're all damned
Assumption 2A is, I think, particularly pernicious, and I've discussed Holy Willie before. (January 4, 2012) By the way, "sin" doesn't mean "stuff I don't enjoy or can't do." It shouldn't, anyway. Actually, I shouldn't enjoy sin - yet more topics.

After my exposures to 'kill a commie for Christ' zealots, I think I can understand folks who decided that guilt, and religion, are psychiatric diseases. But I that's not what I believe.

Reason, Truth, Right Conscience: And the Alternative

The Catholic Church's definition of sin includes things folks decide to do, and what we decide to not do.
"SIN: An offense against God as well as a fault against reason, truth, and right conscience. Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law of God. In judging the gravity of sin, it is customary to distinguish between mortal and venial sins (1849, 1853, 1854)."
(Catechism, Glossary)
Since I'm a Catholic, playing cards or Bingo is okay. But gambling so much that I can't meet my needs, and those of others, isn't. (Catechism, 2413)

A little closer to home for me, the Catholic Church doesn't have rules against 'demon rum:' but does say that drunkenness is wrong. (Catechism, 2290) My household is 'dry,' but that's because of my personal history. You guessed it: still more topics.

The "Vatican Secret Archives:" An Old Office Library

The Catholic Church has a reputation for being run by control freaks who think salvation depends on wearing a particular style of clothing, shunning 'evil' music: you get the idea.

I can see how that idea gets traction. The Vatican's office archive has about 85 kilometers of shelving, at last count. And it's "secret," which turns out to be much less exciting than it sounds.

The "Vatican Secret Archives" aren't filled with rules about where hemlines should be, or whether it's okay to use long-stemmed glasses. It's a collection of letters sent or received by Popes; diplomatic papers; internal documents; that sort of thing. (April 20, 2012)

One or Two Simple Rules

The rules are basically simple:
Those rules are simple.

Following them isn't necessarily easy, though: which may explain why the Church has spent so much time explaining why loving our neighbor doesn't include cheating our neighbor. And that's another set of topics. (September 26, 2011)

Love That Works

We're expected to actually do something about loving our neighbor. Again, that isn't necessarily easy. It's also another topic. (February 5, 2012, September 13, 2011)

Getting a grip about:
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Sunday, November 4, 2012

Being a Good Citizen

Depending on who's talking, 'being a good citizen' can mean always agreeing with a political party's platform; just paying taxes and staying out of jail; or voting, if there's nothing good on television.

Citizenship, Catholic Style

Since I take 'love God, love your neighbor, everybody's your neighbor' seriously, I must:
  • Support religious freedom
    (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2104-2109)
    • For everybody
      (Catechism, 2106)
  • Take an active part in public life
    (Catechism, 1915)
  • Contribute to the good of society
    • In a spirit of
      • Truth
      • Justice
      • Solidarity
      • Freedom
    (Catechism, 2239)
  • Submit to legitimate authorities
    • Refuse obedience to civil authorities
      • When their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience
      (Catechism, 2242)
    (Catechism, 2239)
    (June 1, 2012)
On the whole, I'd rather not get in trouble with civil authorities. But if I had to choose, I'd rather defy the United States Supreme Court than explain to Jesus why I dissed God the Father. (August 27, 2011)

It's a simple decision, but not an easy one:
I'll be back in about an hour, with my hopes and expectations: and, more to the point, a list of 'religious freedom' resources.
You may find a link list of today's three posts, and others, useful. Then again, maybe not:
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America's Election, Religious Freedom, and Other Annoying Topics

I plan to vote in a few days. Some of my choices are easy, others not so much.

One of the relatively easy choices is a measure on the Minnesota ballot. We'll be voting on whether marriage should be defined as a union of a man and a woman.

Politics

I'm voting to keep the definition of marriage that's worked for thousands of years. That doesn't mean that I'm a far-right-wing extremist, despite what some folks may believe:
One more reality check, and I'll try to remember what I had in mind for this post's topic.

Being Loud


(Non Sequitur, Wiley Miller (October 28, 2012), used w/o permission)

Some folks spew hate and claim that they're being very 'Christian.' Being loud doesn't make them right.


(ArizonaLincoln (talk), via Wikipedia, used w/o permission)

I've discussed malignant virtue before; also what the Catholic Church says about sex and love:

Issues, Candidates, and Me

Wrenching myself back on-topic, there's an election coming up in a few days.

Don't worry: I'm not 'political.' I do not claim that:
  • One candidate or party is
    • Always right
    • Never wrong
  • Anyone who disagrees with me is a
    • Commie
    • Homophobe
    • Spawn of Satan
    • Racist
    • Whatever
On the other hand, I can't ignore politics. Paying attention to candidates and issues comes with being a 'good citizen.' One of the most important issues at stake is religious freedom, the right to act as if one's beliefs matter.

Ethics and Other Threats to Government Leaders

Religious freedom doesn't mean "free to agree with me." It means being free to choose: and free to act as if those choices matter. In my case, it means free to act as if God matters.

That sort of freedom can be very annoying, especially to government leaders:
Telling parishioners to seek what is true and good may not seem threatening. I think what got Bishop Kagan in trouble is that he had the temerity to say what, specifically, is true and good: and what isn't.

Basically Simple

The Catholic Church has a reputation for having lots of rules. There's something to that, but the most important rules are simple:
If it's that simple, why all the rules? For starters:
"...I think we'd have a lot fewer pages written about why loving your neighbor is a good idea, if folks hadn't been trying to weasel out of the 'simple' version for two millennia...."
(September 26, 2011)
I've got quite a bit more to say, but that's enough for this post. I'll be back with a look on what the Church says about citizenship in about an hour.
You may find a link list of today's three posts, and others, useful. Then again, maybe not:
Getting a grip about:
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Friday, September 28, 2012

Freedom, Fear, and the Internet

One of America's cultural values is the belief that freedom is important. My native country hasn't always been consistent about applying that value: but I think we've got a pretty good track record.

When I became a Catholic, I learned why freedom is so important. That's real freedom: not 'free to agree with the boss.' Here's a quick look at what I'm talking about:
  • Individual freedom is very important
    (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1730-1742, 1901-1902, 1907, 1915)
  • So is responsibility
    (Catechism, 1731-1738)
  • Government is
    • Necessary
      (Catechism, 1898)
    • Not the highest moral authority
      (Catechism, 1899-1904)
  • Governments can be a threat to freedom
    (Catechism, 1883)
Believing that freedom and responsibility are important can make being a good citizen tricky. Particularly since 'I was just following orders' isn't an acceptable excuse:
"...I also have to be a good citizen. (Catechism, 1915, 2411, 2239) But 'giving Caesar what belongs to Caesar' doesn't include believing that some local authority can redefine natural law.

I'm expected to do good and avoid evil: even if some leader says otherwise. (Catechism, 2242) ..."
(July 6, 2012)
The folks running America look different today, and say different things. But in other ways the establishment hasn't changed very much in the last half-century. I've been over this before:
Today's America is still a pretty good place to live, I think. But keeping our freedoms means paying attention. As I've said before, there's an election coming in November.
  1. Threats to Freedom, Obvious and Otherwise

1. Threats to Freedom, Obvious and Otherwise

As usual, reading more than the headline makes sense. This article doesn't show that America has become a 'second-class nation,' although some politico or 'expert' may say so before the election:
"U.S. lags Estonia in web freedom, reports says"
FoxNews.com (September 24, 2012)

"More than three quarters of citizens have access to the Internet, there's widespread e-commerce and e-government services, and the press and bloggers are free to say anything online.

"No, it's not the U.S. It's Estonia.

"The Baltic country of 1.27 million topped a list from Freedom House published Monday assessing the state of the net in 2012, with the fewest obstacles to access and violations of Internet rights.

" 'Estonia has become a model for free Internet access as a development engine for society,' the report concludes, noting that 'the program's focus has shifted from basic concerns such as access, quality, and cost of Internet services to discussions about security, anonymity, the protection of private information, and citizens' rights on the Internet.'

"The U.S. earned second place in the report, with a score of 12 out of 100 – just two points shy of first place....
I'm not upset, or surprised, that America came in second in the Freedom House list.

Estonia isn't America

The two countries aren't the same. For one thing, Estonia is a whole lot smaller than America: or Minnesota, the state where I live. Estonia's population is a little less that one quarter Minnesota's 5,344,861 estimated 2011 number - and far less than America's 311,000,000 or so residents. (U. S. Census) I suspect that Estonia's leadership doesn't have quite the same concerns as America's.

The Freedom House report looked at how countries handled Information Age issues like:
  • Internet services
    • Access
    • Quality
    • Cost
    • Security
    • Anonymity
  • Protection of private information
  • Citizens' rights on the Internet

Crime, Caution, and Freedom

Someone could make a few juicy conspiracy theories, starting with these paragraphs:
"...The report, titled 'Freedom on the Net 2012,' cautioned that recent developments may threaten that freedom, however.

" 'The current administration appears committed to maintaining broad surveillance powers' to combat crime, the report says. 'Moreover, reports have emerged that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking expanded authority … to ensure that communications can be intercepted when necessary.'...
(FoxNews.com)
Depending on which set of folks I wanted to impress, I could claim that the FBI is in cahoots with the
Then there's the nifty notion that 'all of the above' are really run by shape-shifting, space-alien lizard men, and that's another topic or two.

More seriously, I am concerned about what could happen in America if legitimate concerns over crime and national defense got distorted by fear and a desire for control.

Threats, real or imagined, can be frightening; and fear can help folks do strange things:

It Could be Worse

"...Countries lagging on the list come as no surprise. In last place is Iran, with a score of 90 out of 100 -- indicating a near total lack of freedom online. The country announced on Sunday that it would filter access to Google's services, after a video on YouTube titled 'Innocence of Muslims' led to widespread rioting and violence across the Muslim world...."
(FoxNews.com)
I suppose there's some comfort in knowing that things could be worse. America, after all, is almost at the top of that 'Internet freedom' list. Folks in some parts of the world have a much harder time getting information and sharing ideas:
"...On Monday, a Google spokesman told FoxNews.com that Iranians were unable to access its services.

" 'We have received information that users cannot get access to Gmail and Google Search in Iran. We have checked our networks and there is nothing wrong on our side.'

"Other countries earning failing grades for Internet freedom include Cuba (86), China (85), and Syria (83).

"Sanja Kelly, project director for Freedom on the Net at Freedom House, said the report revealed the growing challenges to freedom on the World Wide Web.

" 'The findings clearly show that threats to Internet freedom are becoming more diverse. As authoritarian rulers see that blocked websites and high-profile arrests draw local and international condemnation, they are turning to murkier - but no less dangerous - methods for controlling online conversations.' "
(FoxNews.com)
I'm not worried that America will suddenly become 'just like' Iran, or Syria, or Cuba. I do, however, remember when America was cleaning up the mess left by HUAC and other over-enthusiastic efforts to 'protect' America.

As I said, folks can do strange things when they're frightened. Another source of trouble, I think, is the well-intentioned meddler who likes to help people. You can tell who's being helped, by the hunted look in their eyes. And that's yet another topic.

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Monday, September 3, 2012

Generic Ethics

It's been several years since I started seeing ads about "ethical investing."

In the ones I saw, "ethical" seemed to mean not investing in companies involved in tobacco products, alcohol, or gambling: and giving money to folks who recycled. I'm oversimplifying, of course.

"Ethical investing" looked like a well-intentioned effort - or maybe a marketing gimmick playing off old-school 'American values' on the one hand, and the 'green' sensibilities of post-60s America.

Beer, Bingo, and Environmental Awareness

The Catholic Church says that abusing alcohol, tobacco, or other substances is a bad idea: and that we shouldn't do it. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2290)

We're also told that a passion for gambling can lead to big trouble. (Catechism, 2413) But the Church doesn't insist that we shrink in horror from Demon Rum - and Catholic organizations in America, like Knights of Columbus, are notorious for running Bingo games.

The Church forbids the "disordered use" of any creature, and insists that we take good care of this world. (Catechism, 339, 373, 2415) If that's 'not what you read in the papers,' I'm not surprised: and that's another topic. Topics. (April 17, 2012, April 3, 2012)

It looks to me like investing in something like (pre-1989) Christian Brothers' distillery might not be a problem; and I'm not troubled about working a shift at the local Knights of Columbus annual Bingo games.

"The Economy Needs Ethics"

"Caritas in Veritate" approves of ethical financing and investment funds.
"...These processes are praiseworthy and deserve much support. Their positive effects are also being felt in the less developed areas of the world...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 45)
This section starts out by saying that ethics are important, but that not any old ethics will do. 'There always seems to be a catch.'
"Striving to meet the deepest moral needs of the person also has important and beneficial repercussions at the level of economics. The economy needs ethics in order to function correctly - not any ethics whatsoever, but an ethics which is people-centred...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 45)
"People-centered?" I think this is what Benedict XVI meant:
"...It would be advisable, however, to develop a sound criterion of discernment, since the adjective 'ethical' can be abused. When the word is used generically, it can lend itself to any number of interpretations, even to the point where it includes decisions and choices contrary to justice and authentic human welfare.

"Much in fact depends on the underlying system of morality. On this subject the Church's social doctrine can make a specific contribution, since it is based on man's creation 'in the image of God' (Gen 1:27), a datum which gives rise to the inviolable dignity of the human person and the transcendent value of natural moral norms...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 45)
Since "morality" usually means "rules about sex" in my dialect of English, I generally use "ethics" to describe the "system of morality" Benedict XVI referred to. (June 3, 2011) Moving on.

Unethical 'Ethics'

When ethical theory moves away from the ideas that individual people are important, and that ethics is more than an arbitrary set of human rules, bad things happen. That's my opinion. And, much more to the point, that's what Benedict XVI said:
"...When business ethics prescinds from these two pillars, it inevitably risks losing its distinctive nature and it falls prey to forms of exploitation; more specifically, it risks becoming subservient to existing economic and financial systems rather than correcting their dysfunctional aspects. Among other things, it risks being used to justify the financing of projects that are in reality unethical...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 45)
What comes next is, I think, a very important point:
"...The word 'ethical', then, should not be used to make ideological distinctions, as if to suggest that initiatives not formally so designated would not be ethical...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 45)
Labels can be important: but 'what's inside' is what really counts. Simply calling a policy "ethical" doesn't make it so.

Ethical, not Political

Finally, about "ideological distinctions." In this context, ideology probably means political orientation: "an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation." (Princeton's WordNet) The Catholic Church isn't "political," although part of its job is to point out issues that involve politics.

I think some of the anger I've seen directed at the Church comes from frustration at this refusal to claim, or at least imply, that some particular party or nation 'owns' God. And that's yet another topic.
More posts about "Caritas in Veritate" (Charity in Truth)
"Caritas in Veritate"
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Monday, August 6, 2012

Rights, Duties, and Ideas: Good & Otherwise

More posts about "Caritas in Veritate" (Charity in Truth)
"Caritas in Veritate"
I've started another chapter in "Caritas in Veritate." The chapter heading says it'll be about the development of people; rights and duties; and the environment. I got started in this morning's post, along with an explanation for why I'm writing 'in installments' this time:

'Rights,' Real and Otherwise

Benedict XVI points out one of the disconnects we've got these days. He calls this an "inconsistency," and I think he's right:
  • Alleged rights get taken seriously, even though they're arbitrary and non-essential.
  • Elementary and basic rights are violated, or remain unacknowledged, in much of the world.
    ("Caritas in Veritate," 43)
My native land, America, isn't at the bottom of the heap in terms of violated rights. But we could do a lot better: particularly now that the national government has sanctions against the practice of my faith. 1

Affluence, Excess, and Ethics

My household has never lacked food, clothing, or shelter: but we've been in the lower half of America's 'wealth spectrum' for decades. No complaints: it's the result of decisions I made as a youth. I knew what I was doing then, and have seldom regretted my choices since.

For a long time we were in the 'lower middle class,' at best: by contemporary American standards. On the other hand, by the standards of my forebears we've been insanely wealthy. I've heard that for a very long time "wealthy" meant that a household had more than one day's rations on hand. That we have had, many times over, and in abundance.

What got me started on wealth and reminiscences was this bit:
"...A link has often been noted between claims to a 'right to excess', and even to transgression and vice, within affluent societies, and the lack of food, drinkable water, basic instruction and elementary health care in areas of the underdeveloped world and on the outskirts of large metropolitan centres...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 43)
I'm not going to dump the contents of the freezer because it's 'too much wealth.' For one thing, my wife wouldn't like that. For another, poverty isn't virtue. Neither is wealth, and I've been over that before. (August 4, 2011)

Attitudes, New and Old

Taken by itself, that excerpt from "Caritas in Veritate" looks like conventional anguish over:
  • New style
    • 'The decadent West'
    • 'Bloated capitalists'
  • Old style
    • Ill-gotten worldly riches
    • Honest poverty
Wealth, money, isn't the problem. What gets us in trouble is loving money:
"For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains."
(1 Timothy 6:10)

"Let your life be free from love of money but be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never forsake you or abandon you.'"
(Hebrews 13:5)
The issue is idolatry: which is a very bad idea. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2112-2114, for starters)

Breaking Links: Bad Idea

If affluence, by itself, isn't bad: why do some affluent societies act badly?

Benedict XVI says that:
"...The link consists in this: individual rights, when detached from a framework of duties which grants them their full meaning, can run wild, leading to an escalation of demands which is effectively unlimited and indiscriminate...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 43)
Basically, breaking links between rights and duties makes about as much sense as bypassing circuit breakers. It may save a few trips to the breaker panel in the short run: but there will be consequences.

Balance and Limits

People having rights isn't wrong: it's what folks do with that basic truth.
  • Rights
    • May be overemphasized
    • Overemphasized rights lead to disregard for duties
    • Are part of a "framework"
      • Anthropological
      • Ethical
  • Duties
    • Set a limit on rights
    • Point to the framework which includes rights
    • Prevent rights from becoming excuses to do something wrong
    ("Caritas in Veritate," 43)

Rights: and Duties

Duties aren't opposed to rights. Without duties, rights are in trouble:
"...Duties ... reinforce rights and call for their defence and promotion as a task to be undertaken in the service of the common good. Otherwise, if the only basis of human rights is to be found in the deliberations of an assembly of citizens, those rights can be changed at any time, and so the duty to respect and pursue them fades from the common consciousness...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 43)
No, Benedict XVI isn't against democracy or freedom. He's just pointing out what happens when folks forget that we don't control the ethical underpinnings of reality. I've posted about natural law before.

No Objectivity: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

There's an appeal of sorts to the notion that we can decide what's ethical and what isn't. The problem is that natural law, the ethical rules woven into this creation, are just that: basic laws.

An act of Congress can no more change natural law, than the Supreme Court could declare the law of gravity "unconstitutional."

Actually, the Supreme Court could do something like that. Or Congress could add a 'no gravity' amendment to the Constitution.

But their actions wouldn't have a practical effect on that facet of reality.

When governments and other institutions lose track of objective reality, bad things happen.
"...the authentic development of peoples is endangered[108]. Such a way of thinking and acting compromises the authority of international bodies, especially in the eyes of those countries most in need of development. Indeed, the latter demand that the international community take up the duty of helping them to be 'artisans of their own destiny'[109], that is, to take up duties of their own...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 43)
I've harangued about old and new notions about 'natives' before. In the interests of your patience and my blood pressure, I'll just put links at the end of "Related posts."

Incentive!

"...The sharing of reciprocal duties is a more powerful incentive to action than the mere assertion of rights."
("Caritas in Veritate," 43)
I agree. Emphatically.

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1 The current administration's rules which force employers to support a legal sort of murder is a serious violation of religious liberty, at least for practicing Catholics:
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Friday, August 3, 2012

Life, the Universe, and Badminton

There's more to being Catholic than going to church on Sunday and getting my forehead smudged each Ash Wednesday.

There's also more to citizenship than politics, but with an election coming up, I can hardly avoid it:
  1. "A Great Force for Good," but Not Perfect
  2. "The Beginning of the End of Religious Freedom?"
  3. Planets, Galaxies, Grandeur, and a Badminton Team
We're told that "...citizens should take an active part in public life...." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1915) I think that's a good idea. Since I'm an American citizen, being a good citizen includes voting.

There's an election coming in November. Some of today's issues make this one very important.

One of the major questions is whether the right to practice our faith will be restored to American citizens. As of August 1, the rules changed: not for the better.

Freedom: Every Day of the Week

Don't get me wrong: I'm still allowed to go to the parish church each Sunday for Mass. And, since I don't have any employees, I'm not required to choose between violating my conscience or staying in business. That's the good news.

The bad news is that, as of Wednesday, nearly all business owners are required to help kill human beings who aren't 'real people' under American law.

I suppose I should be grateful that Catholic employers are allowed allowed to practice their faith one out of every 168 hours of each week.

When 'Legal' and 'Right' Don't Match

My guess is that some Americans have no problem with paying someone to kill an innocent person: provided that it's legal, and won't cost too much. As a practicing Catholic, 'judgmental' as this may seem, I think that's not right.

I think human life is sacred, and that killing an innocent person is wrong: even if it's legal. What the Church teaches is counter-cultural:
I do not want to force everyone to be Catholic. Even if I did, that's against the rules. Catholics must support religious freedom: for everyone. (Catechism, 2104-2109)

Vote: Responsibly

I don't think it makes sense to vote for a candidate based on hair style. I also think that voting a straight party ticket 'because my family always did' doesn't make sense, either.

I do think it makes sense to learn about candidates and issues. That's gotten a lot easier recently, at least for anyone with access to an Internet connection. This isn't a complete list of resources, but I think it'll do for a start:
Finally, here's my take on the week's news.

1. "A Great Force for Good," but Not Perfect

"Former Vatican ambassadors launch Catholics for Romney group"
Michelle Bauman, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (August 2, 2012)

"A bipartisan group of six former U.S. ambassadors to the Holy See has joined together to support presidential candidate Mitt Romney and is calling on other Catholics to do the same.

"The ambassadors said on July 31 that despite their own political differences, they all believe that Mitt Romney 'can be a great force for good in this nation.'

"They explained that they are united in their support of Romney's candidacy by the conviction that all Catholics are 'called to advance the moral teachings of Christianity in the life of our country.'

"Former ambassadors Frank Shakespeare, Tom Melady, Ray Flynn, Jim Nicholson, Francis Rooney and Mary Ann Glendon are the new national co-chairs of the Catholics for Romney coalition...."
I don't have a problem with these former ambassadors getting together and supporting a candidate. Like I said before, being a good citizen is part of the package for a Catholic: and that includes getting involved in deciding who gets to sit in the Oval Office for the next four years.

Right now, Romney looks like a reasonable choice. That's "reasonable choice," not "perfect candidate." In the decades since I turned 18 and started voting, I haven't run across a 'perfect' candidate: and don't expect to.

One point, before moving on, about "the moral teachings of Christianity." I'm pretty sure that the "morality" they mentioned is what I usually refer to as "ethics" in this blog. I've posted about ethics, morality, and language, before:

2. "The Beginning of the End of Religious Freedom?"

"Contraception mandate takes effect for businesses without 'safe harbor' "
Michelle Bauman, CNA/EWTN News (August 1, 2012 )

"Starting Aug. 1, the owners of many for-profit businesses are being forced to pick between violating their beliefs and paying stifling fines as the federal contraception mandate goes into effect.

"This initial implementation of the mandate 'marks the beginning of the end of religious freedom in our nation,' said Christen Varley, executive director of Conscience Cause, a nonpartisan advocacy organization that works to defend religious freedom and conscience rights.

"In a statement released shortly before the mandate was scheduled to go into effect, Varley explained that as of August 1, many employers would be faced with the 'unimaginable choice' of denying their faith or paying crippling fines that could put them out of business...."
Like I've said before, there's an election coming in November. American voters have an opportunity to swap out current leadership for a lot that's a bit less ethically-challenged. I hope that happens, and think there's some reason for that hope.

That's why I'm not entirely on the same page with the statement that the HHS mandate "marks the beginning of the end of religious freedom in our nation."

If enough American voters wake up and decide that being allowed to act as if their religious beliefs should be allowed to matter: I think America can recover some degree of religious liberty.

I prefer to remain hopeful.

I also think that there's an authority higher than opinion polls, the American President, or even the United States Supreme court. (June 23, 2012)

3. Planets, Galaxies, Grandeur, and a Badminton Team

"Gliese 581g Tops List of 5 Potentially Habitable Alien Planets"
Mike Wall, Space.com (July 24, 2012)

"The controversial exoplanet Gliese 581g is the best candidate to host life beyond our own solar system, according to a new ranking of potentially habitable alien worlds.

"Gliese 581g shot to the top of the list - which was published Thursday (July 19) by researchers at the University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo's Planetary Habitability Laboratory (PHL) - after a new study marshaled support for its long-debated existence....

"...This rocky world - if it does indeed exist - is just 20 light-years away from our solar system. It's likely two to three times as massive as Earth and zips around its parent star, the red dwarf Gliese 581, every 30 days or so. [Gallery: The Strangest Alien Planets]

"This orbit places the planet squarely in the star's 'habitable zone' - that just-right range of distances where liquid water, and perhaps life as we know it, could exist...."
The Gliese 581 planetary system is so close, by cosmic standards, that light from the star takes only about 20 years to reach us. Even compared to the rest of the galaxy, that's practically next door.


(from Department of Physics, University of Oregon, used w/o permission)

On this scale, each pixel is well over 100 light years across. Sun and Gliese 581 are in the same pixel.

The Space.com article also discusses Gliese 581d, another planet in the Gliese 581 system; Gliese 667Cc; Kepler-22b; and HD 85512b. HD 85512 is another close neighbor of ours, about 35 light years away.

I've been following news about the Gliese 581 system for a few years now. There's been a lively discussion over whether or not Gliese 581g actually exists: mostly because methods used to detect roughly Earth-size planets involve deciding what's data, and what's normal variations in the instruments.

It's sort of like deciding whether a variation in a candle's light, seen from a few miles off, is from a breeze or a circling moth.

Other Worlds?

When someone suggested that we might not be standing on the only world, other folks got upset. Discussions heated up, pressure built: and finally a bishop issued a proclamation that, to my knowledge, hasn't been rescinded.

Since I'm a practicing Catholic, I'm not allowed to say that God couldn't have made other worlds. That rule has been in effect for more than seven centuries. (July 5, 2011)

Planets and Priorities

I'm quite a bit more interested in news about the Gliese 581 system, than what's happening at the Olympic badminton games. Apparently there's been a bit of a fuss over a team that tried to lose. That strategy makes sense, provided one doesn't get caught:
On the other hand, I realize that quite a few folks would much rather watch the Olympics than read about some planet they'll never visit: that may or may not actually exist.

Maybe the 2012 Olympics is more important than news about astronomy: particularly since so many folks around the world are so intensely concerned about which nation's top athletes are better at chasing a ball, jumping over obstacles, or running really fast.

My opinion is that:
  • The Olympics are an important cultural event
  • What we're learning about God's creation is fascinating
  • Neither are as important as
    • Doing what is right
    • Avoiding what is evil

Living With Grandeur

I think it's a good idea to step back now and then, and look around. We live in a world of incredible beauty and grandeur, from the quantum foam which may be the basic fabric of space and time, to vast structures made of galaxies.

credit & copyright: Vicent Peris (OAUV / PTeam), Gilles Bergond, Calar Alto Observatory; via Astronomy Picture of the Day, University of Oregon, used w/o permission (October 22, 2008)
(credit & copyright: Vicent Peris (OAUV / PTeam), Gilles Bergond, Calar Alto Observatory, via NASA, used w/o permission)

"...spiral galaxy NGC 7331 ... About 50 million light-years distant in the northern constellation Pegasus and similar in size to our own Milky Way Galaxy, NGC 7331 is often imaged as the foreground of a visual grouping that includes an intriguing assortment of background galaxies some ten times farther away...."

I don't know why God decided to make this place so big, or so old. But I'm pretty sure it wouldn't do any good to complain. Besides, I like vastness.

I also think one way to learn about God is to study what God has made. And is making, which is another topic. (January 18, 2012)
"...the things of the world
and the things of faith
derive from the same God..."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 159)

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the sky proclaims its builder's craft."
(Psalms 19:2)

"3 Terrible and awesome are you, stronger than the ancient mountains."
(Psalms 76:5)
Finally, as a recovering English teacher, I'd like to share what dictionary says about grandeur. It's the quality of:
  • Being
    • Magnificent
    • Splendid
    • Grand
  • Elevation of mind and
    • Exaltation of
      • Character
      • Ideals
      • Conduct
    (Princeton's WordNet)
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Marian Apparition: Champion, Wisconsin

Background:Posts in this blog: In the news:

What's That Doing in a Nice Catholic Blog?

From time to time, a service that I use will display links to - odd - services and retailers.

I block a few of the more obvious dubious advertisers.

For example: psychic anything, numerology, mediums, and related practices are on the no-no list for Catholics. It has to do with the Church's stand on divination. I try to block those ads.

Sometime regrettable advertisements get through, anyway.

Bottom line? What that service displays reflects the local culture's norms, - not Catholic teaching.