“Days of Comfortable Catholicism Are Over,” Says Princeton Professor

A call for Catholics’ bolder, more outspoken stance for the Gospel rang clear this morning at the 10th annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, an event drawing together Catholic clergy, lay leaders, non-profit organizations, and individuals to pray for the nation.

Delivering an invigorating clarion call for unashamed and unwavering public witness for the religious liberty, marriage, and the sanctity of life was special guest, Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Intuitions at Princeton University.

“The question each of us must face is this: Am I ashamed of the Gospel?,” declared George to a ballroom largely filled with Catholics and some faithful Protestants.

According to George, “We American Catholics who have had it so good, having become comfortable” forget Jesus’ timeless truth that, “If you want to be my disciple, take up my cross and follow me.” George continued, “But there will be no ignoring that truth now, my friends.”

There is no denying the increasing hardships Christians face at home and abroad, all for placing their faith in Jesus Christ. “Powerful forces and currents in our society press us to be ashamed of the gospel,” said George. “Ashamed of our faith’s teaching on the sanctity of human life and all stages and condition. Ashamed of our faith’s teaching on marriage as the union between husband and wife.”

“There are costs to discipleship. Heavy costs,” explained George. “To be a witness to the Gospel today, my friends, is to make one’s self a marked man or woman. It is to expose one’s self to scorn and reproach. To unashamedly proclaim the Gospel in its fullness is to place in jeopardy one’s security, one’s professional aspirations and ambitions … ones’ standing in polite society.”

“Powerful forces and currents in our society press us to be ashamed of the gospel,” said George. “Ashamed of our faith’s teaching on the sanctity of human life and all stages and condition. Ashamed of our faith’s teaching on marriage as the union between husband and wife.”

Not to mention the unemployed, income inequality, and lonely old people.

; )

“There was a time not long ago when things were quite different. When we could be comfortable Catholics.” George continued, “But those days my friends are gone. They are not coming back anytime soon.”

Drawing a striking comparison between the Jews’ acceptance and subsequent crucifixion of Jesus to America’s changing attitude towards Christ. George explained, “You see, for us and for our faithful evangelical friends, it is now Good Friday. The memory of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jesus into Jerusalem has faded.” He continued, “Yes [Jesus] had been greeted not long ago by throngs of people…shouting Hosanna to the Son of David. [Similarly,] Jesus rode into the Jerusalem of Europe and the Jerusalem of the Americas and was proclaimed Lord and King.”

“In those days it was comfortable to be a Catholic. But those days are gone. Friday is coming. Friday is here. The love affair with Jesus and his Gospel is over,” said George, “The America’s no longer welcome his message. Away with him they say. Give us Barabbas.”

“Oh things were easy during those Palm Sunday days,” said George. “But now it’s Friday and the days of acceptable Christianity are over.” Willingness to stand publicly for Christ when it is culturally unacceptable and perhaps unforgivable, according to the professor, is inevitable.

“Jesus is before Pilot. The crowds are shouting ‘crucify him.’ Where are we?,” asked George. “Where are you and I? Are we afraid to be known as his disciples? Are we ashamed of the gospel? Will we seek to fit in, to be accepted, to live comfortably?”

Now is not the time to hid our witness to the gospel, . Most assuredly Christians — Catholics and Protestants alike— will face persecution from the elites of secular society for our faith. Ignore the intimidation tactics, encouraged George.

“They tell us we are on the wrong side of history,” said George. “History is not our judge. God is our Judge.”

He is so very correct - it presently costs nothing for everyone to hold their own version of Catholicism. Cafeteria catholics are everywhere - from Nancy Pelosi on down.

Perhaps the time will come when real choices will need to be made. It will be a trial, but it will also be a good thing. The Church may shrink, but it will prune the many dead branches as well.

Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against her mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

A call for Catholics’ bolder, more outspoken stance for the Gospel rang clear this morning at the 10th annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, an event drawing together Catholic clergy, lay leaders, non-profit organizations, and individuals to pray for the nation....“The question each of us must face is this: Am I ashamed of the Gospel?,” declared [Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Intuitions at Princeton University] to a ballroom largely filled with Catholics and some faithful Protestants.

Ah, but what constitutes the message of the Catholic Gospel?

[The Rev. Allan Figueroa Deck, S.J., executive director of cultural diversity for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops explains that]...the term ‘evangelize’ includes the “conversion of the human heart and the promotion of social justice.”
-- from the thread Study: Catholics losing the faith

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