The Church and the "hot button" issues of the day

 

Pope Pius VII, who condemned slavery

The Church has always been involved in the "hot button" issues of the current day.  Not because she is a political institution, but often because they have a moral dimension and the Church teaches us how to live in order to remain in Communion with Christ and build His Kingdom.

There is a a Catholic blog which is always worth reading entitled The Catholic Thing.

They have an intriguing piece on how the Church reacted to the grave evil of slavery in the past (which was widely accepted but the Church condemned) and the grave evil of abortion today (which is widely accepted in our culture but the Church condemns).

What is intriguing about it is how many who profess to be Catholic today simply shrug at the question of abortion and tell the Church not to be "political" about it and let those who promote it receive Communion, but are certain they would have been the ones opposing slavery -- and siding with the Church against the culture  -- if they lived in another era.  I'm not so sure. 

50 or 100 years from now, how will the next generation look upon those Catholics who support abortion now (especially our Catholic leaders).  I don't know, but suspect it will be about the same as we currently look upon the Jesuits, the Catholic faithful and even some bishops who rationalized the evil of slavery in the 19th century.  Certainly food for thought.