Is this tyranny?
This post originally appeared on Instagram on August 29, 2020.
WARNING: This topic is contentious and as such, please keep in mind today’s readings: “If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal.” Read the rest in 1 Cor 12:31-13:13.
Now that we have that out of the way: let’s have a discussion about TYRRANY.
CCC 1883 says, “...Excessive intervention by the state can threaten personal freedom and initiative.” (Whole paragraph below)
As Catholics, we value freedom, not so we may do as we *wish,* rather so that we may do as we *ought.* Freedom allows us to be our complete selves: body, mind, and soul. We must be free in order to worship God, and emboldened by His love, to serve our neighbor. In many states, leaders have lately undervalued this freedom.
TYRANNY: “unjust or oppressive governmental power”
I’ve been spending time reading history lately, and in so doing, I came up with a brief list of things that I find alarming about the ongoing government lockdown in the US.
-Persistent hyper-focus on fear and danger😦
-Limits on religious worship ⛪️
-Media as a propaganda arm of the government and/or big business 📺
-Limited speech/censorship of dissenting voices 🚫
-Encouragement of citizens to inform on other citizens 🗣
-Double standards for wealthy/political class and common citizens 💰
-Vague and/or unattainable goals for renewed freedom❓
So I ask fellow Catholics, have we allowed our government to indefinitely elevate the temporal above the spiritual?
And if so, what effect will this have on our immortal souls? According to the Catechism, we are “made for God Himself.” Are we allowing leaders to dictate and manipulate that infinitely precious relationship with Our Lord?
Finally, if so, what can Catholics DO about it?
I leave you with a prescient quote: “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies.” -CS Lewis (Full quote below)
Respectful dialog welcome. All other forms will be deleted and/or blocked.♥️
