Will Duquette takes on the charge:
In paragraph 34 of Lumen Fidei, Pope Francis writes,
Truth nowadays is often reduced to the subjective authenticity of the individual, valid only for the life of the individual. A common truth intimidates us, for we identify it with the intransigent demands of totalitarian systems.
(My emphasis.)
In other words, my truth is what I choose to live by; your truth is at best an impertinent demand, at
Not the Pope
worst an unjust interference with my autonomy. (The Pope is describing this point of view, mind you, not advocating it.)
I think many today see the Catholic Church as just such a totalitarian system: a massive structure that insists we believe certain things and do certain things, and threatens to cast us into hell if we do and believe what we like. More that, some seem to think, given the power the Church would gladly cast non-believers and sinners into jail or burn them at the stake.
All of this is true, of course—that’s why we have armed guards at every mass to carry away those who receive the Blessed Sacrament unworthily, and why so many contracepting so-called-Catholics have vanished in the wee hours never to be seen again, and why orthodox Catholic politicians are dominating at the polls.
Oh, wait. Those things aren’t happening.
This is because the Church recognizes that knowing the truth is hard, and living up to it is harder. The Church goes to great lengths to communicate the truth (and hence can seem to be a bit of a nagger) but leaves the reception of that truth up to us, to do the best (or worst) with it that we can.
Not the Pope
He's not quite done... in fact, he ends on a high note, the highest of notes if you will.
The Church has withstood the harangues, the onslaughts, the broadsides of history. She's done so for a reason. She was established to lead us to the Truth and not beat us over our heads with it though that is the common claim.
If you're looking for the Truth, and doing so genuinely and sincerely, you will find it.
I join Will Duquette in urging you to begin, or to renew, that search.
Carry on.
