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Sunday, February 25, 2018

EXPRESSIONS by Father Ed

Where is the Middle?

Almost everyone thinks the world is falling apart. Indeed the center in many places has collapsed, with the extremes trying to take over — drug mafias in Central America, warlords in Africa, alt-right and nationalists in our country and Europe, and traditionalists in the Vatican Curia. The center has itself to blame, using worn-out approaches that do not suit contemporary needs or compromising its own integrity by scandals and dissension. There is a lack of vision and creativity that gives extremists an opportunity to intrude and promise a false panacea which leads to even worse disappointment.

The current systems and leaders are primarily concerned with protecting their own status and interests, not the people’s. How is it, for instance, that school children, not elected officials, have seized the issue of gun control and, in the process, become the national conscience of the nation? How many more innocent school-age children have to die before obvious and necessary reform is finally initiated? For Catholics, this is a right-to-life issue. Why are kids more savvy about the environment than adults, some of whom, e.g., President Trump, are still not convinced it is important. Who are the ethically challenged? Not the kids who are properly concerned about the future.

A new paradigm or framework, which is focused on the future, is necessary and no longer can be delayed if we expect to be serious about contemporary issues. It must be inclusive, welcoming and inviting everyone’s participation. The old hierarchies are paralyzed and inattentive to the people they are meant to serve. It must be open to new ideas and realities, not only because the old solutions are ineffective, but also because there are new issues that must be addressed.  It also must be visionary, encouraging creative thinking and individual responsibility, not relying on authority for guidance. Many of the old truths are discredited because they propped up a status quo which was blind to prejudice and intolerant of dissent.  Young people are forsaking school, church, and government, I believe, because the traditional institutions are unable to relate to them and their world. The youth will have to change these institutions and, in that way, make them once again relevant to the world.

This is not so much a crisis as a new beginning, an exciting transitional moment. I suspect there will be more of these transitional moments in the future because the world moves faster now than ever before in its history.  People will need, however, reliable institutions and communities that can provide them with stability and community. Relationships which connect, not control; inspiration, not stale ideas; values, not commands, will be the expectation of succeeding generations. It is not too soon to implement this new measure.