". . . Whenever I enter my local drugstore to buy harmless items like toothpaste, shampoo, soap and various medications, I walk past an aisle labeled 'family planning.' There one can purchase I presume (I've never stopped to look exactly) various methods of birth control that the Catholic Church finds seriously immoral. And by shopping at that store, I'm adding to its revenue, thus allowing it to continue its sale of immoral products.
"My cooperation with evil is certainly not intended, but it's there. (The various degrees of entanglement with evil are explained by the Church's well-defined description of 'material cooperation' vs 'formal cooperation,' a theology a bit too complicated to unwrap here.)
"The fact is, though, that whenever Christians encounter the world they run the risk of cooperating with evil. When you work or shop at certain stores, use various financial institutions, or invest in corporations through your mutual funds, you're probably supporting immoral activities, albeit unintentionally.
"The same thing happens when you pay taxes. Your government supports immoral activities all the time. I hate the fact, for example, that my taxes are used to fund Planned Parenthood, a morally degenerate organization if ever there was one!
"There are, of course, very good aspects about your dialogue with the world too. You can be a positive influence in the world; you can give a good example to others; you can bear gentle witness to the truth and joy of the Gospel.
"Pope Francis explained the impact of the disciple this way: 'He or she finds a way to let the word take flesh in a particular situation and bear fruits of new life, however imperfect or incomplete these may appear . . . An evangelizing community is filled with joy; it knows how to rejoice always. It celebrates every small victory, every step forward in the work of evangelization.' (E.G. #24)"
In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence
(RI), reflected on the challenges faithful Christians face as they encounter the world while living their daily lives. In the process, he reminded us to be mindful of our obligation to avoid companies and corporations that are notorious for sponsoring immoral activities and to support those that promote our Christian values, to vote for political leaders who are publicly committed to healthy moral values, and to give good example in our daily lives.
To access Bishop Tobin's complete essay, please visit:
Without A Doubt: Engaging the World Can Be Risky Business (29 OCT 15)
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