Catholics and Canadian unity.

EDITOR

Some may say that there are plenty of lay Catholics in politics. This is true. But how many of them deliberately act upon the injunction of Vatican II in the "Constitution of the Church," Chapter IV, "On the Laity," that "in every temporal affair they are to be guided by a Christian conscience" (Lumen gentium, #36) It is lay men and women such as these whom the Catholic community needs in trying to understand and contribute to the building of a new country.

Canada's existence is being threatened by Quebec separatists. Many English-speaking Canadians gave this trial little consideration until the October 30, 1995 Quebec referendum had them sit on the edge of their seats before their television sets, wondering whether they would still have a united country the next morning.

A victory of 50.1% in his favour would have led then Premier Jacques Parizeau to declare independence that same evening or the next day. Quebec's National Assembly would have verified it within a few days; in Ottawa the Bloc Quebecois would have retired from Parliament; the federal government would have had to resign as no longer representative of the remaining two discontinuous geographical regions in East and West; and rump Canada would have had to face new elections and political and economic chaos.

It was only by the grace of God that this disaster was avoided. From then on, English-Canadians have begun to formulate plans and policies to maintain Canadian unity both with or without Quebec. Catholics should be present to this debate precisely as representative of Catholic thinking. We are not present there today.

As Pope John Paul II points out, the Christian religion is not just about "morals." Moral standards are extremely important in themselves but they remain only a segment of Christianity. (see page 23) Christianity works towards the building of civilizations which encompasses the whole of life and the whole of particular societies. Throughout this century, for example, the authentic Christian voice has rejected and resisted the blandishments of totalitarianism based on race or class on the one hand, no matter how huge the number of their adherents, and that of classical and market liberalism on the other. Catholicism brings a different view of the dignity and life of the individual human person, the rights and duties that come with this, the purpose of society, the meaning of life.

Role of laity

Some believe that "Catholic interests" will be protected by the bishops whom many Catholics still regard as "The Church." This thinking is faulty in practice, in its scope, and in its theology.

In practice, in a secularized, pluralist democracy bishops are now unable to look after Catholic "interests." The failure of Newfoundland Catholics to safeguard their schools is a prime example (see pages 8-11). Today those who are hostile to the Church, including Catholics, have the state on their side in treating a Catholic bishop with the same disdain as a Seventh Day Adventist. All religions and denominations are now considered equally incompetent. Attention will be paid only when ecclesiastics can point to a large political constituency, that is, Catholic men and women who have a vote, and who are willing to use that vote in defence of Catholic interests.

Secondly, nation building (or nation preserving) is far wider in scope than just looking after denominational "interests." It requires statesmanship and an understanding of political developments for the good of all citizens.

Finally, a bishop's task is to look after faith and morals. Insofar as these touch upon society, he may have to be "political." But the teaching authority of the Church herself allocates the building of political and social structures to the laity.

Catholics should create groups across the country, little circles to ponder the problems associated with the unity of Canada, in the light of Catholic social teaching.

We do have a number of groups classified under the title of "social justice," which profess concern for the poor. Unfortunately, their political philosophy is essentially that of the antilife NDP, which leads them to turn a blind eye to human rights issues such as the killing of unborn children, which is the most important social justice issue of all.

Perhaps the Catholic Civil Rights League could serve as an umbrella for such groups. If not, start one yourself and let us know. The time has come for us to be in the process, not outside of it.