True to the Truth

I got a call the other day from someone seeking counsel; the person had been referred by another person that I had given counsel to recently. Once again, I needed to explain that the counsel I would give would only be that which the Catholic Church teaches. In other words, I will not counsel someone to do something that is contrary in any way to Church teaching, and I also will tell people that the way to resolve their issues is to obey the Church. This may seem entirely obvious to a committed Catholic, but those outside the Catholic faith will often take offense at it as though I am bringing my own personal ideas into the counseling.

It reminded me of another time years ago when a similar situation arose. In that prior instance, I explained to the caller what my position was. He asked me, "Do you really need to bring religion into the counseling session? Isn't that breaking the separation of Church and state? I just want generic counseling." In essence, without realizing it, they are asking me to compromise my beliefs. Christ our Lord tells us that He is the true God, and that only through submission to Him can anyone find real peace. He tells us the means to grow our relationship with Him is through the Sacraments. I cannot tell a non-catholic, "be nice", or, "don't hold a grudge" without telling him the explanation our Lord gives about those things.

It is possible to distinguish between a simple statement of correct behavior and the deeper explanation of the Church, but if I separate them I am breaking my ordination vows. If I were to reduce counseling to mere "generic" statements then I would be hiding the faith (and incurring the wrath of God for doing so). Many people today believe that there is a "neutral" truth that does not include God. This is largely because they have been brainwashed by the public schools, who try to teach truth without the One Who is Truth (which only leads to the false notion of "bare truth" and ends by teaching atheism).

What those outside the Church (and, sadly, a few inside; ugh!) do not understand is that if you do believe wholeheartedly that the Church is right, then your opinions will be the same as the Church. This means that if a pagan asks me how to get along with his wife, and a Catholic asks me the same question, I am going to give them both the same answer; and it will involve a lot of details from the Sermon on the Mount, the Ten Commandments and the Catechism. After all, no one can find peace, harmony, or joy without fully submitting to Christ, and that can only happen through the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.