In an audience with the Vatican’s diplomatic corps, Pope Francis had some words related to Pope Benedict’s “dictatorship of relativism.” After addressing St. Francis of Assisi’s love for the poor and the poverty that grips many developing nations, Pope Francis turned his eye toward the developed world:
But there is another form of poverty! It is the spiritual poverty of our time, which afflicts the so-called richer countries particularly seriously. It is what my much-loved predecessor, Benedict XVI, called the “tyranny of relativism”, which makes everyone his own criterion and endangers the coexistence of peoples. And that brings me to a second reason for my name. Francis of Assisi tells us we should work to build peace. But there is no true peace without truth! There cannot be true peace if everyone is his own criterion, if everyone can always claim exclusively his own rights, without at the same time caring for the good of others, of everyone, on the basis of the nature that unites every human being on this earth.
Of course, Popes Francis and Benedict reveal the true nature of moral relativism which affects progressives and libertarians alike: the belief that we all determine our own truth and morality is itself a statement about truth and morality to which all moral relativists must adhere absolutely. Thus, the position is self-defeating.
Being a committed moral relativist is almost as confusing. Pic by James Jordan
What false advertising! A philosophy that enshrines individual freedom of choice so as to ensure interpersonal harmony actually “endangers the coexistence of peoples.” As evidence of the relativists absolutism, if one does not agree with moral relativism, if one believes that truth is objective and morality exists above and beyond mankind’s or society’s preferences, then the response from moral relativists is rarely a “live-and-let-live” mentality. When have you last defended the Church’s view on marriage and received a response of “Thanks, I appreciate your thoughtful opinion on the matter”?
Pope Francis’ next words I think were meant for me specifically (in all humility):
One of the titles of the Bishop of Rome is Pontiff, that is, a builder of bridges with God and between people. My wish is that the dialogue between us should help to build bridges connecting all people, in such a way that everyone can see in the other not an enemy, not a rival, but a brother or sister to be welcomed and embraced! … In this work, the role of religion is fundamental. It is not possible to build bridges between people while forgetting God. But the converse is also true: it is not possible to establish true links with God, while ignoring other people … And it is also important to intensify outreach to non-believers, so that the differences which divide and hurt us may never prevail, but rather the desire to build true links of friendship between all peoples, despite their diversity.
I get pretty defensive when friends compare God to a flying spaghetti monster. They dismiss as irrelevant (or outright fabricated) the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus which we solemnly observe this holiest of weeks. While I might fancy myself as a “good thief” and my agnostic/atheist friends as a “bad thief,” in reality all of our sins nailed Him to the Cross. I’m not a pontiff, but we are all called to help build bridges between others and Christ.
Even though the position of moral relativism is logically inconsistent it still retains the power to do great damage to society. In critiquing it, though, we (me especially) must remember to proclaim caritas in veritate, love in truth.
I pray that all our dear T&C readers have a blessed Holy Week!
Here’s some video of Pope Francis’ remarks: