Growing up as a Catholic in Southern Alberta, it is not a surprise that I have ‘old-fashioned’ leanings. I phrase it that way because I do not like the image that using the word ‘conservative’ creates in our greatly polarized political atmosphere. Fulfilling my civic duty, I participate in federal and provincial elections (while needing to admit to generally ignoring the municipal ones). Honestly, I find the severely polarized political candidates and parties infuriating and often find that to vote according to my political views almost, if not, impossible. As a result, I have spoiled more ballots than voted for a candidate or party.
Yes, I believe in the sanctity of life and will always support the right to life from conception to natural death. And believe that those who have experienced the suffering of an abortion need support in the healing process and we must do what we can to support those who are at risk of abortion. Those who are at risk of suicide (through euthanasia or otherwise) need to be cherished and have the value of their lives embraced and reiterated to them so that they can reach for help. Yes, I believe in marriage as a union between a man and a woman and the need to preserve the family. And I know and love those who experience same-sex attraction and acknowledge the struggles they experience.
These are two controversial views in the current North American political atmosphere. Making it worse is the fact that many do not believe that I can have the ‘yes…’ part of the statement and still mean the ‘and…‘. Humanity has a history of going to extremes, yet in recent years we seem to have lost the ability to have a dialogue about, well, anything. If someone does not agree with your view, they hate you and you hate them. If two people of differing views are ‘talking,’ it is more two individuals monologuing in the direction of one another. There is no search for understanding the other’s position to find a common ground on which they can build something valuable. Instead, they must destroy the other because to not be right is much worse than learning. Evident, I think, in the phenomenon of our ‘cancel culture’.
As most people do, I have a severe dislike of being talked at instead of talked to. I like speaking with people who have different perspectives than I do because I can learn a lot from them, and maybe they can learn a bit from me. One of my many flaws is that I tend to avoid political discussions because I lack patience with extremes. As a results, I do not listen to talks about politics often. Today I unexpectedly found and listened to one that has the balance I feel is necessary for me to be a good follower of Christ and member of society. It was by “the Catholic Talk Show” (a podcast I recommend) titled “Is Catholicism Liberal or Conservative?” Here it is: