Before Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI he was already reflecting and writing about relativism inour culture and world. He understands the predicament in our world very clearly. He once stated that through philosophical, social, cultural and political movements that this world may be entering a new “dark age.” The term “dark age” should frighten us wherever weare. The term “dark ages” refers to a time in Christian history in which the civilized and educated world was obliterated by  barbarian invasions and other forces that made education and cultural growth very difficult. The people who lived in this era shared a common experience, fear. They were deeply afraid of the world around them. They were afraid of the people around them, and the interests of the world. The world was violent and a person did not know if he or she would be attacked by an outside force on any given day. For many reasons they lived in a constant state of fear.

The Holy Father is right. The enemy of the human person is not an outside force that threatens lives or well being. The enemy is within. The enemy is what is properly called “relativism.” Relativism is born from individualism. Individualism makes the individual its focus. Individualists promote the exercise of one’s goals and desires and so value independence and self-reliance while opposing external interference upon one’s own interests by society or institutions such as the government. The phrase that best describes this is “.. what is best for me.” - not taking into account the other person. The ego of the individual person becomes of utmost importance.

An easy definition of relativism is that conceptions of truth and moral values are not absolute but are relative to the persons or groups holding them. The movement toward relativism can be seen as virtuous, as displayed by our own United States of America. The proper understanding of our founding documents would lead to seeing clearly that there is a value of the freedom OF and FOR religion whereas the movement that we see today is FROM religion. There is a huge difference between being OF and FOR something as compared to moving FROM it.

In the “Gospel of Life” John Paul II stated that “… freedom, out of a desire to emancipate itself from all forms of tradition and authority, shuts out even the most obviousevidence of an objective and universal truth, which is the foundation of personal and social life, then the person ends up by no longer taking as the sole and indisputable point of reference for his own choices the truth about good and evil, but only his subjective and changeable opinion or, indeed, his selfish interest and whim.” Our Holy Father, Benedict XVI stated once that “We are moving toward a dictatorship of relativism which does not recognize anything as definitive and has as its highest value one’s own ego and one’s own desires... Having a clear faith, based on the creed of the church, is often labeled today as a fundamentalism. ... Whereas relativism, which is letting oneself, be tossed and ’swept along by every wind of teaching,’ looks like the only attitude acceptable to today’s standards.”

This is the world the Church is in today. As heavy asall this may seem, I think that we can find comfort in what Benedict stated in the first few days of his pontificate.He said the crisis we ultimately face is a “…crisis of martyrdom.” This world needs witnesses. It is so easy to point fingers and say the government or social movements are the issue. There is greater difficulty in looking at where we should be looking all along, at our own human heart. We could have been born into this world in this era for a special reason. God, who in His infinite wisdom, knows clearly that no one can do what we are called to do. Be the saints of today. We speak the truth with love. Love without truth is purely sentimental and truth without love is cruel. We are called to love people “..to heaven.” The cure for relativism is already in the world. The individual Christian who speaks clearly and lovingly is more powerful than any philosophical movement. Political, social and philosophical movements may be strong but they share a common weakness, they can’t love. That is where true victory is, loving as God loves.

Father David Regan  

In the Church throughout the world there is an atmosphere of gratitude, wonder and joyful anticipation. The source of these feelings is the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. After assuming the mantle of leadership at 78 years of age and now being 85 years-old, Pope Benedict has humbly and lovingly stepped down. In his love for the Church, that is, his love for all of us, he recognizes that old age has taken a toll on his physical and mental well-being and he knows that he cannot give the leadership the papacy calls for at this time. Obviously he has been sustained by his own faith and determination. Even more, he has been sustained and inspired by the prayers of all of us who are the Church. Each time Mass is offered around the world, the Pope is prayed for by name. We join with our brothers and sisters around the world every day to pray for our beloved leader. His responsibilities are great. Only with the help of God can he or any leader in the Church serve all those entrusted to them. Now we thank God for the good Pope Benedict has done and pray he will know God’s gratitude and love, which he most certainly will as the man of faith that he is. You and I will not be part of the conclave that will elect the next Pope, but we have the responsibility and privilege of praying for whoever is elected. He will need our sincere prayers as much as we look forward to and will need his leadership. This moment in the history of the Church is unique and reminds us that we are part of a bigger picture. We are part of more than 2,000 years of Church history and have a bond with all those who have gone before us, all those who are part of the Church today, and all those who will come after us.

This weekend as we pray for the cardinals who will elect our new Pope, I also ask everyone to look at how we are the Church on Long Island. Right here at St. Patrick’s, we do many good things together, but we are also part of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. So much good is done not only on our own local level through our support and presence, but also throughout Long Island in Suffolk and Nassau Counties which comprise our diocese. Many of us have already received a request for our annual donation of the Catholic Ministries Appeal. Through this Appeal much good is done throughout our diocese. Following Hurricane Sandy, our diocese reached out with centralized organization to give practical relief in the form of food, blankets and clothing to those who lost their homes. Our diocese has a centralized office for Catholic Education. I am on a committee of pastors that serves as an advisory board to this office. The people there under the leadership of Sister Joanne Callahan are constantly advocating with New York State on behalf of Catholic Education and offer us educational, moral and leadership support. At this point New York State is two years behind in giving us the money they legislated they would pay for mandated services. Through the efforts of our own diocesan Education Office, along with those throughout our state, they are working to get what is legally and justly owed to us. The Appeal supports this office. As the Catholic Church, we are one of the most efficient and giving social welfare agencies in our nation and the world. The elderly are served with food and physical help, those with addictions have programs that offer direction and support, and couples preparing for marriage are given an excellent program to help them begin married life together. As a priest I deal with different diocesan offices throughoutthe year and they offer support and guidance. When the floor in our new church needed to be replaced, the diocesan building office gave direction and leadership.

There are countless ways we reach out as the Diocese of Rockville Centreto each other and to all who come to us in need. In order for this to continue, especially as so many services on the federal level seem to be in jeopardy because of our national debt, our continued support is needed. Please consider joining with me in making a pledge or one time gift to this Appeal. In a pledge, just $10 a month for ten months will result in a donation of $100. In this bulletin there is a page with more information and a breakdown of how a small amount monthly can make a difference. As I write this column I know that $10 will only put about two and a half gallons of gas in my car. Ten dollars is only 33 cents a day. $20 a month is only 66 cents a day. What can we buy now for these small amounts of money? But when we give small amounts like that together we make a tremendous difference.

There are many ways to look at what we can afford to give or what we want to give. Whatever each of us gives will make the Church right here in Suffolk and Nassau Counties just that much more vibrant as we live and pray together as the Body of Christ. We support and employ many good people who make Long Island a better place because we are the Church.

After I finished this column I said evening prayer from my breviary and was struck by this petition: Grant that in the human family brother and sister may always help brother and sister, so that, with your assistance, it may be a city compact and strong. Our presence gives life and strength to the Body of Christ, the Church.

Father Walden