A Nation Facing Collapse?

I hope and pray I am completely wrong about what I am about to say.  I fear, however, I am not.

Our nation is in a most tragic place right now.  If it were given a medical prognosis I would have to say the current illness is extremely grave but more probably terminal.  Sure, we have pulled through some horrendous times in our history including world wars, natural disasters, and economic collapses.  America can be proud of so many noble accomplishments of its past and present.  Moreover, its many outstanding citizens have contributed to a society that has, at one time or another, led the world in almost every conceivable area.

So what went wrong?  Let me start with two decisions by our government that will be seen as tragically erroneous resulting in most dire consequences.

 

Roe v. Wade and the legalization of abortion in this nation will one day be seen by all before God for what it truly is—the systematic extermination of innocent human life.  Abortion was never and will never be a moral good.  The big lie that a woman has a right to choose [to kill innocent human life] is completely absurd and delusional.  Babies killed legally are nonetheless killed most tragically.  Whether ripped apart surgically or chemically poisoned, such abortions are never safe for the developing baby and leave the victimized mother scarred for life.  The blood of approximately 60 million innocents cries to God for justice since 1973.

Next, the legalization of gay marriage in our nation shows how we have abandoned and replaced the divine institution of marriage—between one man and one woman—for what we “enlightened” humans see as an alternative to God’s design for the human race.  Under the misguided pretext of tolerance and acceptance, we have attempted to counter-establish same-sex relationships as a type of norm.  The complimentary between male and female with its life-giving potential are thus disregarded.  While God’s love for us and the love we must show as Christians for one another (see John 13:34, 15:12) never permit others to be treated uncharitably, humans can never supplant divine wisdom with human "wisdom" and redefine a divinely established institution.  Our declaring something legal and culturally acceptable does not make it so in the sight of God.  We are foolish to think otherwise.

It is obvious that the breakdown of the traditional family has been progressively occurring.  Observe the divorce / remarriage statistics in conjunction with societal acceptance of abandoned commitments.  Multitudes of babies are born out of wedlock.  The varied possibilities defining the concept of “modern” family are as numerous as the random combinations of a slot machine.   Not insignificant to the situation is that artificial contraception and sterilization procedures attempt to allow man to play god and to divorce procreation from the unitive act.  Moreover, the issue of individually chosen sexual identity taking precedence over God-given genetic sexual identity only complicates the entire scenario.  If the building blocks of society are strong families, then our structure is crumbling most rapidly.

Moral values have become relative, truth is up for individual interpretation and debate, and society seems to think that the only grave sin is intolerance.  I am amazed how so many Catholics / Christians have seemingly abandoned the teachings of Jesus Christ and timeless Gospel values as the norm for living, substituting instead ethereal, culturally-driven ethics.  Notably, co-habitation before or in place of marriage is the new standard.  Sex became automatically part of dating and simply a recreational, “feel-good” activity.  Any notion of delayed gratification is considered absurd.  At the same time, the number of people with a sexually transmitted disease (S.T.D.) is staggering.

In place of seeking God, a hedonistic society apparently finds its joy in varied combinations of drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, gambling, material possessions, travel, wealth, power, prestige, and whatever else may feed the insatiable ego and titillate the senses.  As long as it makes me feel good, it must be the path to Nirvana and true, lasting happiness.  In too many instances it appears that we have become a society of narcissistic addicts longing for pleasure and self-gratification.  Multiple generations are now focused on taking selfies, clinging to mobile phones and other technology at every moment and seeking constant recognition and approval on social media.  These trends speak volumes about our society’s priorities and how they are driven.

From an economic standpoint, can a nation continue to survive with an ever-growing $19 trillion national debt?  Are the two best candidates for the 2016 U.S. Presidency really an ever-evolving egotistical, bullying billionaire or a pathological liar of a career politician whose legacy appears to be scandal and corruption?  Unfortunately, in either case, I think we are going to get what we deserve as a nation by electing either one.

Since I am Roman Catholic, I have to state the obvious regarding our faith.  The Church, in many instances, has lost moral authority and the unquestioning loyalty of the faithful.  More people fail to attend Sunday (Saturday evening) Mass weekly than actually do.  The younger generations are consistently and noticeably absent.  People do not take advantage of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation (confession) in overwhelming numbers. Church marriages are seemingly less-frequent with a preference for destination or other novel wedding experiences, if at all.  The notion that the Catholic faith be imparted to the next generation of children has taken on an attitude of indifference and possible insignificance.  There is indeed deadly spiritual lethargy in the overall church population.

With all this being said, is there any real hope for our future?  Of course there is.  I am utterly confident that Jesus Christ and God’s plan for humanity will be completely triumphant in the end.  This does not preclude the possibility of a great persecution of the Church and the heroic witness of martyrs in future days.  It also does not mean if we reject God's ever-abundant mercy, we will not experience God's perfect justice.  Again, it does not mean that any great nation—even the United States of America—could not collapse either from internal or external forces or a combination of both.  I am sure that many of those who experienced the fall of the great Roman Empire never thought it would happen or necessarily saw it coming.

My solution is a swift, radical turning back to God.  Repent and believe in the Good News! (Mark 1:15)  It is an acceptance of biblical values as the sole rule and guide of life.  It is through prayer, fasting, self-sacrifice and penance that we might still have a chance.  It is by a fidelity to Jesus Christ and the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church that He established, where we might still have a chance.

I truly hope I am wrong about what I see coming.  I will be glad to retract every word and offer a sincere apology. 

In the meantime, may God have mercy on us all. 

(An editorial, by Edward F. Namiotka)