Judgment (& it's side-kick Hypocrisy) is an easy trap for men of Faith to fall into, despite the best of intentions. So easily, we, like the Pharisees whom Christ admonished, can focus on performing the expected liturgical actions and saying the correct Catholic & conservative phrases and simultaneously fail to commit our hearts and minds to Christ. We form our own sub-culture version of what is "PC," and we reject those who step outside of our pre-set boundaries. Granted, truth is on our side & many of the things we say are factually correct. However, the self-righteous often abandon humility and compassion in favor of the opportunity to point out another deviation from perfection.
Quietism, on the other hand, is a less obvious, yet no less insidious force within our society. Dorothy Sayers eloquently defined quietism saying, "The sin of our times is the sin that believes in nothing, cares for nothing, seeks to know nothing, interferes with nothing, enjoys nothing, hates nothing, finds purpose in nothing, lives for nothing, and remains alive because there is nothing for which it will die." Dante condemned the indifferent to the vestibule of Hell; their quietism was so nauseous to Heaven AND Hell that neither would have them. Too many people, who will wear the "conservative" or "Catholic" sticker when asked whom they follow, run from any real statements, actions, or commitments that would demonstrate their fidelity to truth and their belief in a cause. Their fear of "not causing any waves" results in an undisturbed, fetid swamp of mediocrity that only breeds intellectual pestilence and its carriers.
The mean between these common excesses may be found in something I'll call "righteous dissent." It would be defined as a charitable boldness in speech and action in defense of the good for the purpose of informing the ignorant and calling others to action and reform. Like righteous anger, this virtue stems from our nature as communal beings and our subsequent responsibility within a community of persons. It is an attitude stemming from the virtue of hope. Thus, its fruits should not be panic or despair. This holy boldness cannot be confused with muck-raking, slander, or gossip. It is not a judgment of persons but of actions. The goal is not to expose the cancer in society so much as to heal it; yet the tumorous ideas and habits of our culture must be engaged directly to be eradicated.
On a practical plane, I think this requires us as conservatives and Christians to do several very practical things. First, pray. It is difficult to maintain humility and courage (both necessary in the exercise of righteous dissent) apart from Christ in His Passion, where He perfectly exemplified both. Secondly, engage the culture & your fellow man. You don't have to be an obsessive news junkie, but you do need to be a well informed citizen. Vote, research current issues, read & listen with a discerning mind, and try to live your life in harmony with your beliefs and values . Speak with prudence and charity; those who are in your life should know where your values lie. Approach others with the constant belief in their capacity for deeper conversion. I believe that if every conservative and Christian sought to live out righteous disent and holy boldness in this country, my son may grow up in a world that honors truth and virtue and selflessness over relativism, laziness, and hedonism.
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