The greatest evil
The greatest evils are perpetrated by individuals, groups of individuals or governments that demonstrate a hatred or hostility towards the unalienable and individual rights inherently belonging each human person.
Some are deemed more valuable than others, and the “others” eventually become piles of dead bodies.
Communism is the dissolving of individual rights, forfeiting them for total control of the government.
This turning over of individual property rights, religious liberty, freedom of speech and press, gives the State the power to decide who lives and who dies.
It is the basic tenant of utilitarianism.
Utilitarianism leads to barbarism
When persons have no individual rights, they are essentially reduced to slaves to keep the machine of society going.
When they step out and “disrupt” the machine of progress, they are considered “interrupters” and must be stopped.
Barbarism is simply using violence or coercion by force to stop a behavior. It is also used to incite fear and submission.
Christianity civilizes barbarism
Christian civilizations are built on the idea that all persons are created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:27), and therefore are equal in dignity in the eyes of a loving Creator.
Whereas, those living under totalitarian governments are simply objects in the eyes of the state, subject to the whims of the government.
Societies with laws rooted in Christianity uphold and protect civility because they protect those considered “useless” or a “nuisance” in the eyes of a barbaric ruler.
The dissolution of families
The first step the communist government must take to assume the role of totalitarianism (total control) is to weaken the family bond in its society.
It does this by encouraging divorce, same-sex unions, abortion, and sexual promiscuity of the young by changing its laws.
All serve to tear families apart, wounding its own people so deeply, they begin to look for a “savior”.
The second step a government must take is to help its citizens forget its Christian values.
Christianity is the bulwark of the family. It serves to strengthen individual resolve, and promotes unity within its communities.
It is, therefore, a threat to the communist government, and must be stamped out or significantly weakened.
The third step is to help its citizens become totally dependent on the State for their financial needs.
Dependence on the government discourages individual ingenuity, motivation and productivity. It also provides the illusion of security and the futility of resistance to its perceived power.
True religion
Christianity is the fullness of the truth in that it never endorses using violence to subordinate others or to achieve control.
Catholicism is the only religion that proposes the principle of subsidiarity (St. Thomas Aquinas) as the only means of building a society that supports and protects the rights of every individual.
For example, subsidiarity rejects the idea that social institutions are the primary educators and providers for children.
Instead, it embraces the parents as their children’s primary educators, and seeks to reinforce this principle by its laws.
It is the exact opposite of collectivism (socialism), which proposes the greater good of the “many”, trumping the rights of the individual.
The diabolic nature of collectivism is unmistakable, as it endorses the same mentality the high priest, Caiaphas, counseled which led to the crucifixion of The Christ: it is better to sacrifice one man for the greater good of the people (John 18:14).
Freedom defends, barbarism avenges
True freedom relies on the Christian promotion of love: willing the good of the other, and not repaying evil for evil (Rom 12:17), and showing mercy through the power of forgiveness as Christ did.
It does not follow, however, that Christians are to be cowards. Isaiah compared his face to flint in the face of abuse. Flint is a hard substance that does not give way or crumble when struck, but instead breaks off into individual sharp shards giving off sparks to light a fire.
The Crusades, which were organized military enterprises (1095-1798) used primarily against the militaristic invasions of Islam and other barbaric tribes, were largely unsuccessful in their attempts to defend Christian nations. It took 400 years to answer (Jerusalem was captured in 638)!
They did not fight out of aggression but sought to protect its Christian citizens from abuse and murder.
The greatest gift or downfall?
Christ, the Source of true freedom, shows us the way to use one’s free will for the greatest good: getting to Heaven and helping as many others get to Heaven as possible.
The abuse of free will leads to one’s greatest downfall: bringing Hell on earth and taking as many to Hell with him as possible.
Which one will I choose today?
Holy Apostles, saints Simon and Jude, pray for us.
Source: “Crash Course on the Crusades”, Steve Weidenkopf, Crisis Magazine, July 24, 2012, accessed October 28, 20122, https://www.crisismagazine.com/2012/crash-course-on-the-crusades.