Tag Archives: Soul

The Spiritual Life

Can The Church Bless Sinners?

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LG Sleiman

20th January 2024

Fiducia Supplicans, published by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) on 18th December 2023, and personally signed by Pope Francis, gives permission to priests to give a “spontaneous” blessing to couples who are in an “irregular situation”.

The most contentious point of this declaration comes down to this: priests can now bless same-sex couples and other couples who are living in sin.

Some have welcomed this as an act of mercy and compassion; some decry it as blasphemous; and others are representing this as a sort of “coming of age” of the Catholic Church.

What are we to make of Fiducia Supplicans? Should the Church make herself ready to bless sinners? What is God’s will in regard to sinners?

Does God Bless Sinners?

Jesus said that the Father “makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:45) It is clear, therefore, that God pours His blessings upon everyone, saints and sinners alike.

If we think about it carefully, God is always pouring His blessings upon us: from one rising of the sun to the next, and so on and so on.

Every time I wake up to a new day, that is a blessing. Every time I pick a beautiful flower, that is a blessing. Every time I see a beautiful sunset, that is a blessing. Every time someone offers me a smile or a helping hand, that is a blessing.

Every time I attend holy Mass or read the Sacred Scriptures or enter a Church or my private room with a prayerful heart, there is a blessing for me.

Every time I avail myself of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion, that is a great and wonderful blessing—a blessing that is open to each and every sinner, no matter the number or gravity of his/her sins.

The number of God’s mercies is too great to fathom: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

Let us not forget, however, the greatest blessing that the Father could ever have bestowed upon us: “God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) God did not wait for sinners to turn to Him with a humble and contrite heart before He chose to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to save us from our sins.

Even God’s justice is a blessing, springing from God’s love—because His justice (in time) rescues souls from damnation (in eternity). Compare with this passage in Saint Faustina’s Diary:

“Praise the Lord, my soul, for everything, and glorify His mercy, for His goodness is without end. Everything will pass, but His mercy is without limit or end. And although evil will attain its measure, in mercy there is no measure. O my God, even in the punishments You send down upon the earth I see the abyss of Your mercy, for by punishing us here on earth You free us from eternal punishment. Rejoice, all you creatures, for you are closer to God in His infinite mercy than a baby to its mother’s heart. O God, You are compassion itself for the greatest sinners who sincerely repent. The greater the sinner, the greater his right to God’s mercy.” (Diary, 423)

From the most interior inspirations with which God moves my heart, to the descent of the only begotten Son of God from eternity into the realm of human affairs, to the sending of the Holy Spirit, to the gift of Christ’s own Mother to the Church, to the gift of prayer and intimate communion with the God who dwells within, to the gift of innumerable saints, mystics and holy prelates, God never ceases to watch over His people and to pour innumerable blessings upon them.

We ought not to forget in this consideration the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after His Sacred Passion. What a blessing! To know and understand that God’s redemptive love extends beyond the grave, beyond the power of death, and offers me an eternity of beatitude, glory, and everlasting happiness, if only I will accept the Lord’s invitation!

For Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37)

After Christ’s ascension into Heaven, He sent the gift of His Holy Spirit to inhabit every believer’s heart, to guide and direct the soul, to inspire and nurture the soul, to love and sanctify each believer, who is the temple of the Holy Spirit of God.

God never ceases to search out my heart and, in a thousand million ways, to remind me of His love and to draw me into a loving relationship with Himself.

At some point in my journey, my heart must turn to the Lord, respond to his love, turn away from sin, take his outstretched hand, and allow God to bless me—not just with an ordinary blessing, but with the fulness of eternal life and glory.

When Jesus began to preach, His first words were: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) To “repent” means to turn away from sin, to return to the Lord with a humble and contrite heart, and to enter again into the friendship of God.

Compare with Chronicles: “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Though I may be surrounded with thousands of blessings, I will not enter into the Lord’s friendship if I do not choose the Lord’s will above my own: “You are my friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:14)

In order to make the transition from the enjoyment of God’s blessings to the supreme blessing of God’s friendship I must, by the grace of God, turn away from sin, embrace the will of God, and persevere in the fulfilment of God’s will: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)

The problem with Fiducia Supplicans is that it effectively denies any requirement on the part of the soul to turn away from sin in order to enter into the friendship of God. This involves the idea of a false mercy.

The Problem With Fiducia Supplicans

Fiducia Supplicans inspires/engenders a duplicitous attitude in the approach to God’s blessings. By repeatedly emphasising the mercy and compassion of God while, at the same time, avoiding any requirement on the part of the soul to turn away from sin in order to know God’s mercy, Fiducia Supplicans gives the impression that God’s blessings are completely free, that the soul may continue to enjoy God’s favour while living in an irregular, sinful relationship, and that the way to Heaven does not involve any form of submission to the will of God.

This is extremely dangerous for the life of the soul and will, unless it is prevented by the proclamation of the truth, lead many souls astray, and one step closer to eternal perdition.

Let us now look at specific statements in this DDF declaration.

Fiducia Supplicans: Couples living in sin do not require “moral perfection” in order to receive a blessing from the Church. This is correct. Jesus never demanded moral perfection in order to grant his mercy; He only required a repentant heart. So, for example, when the Lord had healed the paralytic man, He said to him: “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” (John 5:14)

Fiducia Supplicans: “Catholic priests can bless same-sex couples as an expression of pastoral closeness without condoning their sexual relations.” But this only camouflages the truth. One of the greatest deceptions (rehearsed over and over again) is that the Church can adopt certain pastoral practices to the exclusion of writing new doctrines. The truth is that doctrinal statements and pastoral practices are inseparable: every pastoral approach carries doctrinal presuppositions and, conversely, every doctrinal pronouncement gives shape and form to pastoral activity.

Fiducia Supplicans: “It is precisely in this context that one can understand the possibility of blessing couples in irregular situations and same-sex couples without officially validating their status or changing in any way the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage.” But actions speak louder than words. People will inevitably read this as the Church’s endorsement of sinful lifestyles. Why single out couples who are in an irregular, sinful relationship for a blessing? Most will interpret this as the Church’s approval of sinful lifestyles, regardless of how many caveats are embedded into the declaration.

Fiducia Supplicans: “Indeed, there is the danger that a pastoral gesture that is so beloved and widespread will be subjected to too many moral prerequisites, which, under the claim of control, could overshadow the unconditional power of God’s love that forms the basis for the gesture of blessing.” But the reality is that God’s “moral prerequisite” is to turn away from sin.

Fiducia Supplicans: “Thus, when people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it. For, those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection.” This is just more camouflage. No one can become morally perfect without the help of Christ (compare with John 15:5—“Without me you can do nothing”). But to enter into friendship with Christ the soul must turn away from sin and accept the saving grace of God.

Fiducia Supplicans: This new practice is heralded as “a positive message of comfort, care, and encouragement. The blessing expresses God’s merciful embrace and the Church’s motherhood, which invites the faithful to have the same feelings as God toward their brothers and sisters.” This represents a false mercy because it gives the impression that God will forgive those who have not yet turned away from sin, which is impossible.

True mercy is the Good Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine (who are not lost) and goes after the one sheep (who is lost), who tirelessly calls the sinner to turn back to God, who lays down His life for the sinner rather than see him go to perdition. False mercy, on the other hand, teaches that you can be forgiven without repenting, sanctified without renouncing your sins, and reach Heaven without doing the will of God.

Let us acknowledge that the Lord loves His sheep, has given His life for them, and calls them to repentance, to love Him in return, and to cooperate with His Divine will in order to enter, in the fulness of time, into eternal life.

As Saint Augustine said, “The God who created you without your consent will not save you without your consent.”

It is not an act of charity to deceive a soul by making it comfortable with sin, for “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6:23) True charity reveals the truth about God’s mercy so that the soul can find its way back to spiritual health, to a life of grace, and to eternal friendship with God.

LG Sleiman

Daily Prayer

30 Day Novena to St Joseph

Our Lady once revealed to Venerable Mary of Agreda that “Whatever my spouse asks of the Lord in Heaven is granted upon the earth.”

This 30 day Novena Prayer to Saint Joseph, prayed with confidence in honour of the 30 years he spent with Jesus and Mary, has been known to draw great graces and even miracles from heaven. To take part in this Novena, say the following prayer every day for 30 days, followed by one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

PRAYER

Revised and enlarged by LG Sleiman, 5th March 2023

Ever blessed and glorious Joseph, kind and loving father, and helpful friend of all in sorrow! 

You are the good father and protector of orphans, the defender of the defenceless, the patron of those in need and sorrow. 

Look kindly on my requests. My sins have drawn down on me the just displeasure of my God, and so I am surrounded with unhappiness. 

To you, loving guardian of the Family of Nazareth, do I go for help and protection. 

Listen, then, I beg you, with fatherly concern, to my earnest prayers, and obtain for me the favors I ask of you. 

I ask it in virtue of the purity of heart and excellence of love with which you committed your life to the service of God. 

I ask it in virtue of the joy and beatitude that filled your heart when you were betrothed to the holy Virgin Mary.

I ask it by the infinite mercy of the eternal Son of God, which moved Him to descend from Heaven to earth and to be clothed in human nature because He delights to dwell among the children of men. 

I ask it by the joy that filled your heart when the angel revealed to you that Mary’s child was conceived by the Holy Spirit.

I ask it in virtue of your holy matrimony, the joyful harmony of your lives, and the blessed union of your hearts.

I ask it by the weariness and suffering you endured when you found no shelter at the inn of Bethlehem for the Queen of Heaven and, being everywhere refused, you were forced to take shelter in an abandoned cave.

I ask it in virtue of your joy when you witnessed the peace that quietly descended upon a sleeping world when the Son of God was born of the holy Virgin Mary on a cold winter night in Bethlehem. 

I ask it in virtue of your joy in seeing the Divine Child visited by angels, shepherds, and wise men from the East. 

I ask it by the loveliness and power of the sacred Name of Jesus which you conferred on the adorable Infant. 

I ask it by the painful torture you felt at the prophecy of holy Simeon, which declared Jesus and Mary future victims of our sins and of their great love for us. 

I ask it through your sorrow and pain of soul when the angel declared to you that the life of the Child Jesus was sought by His enemies, so that you had to flee with Him and His Blessed Mother to Egypt. 

I ask it by all the suffering, weariness, and labors of that long and dangerous journey.

I ask it by all the care and solicitude with which you embarked upon your return journey home with Jesus and Mary, when you were instructed to come out of Egypt. 

I ask it by your peaceful life in Nazareth where you met with so many joys, ever new infusions of divine grace, and so many tokens of God’s loving kindness. 

I ask it by your great distress when the adorable Child was lost to you and His Mother for three days after your visit to Jerusalem. 

I ask it by your indescribable joy at finding Him in the Temple, and by the comfort you found at Nazareth, while living in the company of Jesus and Mary. 

I ask it by the indescribable humility Jesus manifested in His submission and obedience to you.

I ask it in virtue of the love and fidelity with which you continued to serve Jesus and Mary all the days of your life.

I ask it by the perfect love and obedience with which you accepted the Divine order to depart from this life, and from the company of Jesus and Mary.

I ask it in virtue of your sacred and holy and happy death, because you died in the arms of Jesus and Mary. 

I ask it by the joy which filled your soul, when the Redeemer of the world rose from the dead, took possession of His Kingdom, and led you therein with special honors. 

I ask it through Mary’s glorious Assumption, and through that endless happiness you share with her in the presence of God. 

O good father! I beg you, by all your sufferings, sorrows, and joys, to hear me and obtain for me what I ask. (Here name your petitions or think of them.) Obtain for all those who have asked my prayers and all those who pray for me everything that is useful to them in the plan of God.

My dear patron and father, be with me and all who are dear to me in our last moments, that we may eternally sing the praises of JESUS, MARY and JOSEPH.

“A blameless life, St. Joseph, may we lead, by your kind patronage from danger freed.”

St Joseph, Pray for us.

Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be. 

Daily Prayer

Prayer for a Loved One

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In the midst of my plight, I turn to you, O holy Mother of God, my Mother, begging you to turn the gaze of your merciful eyes upon me, surround me with your love and protection, and lead me to know and love your divine Son, Jesus Christ my Lord.

A loved one of mine was going through a difficult time in her life and, as I looked on, I sought to pray for her in the same measure as her difficulties were great.

My prayer was guided by what I had recently discovered about the intimate union of our Lady with the Sacred Heart of her divine Son, in the midst of His most difficult moments, through the revelations of Sister Maria of Agreda (a 16th century Franciscan nun in Spain).

Sister Maria writes that holy Mary, through a special grace, was given the privilege of “seeing” all that her divine Son suffered during His Sacred Passion, as well as perceiving the unceasing acts of love and prayer of His Sacred Heart.

Christ had long promised His Mother that “in return for the new human existence which she had given Him in her virginal womb [the Incarnation], He would, by His almighty power, give her a new existence of divine and eminent grace above all other creatures”, and this promise of Christ “was continually fulfilled [in the course of her earthly life].”

“To this favour was due also her deep science and enlightenment concerning all the operations of the sacred humanity of her Son, none of which ever escaped her knowledge and attention.”

But whatever Mary “perceived” in the interior of her Son’s Heart, she also ”imitated” with fidelity:

“Whatever she thus perceived she imitated; so that she was always anxious to study and penetrate [Christ’s interior acts] with deep understanding, to put them promptly into action, and to practice them courageously and zealously during all her life. In this neither sorrow could disturb her, nor anguish hinder her, nor persecution detain her, nor the bitterness of her suffering weaken her.”

As a consequence of her “deep science and enlightenment”, Mary “felt in her own virginal body all the torments of Christ our Lord, both interior and exterior.”

But within such a hidden mystery, “there was concealed therein another mystery. This was, that the desire of Christ to see His exalted love and [goodness] as exhibited in His Passion copied in all its magnitude in a mere creature, was fulfilled in her, and no one possessed a greater right to this favour than His own Mother.” (Mystical City of God, volume 3, Chapter XXII, 670)

Thus was Mary increasingly conformed to the likeness of her divine Son, both in His suffering and in His acts of mercy—even in the midst of His most difficult and painful torments.

Filled with these thoughts, I pondered, how much more can Mary’s vision penetrate the depths of our own experiences, trials, and struggles?

With each glance of her soul, Mary understood the depth of Christ’s suffering as well as the unfathomable love which moved Him to suffer. If her gaze can penetrate all the depth of the Son of God’s suffering, love, and interior movements, how much more can Mary penetrate all the depth of our own hearts?

Do we not pray in the Salve Regina, “…turn then, O most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy towards us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus”?

Just as Mother Mary was fully present to Christ in His suffering, she is also able to be present to me in the course of my earthly pilgrimage, and nothing is impervious to the turn of her merciful gaze.

By a special grace from God, the one who is “full of grace”, with one glance of her eyes, understands me better than I understand myself. And with that understanding, Mother Mary sees clearly all the depth of my struggles, the nature of my pain, and the desires of my heart.

I therefore resolved to make the following prayer for my loved one, and to entrust her, and all the dimensions of her quest, to the holy Mother of God:

I beseech you, holy Mother of God, my Mother Mary, to turn your loving gaze upon my loved one, surround her on every side with your unfailing protection; cover her in your holy mantle; press her to your holy bosom; and receive all the depth of her needs, struggles, and intentions in your Immaculate Heart—both those intentions that are spoken, and those that remain hidden—with the same love with which you never failed to watch over your divine Son, unto peace, joy, and eternal life.

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”

LG Sleiman

The Spiritual Life

The Appetites Of Man

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1st June 2021
Feast of St Justin Martyr

The appetite for pleasure, money, and power: these are the fundamental appetites of human nature. Any and every temptation can only appeal to one or more of these three appetites.

These appetites can be man’s downfall, or else the path by which he overcomes temptation and merits victory in Christ.

For to master these appetites is to be the master of oneself, to be self-possessed, and to be in a greater capacity to surrender oneself to the will of God. But to be mastered by one’s appetites, by one or more of the appetites, is to become a slave to them, a slave to sin, and to be estranged from the grace and glory of God.

Saint John the Beloved warned against these appetites: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.” (1 John 2: 15-17)

If one is mastered by one’s appetites (the lower desires), this becomes like a spiritual wound which festers and grows, perhaps becomes a sort of spiritual abscess, against which the soul will struggle as it seeks sound health, until it is set free by the mercy and grace of God.

“The love of money is the root of all evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10) The same can be said of an immoderate love of pleasure or power.

How many souls have fallen because they could not liberate themselves from an attachment to the love of money, power or pleasure?

Whether one is a Christian or not, religious or not, priest or nun, brother or sister, mother or father, son or daughter, one can only advance toward union with God by seeking the mercy of God, by doing the will of God, through the gift of God’s grace with which He empowers us to overcome sin, temptation, and to master ourselves, for the glory of God.

He who does not master himself cannot submit his will to God, and he who does not submit to the will of God cannot master himself. These two go hand in hand.

For “the world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.”

Notice too that the devil’s three temptations of Christ in the wilderness correspond to the three appetites (Matthew 4:1-11): for pleasure, power, and riches.

Isn’t it interesting that history seems to have given us clear examples of all three appetites leading to the downfall or perhaps the temporary downfall of some poor soul?

One mystic wrote that Judas betrayed our Lord because Judas was, from the very beginning, only interested in success and attached to the love of money—he controlled the common “purse” (collective money) for the apostles and he ultimately betrayed the Lord for 30 pieces of silver.

Saint Paul (before his conversion) was attached to power: he wanted to round up all Christians and put them away or put them to death.

Pope Alexander VI fell from grace because of his attachment to pleasure, power, and money: he had several mistresses and fathered several children, while securing his power through alliances with various political powers.

No one is immune from such trials, and we ought to be sober, watchful and vigilant, as the Lord encouraged us to be. (Luke 21:36)

Through our Lord Jesus Christ we can overcome all things and know the victory of Christ, the joy of living in Christ, and the peace that surpasses all understanding.

Open Letter To Australia

Open Letter To Australia

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The discussion on how to define marriage in Australia has stirred our hearts, forced many of us to take sides, refined our debating skills, raised awareness about the stakes, and spurred us on to unprecedented levels of activism and advocacy.

Most importantly, the marriage debate has brought to light the fact that, underlying the discussion and the debates, there is a serious degree of misinformation—misinformation about the notion of “equality”, about how to ask the right questions, about human rights and where they come from, about how to define marriage, about how to understand human nature. And, finally, who is to decide?

Is it a matter of faith? Or is it a matter of reason? Can we afford to throw out both one and the other?

Some Christians are quick to point out that homosexual acts are offensive to God, that God made man for woman, and woman for man, and that this is the essence of marriage. Other Christians are equally quick to point out that God is merciful and desires the salvation of every soul. Perhaps these two approaches are not mutually exclusive. After all, a true parent is both loving and firm, merciful and just.

But again, what if society decides to do away with the “faith” dimension? And, moreover, to ignore the obvious truth that traditional marriage is founded on the natural complementarity of male and female which, in turn, is ordered to procreation, the preservation of the human race? Then we shall have to bear the consequences, all of us without exception, knowing that past civilisations have risen and fallen with the ebb and flow of their moral integrity.

It’s not merely that we’re debating who can marry whom. It’s that we are questioning the very foundations of thought and liberty. In such an atmosphere, where the debate ranges from civil discussion to open hostility, the realisation that we are no longer certain about the basics of human nature has slowly, eerily dawned upon us.

Whether or not you agree with the traditional definition of marriage, whether or not you think we can ignore this question, whether or not we arrive at a resolution, one thing is certain: there is a sense that something has gone wrong, that the foundations of human existence have been shaken and disturbed.

Like the Hobbits in “Lord of the Rings” who were persuasively removed from their beloved Shire, we feel as though we have been robbed of our true culture. Nothing will be right for the Hobbits until they can return safely home, even if in the meantime they must confront the darkest forces in the world. Nothing will be right for us until we can return to the truth about human nature, even if in the meantime we must confront competing ideologies and various humanisms and half-truths.

If a nation throws out both “faith” and “reason” then it is already in grave danger.

Nevertheless, the Lord revealed to Saint Faustina that “Mercy is God’s greatest attribute.” (Diary 301). This means, of course, that sometimes mercy triumphs over justice, which is what happened on the Cross when Christ freely poured out His Blood for us. God’s real desire is to save our souls, no matter how much we deceive ourselves, no matter how much we resist His calls and inspirations, no matter how much we despise His words and commandments.

While some accept some religious authority on the question of marriage, others do not.

Be that as it may, the homosexual question has been so politicised that it has created problems and misconceptions on many levels. The only way forward is a dispassionate presentation of the truths which to a great extent have remained unknown, truths such as: (1) preserving traditional marriage and maintaining respect for homosexual persons are not mutually exclusive; (2) affirming the dignity and worth of a human being does not entail agreeing with their opinions; (3) homosexual persons in Australia are no longer discriminated against (see the Same Sex Relationships Act of 2008); (4) changing the Marriage Act could potentially rob all Australians of the freedoms of speech, association, conscience, and education; (5) human rights do not come out of nowhere—they have a foundation in reality, in human nature, in our capacities, in our real purpose.

But while you might proclaim such truths and meet with varying degrees of success, there is another, more subtle, more dangerous consequence to the idea of a “vote” on marriage. Think about this for a moment. If the majority voted in favour of telling lies or stealing goods or killing an innocent human being, would that suddenly make it “lawful” to commit such acts? Which, of course, begs the question: What is the “good”? Surely, the good has to be good for everyone.

But let’s put such philosophical considerations aside, shall we? The realists in our society, those who courageously confront this grave moment in Australia’s march through history, are quick to remind us that our fundamental freedoms are now up for grabs. Right now in the hallowed halls of the Australian parliament. The freedoms and rights which we have long enjoyed in Australia are no longer guaranteed for us. The Australian people are on the threshold of a profound cultural and political turning point. This will make or break our long standing traditions and rights and freedoms.

So what good is it to bring to people’s attention the religious or philosophical foundations of the marriage debate? The point is that, win or lose, ideas have consequences in real life. The point is that our senators are currently positioning themselves in a vote for or against the rights and freedoms of Australians.

What are the possible outcomes? At best, changes to the Marriage Act could be reconciled with the fundamental rights and freedoms of all Australians. At worst, we could lose the foundations of a liberal democracy as we know it.

But who cares, you might ask? That’s the real the question.

And even if the Australian government were to pass an unjust or inappropriate or inconvenient law tomorrow—that would not stop us from being genuine activists, would it? It would not stop us from fighting for human dignity, on one level or another. You can’t legislate against the creative power of the human spirit; you can’t legislate against love; you can’t stop the human spirit from rising above the limitations of the prevailing culture. There will always be room for the creative freedom of men and women of good will to recreate culture, and to recreate the world.

Is this marriage debate really about equality or about pointing the finger at homosexual persons? And if not, then what really is the nature of this present moment that we face as Australians?

Janet Albrechtsen gave a succinct answer in The Australian (15 November 2017, ‘Forget Hurt Feelings, Free Speech is a Birthright’): “The outcome of this contest is not just a matter for gay people and religious people. It’s a matter for all of us in a liberal democracy. It will settle, one way or another, whether the country can finally confront and reconcile a 30-year project aimed at the sustained corruption of classical liberal ideas of universal human rights.”

Such universal human rights are what we are now having to fight for in Australia when these rights ought to be unconditionally protected and preserved by our politicians.

What good is it to remind the world that God punishes a nation for its sins when Christians themselves fail in their Christian duty? What good is it for a minority group to cry for equality when obvious features of our human nature are wilfully denied? Can we really solve this problem by fuelling a minor social conflict into a nationwide debate without careful consideration of all the relevant questions?

I don’t think so.

There are philosophical presuppositions in the debate which need to be corrected. There are false dichotomies which need to be resolved. There are social ills and misconceptions which need to be healed with love and truth, not merely legislated. The greater responsibility lies with us who believe in Jesus Christ, not with those who do not yet know the Lord.

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

As Pope Saint Pius V said: “All the evils in the world are due to lukewarm Catholics.” And in the words of Khalil Gibran: “The true wealth of a nation lies not in its gold or silver but in its learning, wisdom and in the uprightness of its sons.”

Perhaps it’s time that Christians took the Lord’s words seriously: “You are my friends if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14). Those who are friends of the Lord are in a position to call down blessings on an entire nation, to intercede to God for the outpouring of His mercy, and to raise up a new generation of sanctified souls in the service of the well-being of the whole nation.