Dared to Stand with Conviction: Catholicism, a Congressman, and a Cultural Crisis

The Roman Catholic Church had a big week. On Thursday, a 9 – 0 Supreme Court decision came down favorably for Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia—the city previously demanded that CSS capitulate on its doctrinal commitments regarding same-sex marriage if it wanted to continue its service in the foster care system. This was not only a major victory for CSS, but for religious freedom in America.

That was last Thursday—then came the controversy and chaos of Friday.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops set in motion an open rebuke of Catholic politicians who ardently support the expansion of abortions in the United States. This rebuke would apparently include the revocation of Communion.

As expected, a flurry of rancorous tweets dashed across social media. The decision caught the attention of The New York Times, the Associated Press, and a certain Catholic congressman from California who levied a direct challenge to his church.

Ted Lieu (D-CA) fired off a series of tweets decrying the move by the USCCB. One in particular stated, “Dear USCCB : I’m Catholic and I support: contraception, a woman’s right to choose, treatments for infertility, the right for people to get a divorce, the right of same sex marriage.” Then came the challenge: “Next time I got to Church, I dare you to deny me Communion.”

He claims that the USCCB has weaponized Communion, exacting political retribution on Democratic politicians who do not abide by their church’s clear teachings on the issue of abortion.

There are a plethora of issues with Congressman Lieu’s theology. I’m no Roman Catholic, but I at least understand basic ecclesial standards surrounding Communion as well as who is and is not permitted to partake in the Lord’s Supper. Lieu seems to think that the table is open to everyone, notwithstanding that person’s faith or any moral, ethical, and sinful hindrances that may disbar that individual from participation in the Supper. 

That being said, Lieu’s lambast of his church rings with irony. It is ironic that Lieu, along with other Catholic lawmakers, want toleration extended to them from the church on issues like abortion while they simultaneously withhold toleration and religious freedom from, say, a Catholic foster care agency that wants to serve its community while not surrendering its doctrinal convictions. I find it ironic that Congressman Lieu was silent when the Supreme Court delivered a resounding victory for the social arm of his church, but on Friday, took to the streets of social media in order to castigate American bishops who again affirmed the necessity of moral coherence amongst its membership.

Where was Congressman Lieu when city after city, state after state, severed its ties to Catholic adoption and foster care agencies solely because those institutions would not cease to resist on the issue of same-sex marriage? Where was Congressman Lieu for the Little Sisters of the Poor? Where are the Democrats who apparently love their church when the church constantly suffers the assails from the sexual revolution, which demands that the church modify its teachings on gender, marriage, and sexuality?  Where are they?

Instead of standing by his church, Congressman Lieu challenges it by daring it to stand with conviction.

This provocation is yet another broadside from the left in its culture war campaign against any and every institution or religion that refuses to give in to the pressures of this secular age. This has little to do with the potentiality of certain Democratic lawmakers being refused Communion—this has everything to do with pressuring the church to abandon its teachings, or, at the very least, to sunder right belief from right action.

These travails represent the present cultural crisis facing all religious adherents and believers, not just Roman Catholics. Indeed, evangelical Christians face many of the same coercive forces demanding a theological and doctrinal downgrade on a litany of social and moral issues. Christian colleges and universities face a class-action lawsuit for abiding by scriptural teachings on gender and marriage, Jack Phillips now finds himself in legal trouble as he is continually harassed by the activists of the sexual revolution—and now, members of the Roman Catholic Church are daring its leaders to live by conviction.

The left will not abate in its culture war, and for Christians, the Bible could not be clearer about our response in this present moment. We gladly take up the dare to live by our convictions because we know whom we serve, and we know the truth upon which we stand. As God said to Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).

What the Congressman enjoined as a threat, Christians actually must embrace. We dare to live by conviction. That is what this moment demands of us.