One of our great challenges as believers and as Catholics in our modern age is to be willing to testify to the truth. Jesus clearly spoke to His followers about the truth telling us, “If you remain in my word you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:31-32). 

 

And in the dark hour of His passion, Jesus said before His earthly judge, “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth” (Jn 18: 37).

 

There is a current of modern thought that proclaims that there is no truth that is real and applies to each one of us. Often cited in this regard is retired Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who wrote in 1992, “At the heart of liberty is the right to define one’s own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life” (Planned Parenthood v. Casey). 

 

In essence, this statement argues that truth is what we decide it is. Truth therefore can vary from person to person and from century to century. And of course as a consequence, the truth about God, about our salvation by Jesus Christ and about the very meaning of the world and ourselves disappears, redefined as myths or ideas helpful for some, but not a fundamental reality.

 

An event of great importance related to the understanding of truth took place just last week, and it’s important that we be aware of it. As you may have heard, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision that applies the legal ban on discrimination based on sex, that is, on our biological birth reality, to sexual orientation and transgender status.

 

As we all know, the issues related to gender and sexual identity are prominent in our time. For that reason, our understanding of them and of their relation to the truth are necessary for us to witness well.

 

First, we must reaffirm that we love all of our brothers and sisters. We are all made in the image and likeness of God. For that reason, each of us has rights and dignity that must be honored and respected.

 

Nevertheless, we love and honor our brothers and sisters by reminding ourselves and them of the truth that encompasses every human person. In this case, it is that as part of God’s plan, we are gifted in our identity given each of us by God as being male or female. Because as the Book of Genesis tells us, God has looked on all that He made and saw that it was good, so too is the gift of our sex. (Gn 1:31).

 

Pope Francis has often discussed this issue. He taught us eloquently in his Encyclical Laudato Sì’ that “ ... valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognize myself in an encounter with someone who is different. In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment” (LS 155).

 

The supreme court decision is likely to invite challenges to religious liberty and the teaching, discussion and practice of our religious beliefs, especially in relation to schools, hospitals and even our charitable works.

 

We need, especially at a moment like this, to be people of faith, of prayer and of mercy. We are always confident in the truth because it is of Christ. 

 

Above all, we are confident that in witnessing to God’s creation, we are witnessing to what is supremely good in being male or female. That should motivate us to testify with charity and clarity to something that is so important.