“It’s a free country, ain’t it?” That used to be part of a very snotty comeback from someone being told what to do—or what not to do.
It’s a very American attitude: brash, bold, assertive, proud—and even disdainful and rebellious.
The United States was born out of rebellion and revolution. The thirteen English colonies rejected the authority of their king, disobeyed his laws and edicts, and asserted that they had a God-given right to be free of him.
Let’s face it, by the standards of their day their behavior was considered illegal, criminal, wicked, and sinful. And, we celebrate it every 4th of July!
The American justification for the revolution and the war for independence involved invoking a higher power and authority than the king and asserting the existence of inalienable natural rights, rights that cannot be taken away by any human authority.
An irony of American history is that we’ve become a very litigious, legalistic country—constantly bring charges against one another and seeking punishment and redress.
We’re constantly arguing about laws, invoking laws, rules, and regulations, and challenging the legitimacy of their interpretation.
American Catholicism also has been very legalistic. For many, the impact of Vatican II was not much more than a change in Church laws, rules, and regulations: turning the altars around, Mass in the vernacular, no more Friday abstinence, and easing up of regulations for Lent.
Here’s a current example of a religious legalism: Because of the Coronavirus, we were “dispensed from the obligation of attending Mass every Sunday”. Dispensed? There weren’t any Sunday Masses!
We can’t blame all of the legalism on American culture. There is a certain legalism in the Church itself.
For centuries, the Church defined itself as a perfect society. The two perfect societies, Church and State, each had their own legislative, judicial, and executive functions and personnel. They each could make laws.
The Church has a Code of Canon Law, courts, judicial trials, and can mete out sentences and punishments.
Of course Church authorities have to be of service to all its members, and their challenge is to be of service: to serve more than rule, to teach more than legislate, to witness more than enforce.
What a curious irony of history! American Catholics historically have been outstandingly obedient, dutiful, and rule-abiding. When it comes to the Church, the majority of them are certainly not at all “brash, bold, assertive, proud—and even disdainful and rebellious”!
In the history of the Church, many others—in many other times and places—have been, for better or for worse!
In hindsight, the American revolution came to be seen as a good—not perfect, not without flaws, faults, and limitations—but as a good. Today, the U.K. and U.S, are not enemies but allies and share common roots, culture, and history.
In the Church, a similar change of attitude has occurred. The “heretics” and “schismatics” of the past are now brothers and sisters in Christ, part of the one Church of Christ in all of its diversity.
Let’s stop waving the “Don’t Step on Me” flag and march under “Ex Pluribus Unum”.
28 June 2020