Relativism and the Rorschach Blot

 In an article, published by National Review Online, entitled "Pope Francis and the Return of Natural Law," Samuel Gregg offers a counterpoint to much of the media coverage of the new Pope. In place of the ecumenical tone of most of the reports and analyses, Gregg makes the case that, despite the gentle beginnings of Pope Francis' leadership, anyone expecting him to be a "Gaia-worshipping baby boomer" is in for a nasty surprise.

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He cites Pope Francis at length:

But there is another form of poverty! It is the spiritual poverty of our time, which afflicts the so-called richer countries particularly seriously. It is what my much-loved predecessor, Benedict XVI, called the “tyranny of relativism,” which makes everyone his own criterion and endangers the coexistence of peoples.

And that brings me to a second reason for my name. Francis of Assisi tells us we should work to build peace. But there is no true peace without truth! There cannot be true peace if everyone is his own criterion, if everyone can always claim exclusively his own rights, without at the same time caring for the good of others, of everyone, on the basis of the nature that unites every human being on this earth.

Gregg calls this statement a return to the concept of right and wrong somehow being hardwired into the human psyche. He states that Pope Francis is weighing heavily against the moral relativism of modern times.

Quite naturally, the New Ager in me rises up and cries out: "Oh no! This is, not so." But another part of me warns: "Yes, what Gregg says is true." Finally, a third part of me says: "Both are true." I begin to realize that, in a way, Pope Francis is a little like a Rorschach blot. Each person sees what he or she wishes to read into the Pope.

How can "both be true"? Talk about "moral relativism!

It is clear that the Pope doesn't like people just going around "doing their own things" with little regard for G-d or other people. Obviously, he believes that there is a truth that is discernable to everyone. Mr. Gregg rightly asserts that Pope Francis is sticking to Catholic doctrine. Hippies and tree-huggers beware if you think the Pope is going to stand around with birds on his shoulders and make the peace sign for everybody, no matter what they are doing. It isn't going to happen. 

But it's not only the New Age folks that are in for it. The message is also for dictators, rich "fat cats," and bankers. It's for CEOs who run their companies like little banana republics. It's for leaders who show no heart for anybody else. It's for warmongers and terrorists and racists of any stripe. It's for selfish people who put down other people to make themselves seem bigger and better. It's for people who waste time seeking pleasure without responsibility. It's for all liars, hypocrites, and haters. Everybody is going to get a moral slap on the cheek. All of us are going to be shamed a bit. And, Bob Dylan's Chimes of Freedom are going to flash for all of us who have been marginalized in one way or another.

We can  perceive clearly that there is, indeed, a terrible spiritual lack in the world, "if everyone can claim exclusively his own rights," and we stop right there. However, there is more that follows these words. Pope Francis adds after the comma: "without at the same time caring for the good of others, of everyone, on the basis of the nature that unites every human being on this earth." The Pope's unfortunate use of "his" here should not be taken to mean only men are doing this. There are plenty of women who act the same way.

Let me be guilty of a bit of "deconstruction" here and read my own meaning into this statement. My own moral code has always been that something is wrong if it hurts other beings (people, animals, plants, the earth). There are different ways to interpret that. 

For example, if one wants to remove a nuclear plant from an area—that sounds like a very responsible thing to do. It will eliminate a source of danger and pollution from the area. However, the people who held jobs that plant will be unemployed, and the area will be bereft of a source of inexpensive power. Does that mean the plant should be allowed to remain? My bias says "no," but there is a part of me that realizes that there will be consequences that need to be dealt with. What will we do for the jobless people? How will supply the area with inexpensive energy? Herein comes the infamous "moral relativism," and the lack of clarity, of absolute truth. There is always more to a situation that meets the eye.

As Pope Francis said, he wants to keep to the Catholic doctrine, but he wants to dialogue with people who don't believe in it or practice it. He wants to think about changes and what they might mean. As a Cardinal, he was willing to "render to Cesar what is Cesar's" regarding gay marriage. He is willing to think about cultural change regarding priestly celibacy. He wants to talk to Muslims, Jews, and atheists. He acknowledges the existence of moral relativism and respects that there are other truths that people have discovered.

I believe he realizes that some of us who are "doing our own things" do have values and are concerned for other people. He will adhere to the Catholic way—not with hatred for the rest of us. We hippies and tree huggers won't get everything we want within the Church—far from it—but we will get something that we have not gotten for a long, long time. We will get a respectful and caring ear that listens to—and hears—our concerns. And some of these concerns may actually be addressed.

It is time to stop thinking in such polar terms. It is time to stop thinking about absolutes, about all or nothing. If we are ever to have any peace on this earth, we have to be willing to be strong within ourselves and yet flexible enough to bend a little to meet one another. It's high time, perhaps to stop expecting and to let ourselves be surprised instead. It's time to approach Pope Francis with a little bit of moral relativism within ourselves instead of trying to be self-righteous.

Will the Pope speak for me, an outsider? Sometimes, but not always. And sometimes will be so much better than never.