This morning, I celebrated Mass at the local Catholic high school. Driving back, I listened to an episode of The Catholic Current podcast with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. talking about the Twitter Files. In discussing the leftist movements that were controlling Twitter and thus controlling our cultural conversation surrounding issues of marriage, gender, etc., Fr. McTeigue said (paraphrasing), "In an authoritarian regime, there is no 'Benedict Option'."
The Benedict Option comes from a book of the same name by the commentator Rod Dreher. The idea of the Benedict Option is that we fight the decay and decadence of our culture by forming Christian communities to cultivate virtuous lives. Ideally, these communities would be within our existing towns and cities, but if necessary, withdraw and establish our own communities much like the Amish and Hutterite colonies. This is following the example of the father of Western monasticism, St. Benedict of Nursia.
The principle of the Benedict Option assumes that those in charge of the surrounding culture, whether government or cultural influencers, will allow Christians to develop our own virtuous culture without opposition. As Fr. McTeigue points out, authoritarians won't do that. You will march in lockstep with the current orthodoxy, or you will be shunned, persecuted, even martyred for your heterodoxy. While this is most clear in large population centers, even quiet, rural areas will not be immune. You hear a lot more conservative, traditional speech in the small town I live in, but yet there has been justified concerns about some aspects of the leftist movements creeping into the school here. And this little town isn't alone, as I've heard similar reports across this Old West state.
As much as we want to stick our heads in the sand, we don't have that luxury. The voices for leftist orthodoxy are loud and unwilling to brook any debate or disagreement. We need to be willing to stand up and push back. Respectfully, peacefully push back.
And we can't rely on others to do it. The changes and revelations at Twitter following Elon Musk's purchase are a great step, but now we need to use our voices, whether here on Locals and Rumble, on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc. or in our personal conversations. Yes, it can be very uncomfortable and awkward when speaking up, but the more we do it, the more we find allies who agree but need the encouragement to stand up.
We may not be able to hide any more, but that might be a good thing for the future of our families and nations!
The Catholic Current: https://thestationofthecross.com/podcasts/the-catholic-current/
