Polarization. You say that like it’s a bad thing. But is it? And if it’s bad, why? I doubt anyone would disagree that our country, our world, and even Catholics within the Church are becoming more and more polarized. But why? Is polarization a natural, inevitable, cyclical process, or can it happen by some kind of manipulative design?

Polarization does not have to automatically mean an icy standoff or a volatile battlefield. There can be an agreement to disagree. But, of course, it depends on the issue. If it involves the harming or taking of human life (by whatever means), then just passively holding to our side of the issue without action won’t cut it. Sometimes, simply using measured words and facts to state our case will draw down the wrath of our opponents upon us. So be it. 

Try as we might to have a calm, rational exchange about a heated issue--in real life or online—things can escalate quickly. In the absence of actual debate protocols, four good “rules” might be: 

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1. Disrespect the position, but never the person holding it. (A tip of the hat to Fulton Sheen who said: “Intolerance applies to ideas, but never persons. Tolerance applies to persons, but never ideas.”) 
2. Name-calling and labels (can we please retire “Nazi”?) are not helpful. 
3. Repeatedly using dehumanizing and violent speech can translate into the same kind of action. 
4. The cardinal virtues come in handy when making our point (prudence, justice, temperance, courage).

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Are we now at a place in society where what is evil is considered good, and what is good is considered evil? Perhaps. A friend of a friend who’s not a believer wanted to talk religion with me. She said: “All you have to do in life is be a good person; you don’t need religion.” Me: “How do we know what’s good? Some people say abortion is murder, while others say it’s the loving thing to do. Exact opposite ideas of ‘good’ on a very important matter.” She wound up agreeing that there has to be an objective source to inform us what’s good. Today, we can’t assume anything, not even that people have a general idea of what’s good, right, logical, ordered. Why would they? We have reached a tipping point of successive generations not taught Biblical principles or trained systematically in the Christian Faith from childhood. Generations that then shaped culture in the home, schools, courts, hospitals, arts, business, parliament. What of polarization within the Catholic Church (that is, inside the differing minds of the people in the pews, not the Barque of Saint Peter itself)? It’s rather simple. I refuse to use terms like “conservative” or “liberal” Catholic. They are political descriptors and have no place in the Church. Many subjects about which folks are at odds are clearly and definitively taught by the Church, or if they were once contested, are now settled matters and cannot be dug up for further contestation. At one point in the American Church, way back in the 1990’s, due to polarization, a “Common Ground Project” was launched to get Catholics of different stripes dialoguing with each other. I remember an American Cardinal refusing to initiate the CGP in his diocese: “We already have common ground. It’s called the Catholic Faith.”

When error, heresy or waywardness tries to get its way in the Catholic Church, sometimes polarization is called for. It can be a good thing. As St. Paul says: “Indeed, there have to be factions among you, for only so will it become clear who among you are genuine.” 1 Corinthians 11:19 It would not be wise to proof-text all the “division is necessary” Bible verses (Jesus: “I came to bring division”), and neither should we proof-text all the “unity is the goal” verses (Jesus: “I pray that they may all be one”). What must be grasped is that God doesn’t change. His Word doesn’t change. Catholic doctrine doesn’t change. It’s not unity at any cost. We need true unity, not false compromise. Niceness for niceness’ sake is not a Christian virtue. Divisions in context are good. What must change is ourselves, day by day: “To see Thee more clearly, love Thee more dearly, follow Thee more nearly.”