A Tree Too Close

Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

“What are we to do,…?”

Acts 2:37 from Today’s First Reading

CHAPTER 5

A BETTER KIND OF POLITICS

Social and Political Charity

The politics we need

179. Global society is suffering from grave structural deficiencies that cannot be resolved by piecemeal solutions or quick fixes. Much needs to change, through fundamental reform and major renewal. Only a healthy politics, involving the most diverse sectors and skills, is capable of overseeing this process. An economy that is an integral part of a political, social, cultural and popular programme directed to the common good could pave the way for “different possibilities which do not involve stifling human creativity and its ideals of progress, but rather directing that energy along new channels”.[164]

A foundation repair specialist is inspecting our home as I write this blog. We have have already been told that a tree planted over 50 years ago by my dad needed to be removed in order to prevent “grave structural deficiencies” in the future. Even though there are fifty some-odd trees, just as old and planted by Dad on the home place, that tree suddenly became very precious to me, and I felt anger towards the specialist when the advice was given.

My reaction helped me to understand why Bishop Zurek is into throwing down his mask with the hope that, “piecemeal solutions or quick fixes” such as getting vaccinated, denouncing “Cancel Culture” or WOKE, and paying off our UCA assessments will return us to a “before” that preserves the long standing tree of clericalism in our diocese. However, according to Fratelli Tutti, “Much needs to change, through fundamental reform and major renewal. Only a healthy politics, (without the tree of clericalism) involving the most diverse sectors and skills, (laity) is capable of overseeing this process. An economy (UCA) that is an integral part of a political, social, cultural and popular program directed to the common good could pave the way for ‘different possibilities which do not involve stifling human creativity (like what was done with the letter to St. Mary’s Cathedral, “A Reflection on Christian Life”) and its ideals of progress, but rather directing that energy (anger) along new channels’.”