CORONA WARS ~ the tragedy of Catholics tearing each other to pieces (Part 1)

PRIDE IS A KILLER

Spiritual knowledge without practical life (purification of the heart) is the theology of demons

St. Maximos the Confessor

I understand that the other week a brother in Christ attacked another brother in Christ on social media, mocking his hospitalization from coronavirus. There now seems to be all out "civil war" between ultramontane Catholics, who until "corona" appeared, devoted most of their energies to mocking, degrading, and slandering Pope Francis. They nearly, at times, seem to take a pathological delight in seeking out every opportunity to drag him into the mire. We have heard everything from "he is the antichrist", to "he is not the pope", etc., etc. And worse. Far, far worse. 

I wrote the other week about this "civil war", with the rise of "Gnostic Catholics" engaged in pitched social media battles with "Corona Catholics". Sadly, you reap what you sow. When the prideful turn in a circle and open up on each other - there will be no man left standing. 

Do not get engaged with trolls. Social media is not a framework for debate with anonymous unsolicited individuals. The warnings contained in Canon de Saint-Laurent's, "The Art of Conversation" though written in 1951, is very applicable in today's toxic social media environment. He warned against the "know-alls", who expressed themselves not with opinions, but with their so-called doctrines. He warned of the "scandal monger", who seeks out third parties to expose others' "faults". The immediacy and anonymity of the internet amplifies the ease with which one can fall into lack of charity towards our brothers and sisters in Christ. These trolls seem to be the veritable descendants of those who swept across north Africa, scimitar in hand crying, "convert or die". 

We must ask ourselves: how is it possible for a Christian to mock another Christian? How is it possible to mock any man, (even a sinner, or perhaps especially a sinner?) for everyman is a called by Christ to become a Christian? 

During this Easter Week, let us reflect on what we are doing, where we are going. Are we living the Gospel? Does hatred consume us? Are we constantly seeking out "errors", "heresy" (yet many times ignoring our own heresies?), and "apostasy" (yet not realizing that we too might not have lost the Faith, but are already well on the way to losing it). 

Pride

Pride is a Killer