Green martyrdom? Not so much.
Maybe more like an exhortation to martyrdom.
Fr. Thomas Euteneur of Human Life International said Christian martyrdom will take on different forms in the future. He speaks about a “green” martyrdom:
He explained the subtle economic forces that can compromise the faithful: “even though many Catholics would undoubtedly give up their lives for Christ, people find it much harder to give up their jobs for Christ.”
HLI’s president warned of pressures on health professionals to commit intrinsically evil acts in the course of their work, the difficulties of avoiding immoral practices institutionalized in some businesses, and the unjust stigma placed upon parents who criticize sex education in schools or have more children than average.
Father Euteneur saw this coercion acting even upon bishops. The Archdiocese of New York will face significant financial consequences if it avoids state legal requirements that health insurance cover employees’ contraception. Defending the Catholic faith, he wrote, “will sometimes mean bleeding green in lawsuits, financial losses, firings and confiscations for the sake of the Kingdom.” - CNA
Wouldn’t this be more accurately described as persecution? I think so. Actually, the financial and social sufferings Christians experience may serve as a preparation for martyrdom, but they cannot be classified as martyrdom itself. Unless we consider our money and prosperity as our life blood - hence the “green” martyrdom theory. If so, our priorities are skewed and just might require the correction.
October 16th, 2007 at 6:58 am
Well, yes, it is persecution, but I think what Fr. Euteneuer was getting at, is that when Catholics make the SACRIFICE of giving up a good job because it involves something contrary to the Faith, and particularly if they can not find other work, or if the only other work they find is at a much lower pay scale, then those people who made that sacrifice are “green martyrs”.
October 16th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Thanks Georgette - I think what fr. said is very valid and I agree with his point - I wanted to offer another understanding as well - that many of our trials and tribulations in modern life can also be the preparation for martyrdom.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Headline Yesterday on Lifesite News …. now take out “women” and fill in the blank w/some current or future peace & justice issue:
Norwegian Government to Companies: Include 40 % Women on Boards or be Dissolved
By Hilary White
OSLO, October 15, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The left-leaning government of Norway has issued an ultimatum to businesses: increase the number of women on the board of directors or be dissolved