It is interesting to me that some people live by principles and some do not. Some people can adapt to any or most situations because there are few things which they would never give up.
For some of us, there are many things we would never give up. For Catholics, the list is long.
Like going to Church on Sunday. I know a Catholic person who willingly and, indeed, sought out a job for better pay in a country which has no Catholic Masses legally. He cannot go to Mass except rarely.
I could never do that for a higher salary or for any salary. I would be putting money before a commandment.
Another person I know does not mind passing out abortifacients as a pharmacist. I could never do that.
I would be helping to kill babies.
Yet, someone else I know teaches a government curriculum in a school where she has to show Margaret Sanger as a great heroine in the history of women's rights. I could not do that. For me, that would not only be lying, but setting aside discernment, a gift of the Holy Spirit given to all of us.
Another person I know left a college as a whistle blower because the owner was acting in deceit with the staff and teachers ad lying to the press. She was brave and had many friends support her decision. I have lost track of her, but I admire her for her honesty and bravery.
Why is it that some people can compromise and some cannot? Why is it that Thomas More could not take the Oath and his daughter could? Margaret Roper was the person closest to her father. She died at 39 and is not a canonized saint. And, yet, her father is. What is the difference is such people?
Here is the act and the oath: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/more/moreoath.html
1. THE OATH
MORE WAS ARRESTED FOR REFUSING TO TAKE THIS OATH IN APRIL 1534.
....And at the day of the last prorogation of this present Parliament, as well the nobles spiritual and temporal as other the Commons of this present Parliament, most lovingly accepted and took such oath as then was devised in writing for maintenance and defence of the said Act, and meant and intended at that time that every other the king's subjects should be bound to accept and take the same, upon the pains contained in the said Act, the tenor of which oath hereafter ensueth:
Ye shall swear to bear faith, truth, and obedience alonely to the king's majesty,
and to his heirs of his body of his most dear and entirely beloved lawful wife
Queen Anne, begotten and to be begotten, and further to the heirs of our said
sovereign lord according to the limitation in the statute made for surety of his
succession in the crown of this realm, mentioned and contained, and not to any
other within this realm, for foreign authority or potentate: and in case any oath be
made, or has been made, by you, to any person or persons, that then ye [are]
to repute the same as vain and annihilate; and that, to your cunning, wit,
and uttermost of your power, without guile, fraud, or other undue means,
you shall observe, keep, maintain, and defend the said Act of Accession,
and all the whole effects and contents thereof, and all other Acts and statutes
made in confirmation, or for the execution of the same, or of anything therein contained;
and this ye shall do against all manner of persons, of what estate, dignity, degree,
or condition soever they be, and in no wise do or attempt, nor to your power
suffer to be done or attempted, directly or indirectly, any thing or things privily
or apartly to the let, hindrance, damage, or derogation thereof, or of any part
of the same, by any manner of means, or for any manner of pretence;
so help you God, all saints, and the holy Evangelists.'
2. THE TREASON ACTAnd forasmuch as it is convenient for the sure maintenance and defence of the same Act that the said oath should not only be authorized by authority of Parliament, but also be interpreted and expounded by the whole assent of this present Parliament, that is was meant and intended by the king's majesty, the Lords and Commons of the Parliament, at the said day of the said last prorogation, that every subject should be bounden to take the same oath, according to the tenor and effect thereof, upon the pains and penalties contained in the said Act....
MORE WAS TRIED AND EXECUTED FOR VIOLATING THIS ACT IN JULY 1535.
Be it therefore enacted by the assent and consent of our sovereign lord the king, and the Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that if any person or persons, after the first day of February next coming, do maliciously wish, will or desire, by words or writing, or by craft imagine, invent, practise, or attempt any bodily harm to be done or committed to the king's most royal person, the queen's, or their heirs apparent, or to deprive them or any of them of their dignity, title, or name of their royal estates, or slanderously and maliciously publish and pronounce, by express writing or words, that the king our sovereign lord should be heretic, schismatic, tyrant, infidel or usurper of the crown, or rebelliously do detain, keep, or withhold from our said sovereign lord, his heirs or successors, any of his or their castles, fortresses, fortalices, or holds within this realm, or in any other the king's dominions or marches, or rebelliously detain, keep, or withhold from the king's said highness, his heirs or successors, any of his or their ships, ordnances, artillery, or other munitions or fortifications of war, and do not humbly render and give up to our said sovereign lord, his heirs or successors, or to such persons as shall be deputed by them, such castles, fortresses, fortalices, holds, ships, ordnances, artillery, and other munitions and fortifications of war, rebelliously kept or detained, within six days next after they shall be commanded by our said sovereign lord, his heirs or successors, by open proclamation under the great seal:
That then every such person and persons so offending in any the premises, after the said first day of February, their aiders, counsellors, consenters, and abettors, being thereof lawfully convicted according to the laws and customs of this realm, shall be adjudged traitors, and that every such offence in any the premises, that shall be committed or done after the said first day of February, shall be reputed, accepted, and adjudged high treason, and the offenders therein and their aiders, consenters, counsellors, and abettors, being lawfully convicted of any such offence as is aforesaid, shall have and suffer such pains of death and other penalties, as is limited and accustomed in cases of high treason.
Many people were in the concentration camp with St. Maximilian Kolbe and yet, he was the one who gave his life for another man. Why?
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| thanks to wiki for the armorial bearings of John Fisher |
Why is it that St. John Fisher was the ONLY bishop not to compromise his faith under Henry VIII?
One out of how many bishops was this saintly man?
Why can some compromise and some cannot?
What are you willing to give up for money, power or status?
The question is fascinating...
I watched the Parliament questioning Archbishop Peter Smith. He did not compromise. He was clear in his answers concerning the Faith and moral teachings of the Church. He was laughed at more than one by some members of the hearing.
History is repeating itself and some Catholics just do not see what is happening.
Be ready not to compromise.