Identity in Catholic Social Teaching
In this workshop, Dr. Lombardi and Fr. Belgrave explored the facets of identity, their ideological manifestations—and the seeds of the truth they might contain—in light of the fullness of truth found in Catholic social teaching.
There are few ideas more valued in modern culture than that of identity, claims to which are sacrosanct. Whether identity is conceived of as discovering that which is innate and fixed or the product of our decisions and cultural environment, so long as it is authentically chosen and self-defined, it is thought to be right, good, and a source of well-being and happiness. Identity is also shaped by consumerism, branding, politics—a long list of contemporary idols.
Thank you Catholic Conscience for hosting this important webinar. A special thank you to the hosts Brendan Steven and Peter Copeland. Peter is an Animator with Catholic Conscience. He is involved with think tanks in the public policy landscape and works as a Policy Advisor in the Ontario government. You can find his writing here.
“Fear is a big driver when it comes to identity and identity politics. If I’m feeling insecure about myself and about what I’m feeling and how other people see me, it’s going to create a fearful attitude. So it’s important to encourage people to feel, but to be aware of what’s informing the feeling...then we can check it with reason.””
“In the past, life was like a train. It had a track, and you knew the stops. It might go slow, or fast, but you knew the path of life. Now, life is more like a sailboat. You’re told you can go wherever you want, that the sky’s the limit. This leaves us vulnerable and struggling for identity. ”