Hey there,
If you’ve stopped yourself from posting on social media for fear you’ll offend someone, you’re not alone.
A July poll by The Cato Institute found that 62% of Americans avoid expressing their beliefs for this reason.
I’ve held back … a lot.
We’re afraid of falling victim to the cancel culture.
Dictionary.com defines it this way:
“Cancel culture refers to the popular practice of withdrawing support for (canceling) public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive.”
We’re canceling historical figures like Robert E. Lee and other Confederates by removing their statues from our public squares and taking their names off of schools and municipal buildings.
Companies like Chick-fil-A, Hobby Lobby, and Goya are boycott due to the expressed beliefs of the CEO.
Celebrities like J.K. Rowling and 50 Cent were canceled for supporting beliefs or political candidates that are considered disagreeable or offensive.
Nowadays, everyone is at risk of being canceled … even you and me. We may be unfollowed by friends on Facebook. We may lose out on a business opportunity.
Some people have even lost their job based on a tweet or Facebook post.
As a society, we’re becoming intolerant of mistakes and differing viewpoints and in my view, the fact that there is a term for it emphasizes the severity of the problem.
This week’s issue of Genuflect looks at our cancel culture through the lens of Catholicism, the effect it has on evangelization, some techniques to avoid canceling, the canceling of the Catholic Church, the Holy Father’s example to combat the cancel culture, and some surprising examples of the cancel culture.
They say the first step in solving a problem is to identify that you have one. So hopefully now that cancel culture is top of mind, we’re better equipped to overcome it.
Keep Believing-
Katy Barrilleaux
Founding Editor, Genuflect
P. S. We are 13 days away from the 2020 US election. I encourage you to exercise your right to vote. And if you are still undecided, check out How Catholics Should Vote (Without Losing Your Seat in Heaven).
P. P. S. For the latest Catholic news, be sure to check out Genuflect Daily. We hand pick the top Catholic news you care about. Subscribe to the site and submit stories you find on the internet … and upvote all your favorites.
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Evangelization And Cancel Culture
As Catholics our mission is to evangelize the Gospel, but the cancel culture discourages us from expressing our views. This insightful editorial addresses the real loss that results in the lack of dialogue created by the cancel culture.
Editorial: The ‘Cancel Culture’ From a Perspective of Faith | Our Sunday Visitor
Avoiding The Cancel Culture
Canceling others has become mainstream. It may involve not talking with people or even unfriending them on social media. But throwing away relationships is not living the life of love for others that Jesus preaches. Here are four ways to avoid getting swept up in the cancel culture.
4 Ways to Avoid Being Swept up in “Cancel Culture” | Aleteia
Calling in vs. Calling Out
Rather than rushing to publicly call out people, Loretta Ross recommends calling in first. Your response should depend on your relationship with the person and then escalates from there depending on how they respond … or don’t.
Burned Out on Call-Out Culture? Try Fraternal Correction | Catholic Weekly
Canceling The Cancel Culture
No one is immune from the cancel culture these days, including Pope Francis. But perhaps we can follow the Holy Father’s example and practice parrhesia. Here’s what this Greek term means and how it can help us overcome the cancel culture.
Catholics and Cancel Culture | Catholic Outlook
Canceling The Catholic Church
The current cancel culture has been focused on eradicating historical figures as racists, but as Mr. Chalk reports, the mob has begun attacking figures that don’t fit the racist narrative. He theorizes now the real goal appears to be to take down America and it won’t stop until the Catholic Church is destroyed. He makes some interesting points.
Cancel Culture Comes For The Catholic Church | Crisis Magazine
Canceling Saint Junipero Serra
Among the various Confederate statues defaced and toppled by mobs of protesters around the US in recent months, some have been puzzled by the desecration of the statue of Saint Junipero Serra in San Francisco. Read about this inspiring Saint who founded nine Catholic missions in what is now California.
St. Junipero Serra Statue Torn Down in San Francisco Park | Catholic News Agency
Canceling The Coward Culture
If you’re frustrated with all the CEOs and university presidents that give in to the mob, or who cater to the latest group to be offended, you’ll enjoy this article. Mr. Smith offers advice on how these leaders should stop being cowards and take a stand. Let’s hope one of them somewhere reads this article.
Cancel Culture is Coward Culture | The Catholic Thing
Google Cancels Catholic Speaker
Last year Catholic speaker, author, and anti-porn activist Matt Fradd was hired to give a speech on the campus of Google on the non-religious effects of pornography. But right before the event, he was notified that Google canceled his appearance. Here’s the exchange between Google and Mr. Fradd about why he was canceled. See for yourself if you agree with Mr. Fradd as to the reason he was canceled.
Google Bans Catholic Speaker Matt Fradd’s Talk, Says Company Silences Religious Voices | ChurchPOP
Canceling The Bible in Scotland
Scotland is considering new hate crime legislation that the Bishops warn could deem the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Bible as inflammatory materials. Rather than a cancel culture, the Bishops say Scotland should support free speech and differing viewpoints.
Scottish Bishops Warn Against ‘Cancel Culture’ And Affirm ‘Freedom to Disagree’ | Crux
genuflect: prayer
Pray The Novena For The Holy Souls in Purgatory
All Soul’s Day is a little over a week away on November 2nd. Begin praying The Novena For the Holy Souls in Purgatory by October 24th to complete the novena by the feast day. You’ll find the instructions for The Novena For the Holy Souls in Purgatory here.
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