WELLINGTON Its not easy to be a committed Catholic in New Zealands secular environment, says Cardinal Tom Williams. The secular nature of our society in which we live, the consumerism and materialism, set up influences that impact on people, he told NZ Catholic in an interview marking the 25th anniversary of his elevation to the College of Cardinals.
Those with a Catholic background are a minority group in New Zealand 13 per cent and those around us are bound to be influential.
If those people have gone over to moral relativism and consumerism and materialism, that is bound to impact on our lives.
Sometimes, he said, its seen as easier or more convenient to let [Catholic] things go.
The moral temperature has really collapsed in many areas, especially when peoples consciences are challenged or they face moral dilemmas. They often know what they are doing is not what the Church would want, not what God would want, but they can't live in a dichotomy.
They know theyre not acting in accord with what they were brought up with, know its not right, but they want to keep doing it.
Nevertheless, people often still come back to the Faith, the cardinal said. He said the quest to regain those who consider themselves Catholics, because of their upbringing or schooling, but dont attend Mass, is part of the absolutely essential initiative of new evangelisation that Pope John Paul II spoke about.
Read the full story in the February 10 issue of NZ Catholic
