Today, at a distance of 25 years, we need to reflect on those words. In so
many areas of life “the most fundamental principles of our Christian life”
are not only questioned, but ridiculed and threatened with sanction.
Individualism has come to predominate, the growth in the quest for
individual rights taking precedence over what is right. These trends bring
many challenges, they include:

The Sacredness of Life: Babies continue to be aborted, foetuses are
experimented upon, and life itself is considered a mere commodity, while
calls are openly made to legalise euthanasia - the killing of the elderly
and the sick.

The Family: Not only is the natural and fundamental union of man and woman
in marriage questioned as to its uniqueness, but as an institution it has
been downgraded by legislation which has accorded equal rights to unmarried
and same sex unions.

Education: Repeated attacks are made on our Catholic schools unjustly
accusing them of fostering sectarianism and discriminating against others,
and calling for their abolition.

Freedom of conscience: In recent months legislation has been introduced
which contradicts the right of Catholic agencies to work with a coherent
Christian ethic in many fields including adoption.

The list of challenges facing the Catholic community in 2007 is enormous.
It would be easy to become discouraged. To do so, however, would be a
profoundly unchristian response. It is not an option for us to flee from
the world. Vatican II reminded us of the Church’s necessary role at the
heart of the world, sharing its joys and hopes and acting as the yeast of
the society in which we live (cf audium et Spes 4).

We cannot retreat to a ghetto. We cannot abandon public life. We cannot
keep silent in the face of injustice or immorality. Neither can we surrender
to the spirit of the age or conform to the model secular humanism would
impose upon us.

Once more we can find words of prophetic encouragement from the late Pope’s
message delivered 25 years ago:

“To provide the answers to [today’s] questions is a daunting task. It would
be an impossible challenge for the majority of the faithful to attempt
unaided. But you are not alone. The Spirit of God is operative in the
Church.
Never before as in recent years has the teaching of the Catholic Church been
so extensively reformulated, precisely with the issues that trouble the
modern conscience in mind… I assure you that we are acutely aware of the
problems you have to face in life, and of the anxiety which so often fills
your hearts.”

“Your commitment to the sure ways of Christian living could well be decisive
in bringing salvation to many. The world still recognizes genuine goodness
for what it is!”

With such words the late Holy Father encouraged us to draw inspiration from
the past and embrace again the fundamental practices of the faith in facing
today’s challenges. That call we make our own today:

“Be loyal to the memory of those valiant forerunners in the Faith. Be
diligent in handing on intact the spiritual heritage committed to you. Be
faithful to your daily prayers, to the Holy Mass and the Sacrament of
Reconciliation, meeting regularly with Jesus as a loving and merciful
Saviour. Defend the sacredness of Life and the holiness of Matrimony.
Understand your holy Catholic faith and live by its teaching. Face up to
the difficult challenges of modern life with Christian fortitude and
patience.”