The
resurgence of the dangerous “seamless garment” mentality should cause
us grave concern. In its most pernicious form, this philosophy holds
that grave intrinsic evils like contraception, abortion and euthanasia
and social problems like poverty, immigration, health care and the
environment are morally equivalent. It is dangerous because it distracts
the Church from recognizing the intrinsic evil (“wrongness”) of certain
moral acts and their deadly consequences, leading souls astray and
paralyzing our ability to respond effectively.
The
“seamless garment” philosophy also diverts attention from individual
sin and culpability by focusing more on “collective” than personal sin.
Under its influence, instead of a prophetic voice “crying out in the
wilderness,” the Church becomes just another non-governmental
organization (NGO), striving for “social justice” via a socially
acceptable version of social reform eviscerated of the Gospel message of
repentance.
