There can be no moral renewal of public life without respect for God and Man

Jul 28, 2022 by Jill

by Michael Nazir Ali, Catholic Herald:

In July 2022, just before Boris Johnson’s resignation, Nick Timothy—Theresa May’s former Chief of Staff—surveyed in the Daily Telegraph the detritus of law-breaking by lawmakers, parliamentary sleaze, cash-for-honours and the possible misleading of Parliament, and called for moral renewal in our nation and among our elected representatives.

It is a highly laudable call, but how is such a renewal to come about, and what might be its features? At this time of a leadership contest in the Conservative Party (brought about at least in part by failures in moral leadership), these are questions that need to be asked of ourselves and of those seeking to lead us. Questions cannot be limited to who is going to cut taxes the most, or to curb illegal immigration more strictly.

Knowing the difference between right and wrong cannot just be a matter of returning to old political and social conventions. Such discernment must be made on the basis of right belief about ourselves, our place in the universe, and our relations with our fellow human beings. We become persons through our relationships with others: family, friends, and even adversaries. Radical views of autonomy will only lead to selfishness and greed.

Decisions about assisted suicide, for example, cannot be taken just because I might feel guilty or embarrassed if I became dependent on others for help in daily living. I would have to take into consideration the feelings and future of my spouse, my children, our wider family, and even my friends—not to mention the vulnerable in society at large who would be placed in further danger by my decision. The strengthening of palliative care in general, and the hospice movement in particular, would assist in the management of pain and in end-of-life care; I would need to remember that “last days are not lost days”.

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Read also: Sunak vs Truss: where is the moral vision of leadership?by Archbishop Cranmer