"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil" (Is 5:20). The Lord wants us to "hate evil," not to rename it by a more acceptable name (Am 5:15). Our culture of death specializes in "spin" control, using smooth words to rename actions which are blatantly and objectively evil in the sight of God. Just because our society regards acts as acceptable and commonplace does not mean God no longer regards them as evil and wrong. Some examples of this are:

• We have a legal right to abort a "fetus." God considers this evil the murder of a living child (see Ex 20:13).
• Those who support the evil of abortion are called by the supposedly "good" name of pro-choice.
• Homosexual acts are consistently presented in the Bible as abhorrent to the Lord (see Lv 18:22; Rm 1:24-32). Yet if anyone speaks this truth in public, he or she is instantly vilified as evil and intolerant. In truth, it is evil to disregard and shout down God's good standards.
• Corporations exploit the poor and uneducated, conscripting them to work for low wages in subhuman conditions. This injustice is called by the "good" names of maximizing profits and increasing shareholder value.

These are but a few examples of how our society warps God's good and holy commands and twists them to appear restrictive, intolerant, and even evil. There can be only one future for "those who call evil good, and good evil," and that is eternal woe (Is 5:20). Repent! "Make no mistake about it, no one makes a fool of God!" (Gal 6:7) "Seek good and not evil, that you may live" (Am 5:14).

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Robert A. Stricker, December 13, 2003

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 18, 2003