Bishop Arthur J. Serratelli

The Alka-Seltzer’s “Spicy Meatball” commercial first aired on television in 1969. It became an instant classic. A middle-­aged man sat at the kitchen table. His wife stood beside him waiting to hear him compliment the spaghetti and meatballs she had just served him. The actor took a bite of one meatball and then messed up his line. He did it again and again. He just could not get out the sentence “Mamma mia, that’s a spicy meatball.” His accent was off; the words jumbled. Yet, take after take, he ate another meatball. Finally, the commercial ended with someone saying, “Sometimes you eat more than you should. And when it’s spicy besides — mamma mia, do you need Alka-Seltzer!”

Everybody liked the commercial. People talked about it, even taking delight in repeating the flubbed line. Yet, the commercial did nothing to boost sales. In fact, sales decreased. The reason? People thought the commercial was about spicy spaghetti sauce. They confused the humor with the message. There was no clear communication.

Of even greater consequence is the clear communication of ideas in a democracy. And this requires the freedom to express one’s thought. In 1737, Benjamin Franklin said, “Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government. When this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins.” And, in 1783, the first president of our newly formed government warned, “If men are to be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter, which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences that can invite the consideration of mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of speech may be taken away, and dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep, to the slaughter.”

Today’s ever-present imperative of political correctness may easily become a limitation of our freedom of speech. Political correctness should never be confused with the hurtful slurs and demeaning taunts voiced too often in political discourse. This kind of speech does nothing to foster clear communication of ideas. Political correctness is something else. It forbids any speech that may be perceived to offend the sensibilities of minorities or the socially disadvantaged.

In a world where political correctness is de rigeur and where ideologies have become stridently vocal, sometimes honestly speaking the truth — and doing so with charity — is now condemned as politically incorrect. Condemning abortion is labelled politically incorrect, because it is said to offend those who call it women’s right to choose. Speaking about marriage as a union of a man and a woman is now politically incorrect, because it offends proponents of same-sex unions. Saying that human sexuality is a given of the natural law is now seen as infringing on a person’s ability to be whatever they like.

Recently, a high school French teacher in Virginia was fired for refusing to use a transgender-identified student’s preferred pronouns. Gender identity ideology not only advocates the individual’s right to determine whether they want to be male or female, it is also changing our language. Contrary to common sense, gender ideology is today’s political correctness. In a very non-politically correct statement, Pope Francis has called gender ideology demonic and Hitlerian. He sees it as a disruption of the order of creation.

In Europe, Canada, South America and the United States, people have been more tolerant of those who adopted a same sex lifestyle. More and more individuals do not accept the Creator’s design for male and female complementarity. As a result, they equate homosexuality with heterosexuality. In a politically incorrect moment, Pope Francis has lamented that, “In our societies, it even seems homosexuality is fashionable. And this mentality, in some way, also influences the life of the Church.”

The tragic reality of abortion plagues the civilized world. In an age that promotes the dignity of women, common sense recognizes abortion as anti-women. As Mother Teresa once noted, “three-quarters of its victims are women: half the babies and all the mothers.” Admitting that it pained him to say it, Pope Francis has said, “It is not right to kill a human being, regardless of how small it is, to solve a problem. It is like hiring a hit man to solve a problem.” With even stronger words, he also said, “In the last century the entire world was scandalized over what the Nazis were doing to maintain the purity of the race. Today we do the same thing, but with white gloves.” On target, but politically incorrect.

Faced with the rapid legalization of same sex unions around the world, Pope Francis asked the question, “What can we think of marriage between people of the same sex?” And then he gave his answer “Matrimony is a historical word. Always, in humanity, and not just in the Church, it was a man and a woman. It’s not possible to change it.” He repeated for emphasis: “It’s not possible to change it. It is part of nature. That’s how it is…. Let us not play with truths.” Undoubtedly, his words are politically incorrect for those who dragged into court vendors who, because of their religious beliefs, choose not to provide their services for same sex celebrations (cf. Paul Kengor, “The Politically Incorrect Francis — 14 Shocking Statements,” Crisis Magazine, March 22, 2019).

In an age of relativism, where everyone claims to have their own truth, we cannot be held captive by the prevalent ideology or group thinking. If that were the case when the gospel was first proclaimed, the Church would never have survived. Pope Francis has been unafraid to be politically incorrect. Speaking on many issues, he has been “gospel-truth correct.” And here is the challenge to every faithful believer. While some may choose to attack others for their convictions, belittling them and demeaning them, we must always exercise charity. And, charity always means the clear communication of the truth.