SANCTIFYING OFFICE

The Liturgy

Cardinal William Goh has emphasized the importance of a deep encounter with Jesus, which he believes is essential for passing on the faith and revitalizing the liturgical life of the Church. He has underscored that the liturgy should not just be a ritualistic practice but a profound experience that leads to a personal encounter with Christ.

Additionally, Cardinal Goh has highlighted the importance of evangelization and the role of the liturgy in this mission. He believes that evangelization is at the heart of the Church’s mission, and the liturgy plays a crucial role in this by proclaiming the joy of the Gospel and welcoming people into a deeper relationship with God.

His approach aligns with the broader vision of Pope Francis, who emphasizes mercy, compassion, and the joy of the Gospel in the Church’s evangelizing efforts. Goh has described Pope Francis as a “beacon of mercy and compassion.”

Restoring Solemnity and Participation

In a 2023 pastoral letter, Cardinal Goh emphasized the importance of restoring the solemnity and spirit of the Day of the Lord through active participation in the Sunday Eucharist. He urged parishes to make the liturgy accessible to all, including those outside the main worship area, by providing live feeds in classrooms or open spaces.

Under Cardinal Goh’s leadership, the archdiocese of Singapore has updated its liturgical policies to align with the directives from the Council of Priests, a consultative body that assists the archbishop in the governance of the archdiocese. These policies are designed to ensure that liturgical practices adhere to the Church’s teachings and promote a sense of unity and reverence during worship.

Cardinal Goh has also stressed the need for the Church to remain truthful to the Gospel message in the face of secularism and relativism. He advocates a liturgy that speaks the truth with charity and does not compromise the core teachings of the Gospel.

This perspective reflects his commitment to maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the liturgical celebrations as a means of strengthening the faith of the Catholic community and fostering unity within the Church.

Goh believes the truth, preached with charity, should not be compromised or diluted as it is essential for setting people free. It must be communicated without harshness or unkindness, but delivered with love and compassion.

The Vetus Ordo

The Vetus Ordo has been held for many years at St. Joseph’s Church, which is not a parish church and as such was automatically exempt from the regulations of Traditionis Custodes.

Previous Singaporean archbishops had been rather hostile towards the old Mass.

Reception of Holy Communion

Goh has emphasized that receiving Holy Communion on the tongue is still the norm for the universal Church, and that receiving Jesus in the Eucharist in the hand is an indult (special permission) given to the Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei for their dioceses.

Broader Pastoral and Evangelical Efforts

Cardinal Goh has also been active in promoting religious harmony in the region. He has advocated strengthening dialogue between different religious communities and has plans to establish a research institute to develop methodologies for inter-religious dialogue.

Engagement with Civil Society

He has expressed a vision for a vibrant, evangelizing, and missionary Church, emphasizing the need for collaboration between laypeople and clergy. This vision includes engaging with civil society groups and promoting ecological and humanitarian efforts through initiatives like the Caritas Humanitarian Aid and Relief Initiatives of Singapore.

Overall, Cardinal Goh’s approach to the liturgy and pastoral care reflects a balance between firmly upholding traditional Catholic teachings and addressing contemporary pastoral needs with compassion and clarity.

GOVERNING OFFICE

Beyond being a member of the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Goh has had no curial experience but he does have extensive experience as an archbishop of a major archdiocese which he has led for 11 years.

While leading the archdiocese, vocation numbers have been encouraging for such a relatively small but increasing Catholic population of 170,000. In 2024, the cardinal had ordained 1 deacon and 3 priests while in 2023, 5 priests and 6 new deacons were ordained. From 2014 to 2022, the total number of priests rose from 145 to 158, although the total number of religious fell slightly, from 302 to 293.

Speaking about vocations in 2022, Goh noted the challenges of attracting vocations in such an affluent country, but added:

“We have quite a lot if we bring in together the religious vocations, not just the diocesan priesthood. But you notice and this is again a great difficulty for the Asian Church in those countries that are, you can say, not so affluent. They have plenty of vocations, too many! We do not know whether they are true vocations or not, or just to escape from the poverty cycle. So, discernment [is needed] because the seminaries are often full. There is difficulty trying to discern. But we must work to recognize what vocations are really genuine, even as we are trying to look for good vocations!”

Cardinal Goh has extensive experience in governance within the Catholic Church, both in Singapore and further afield. Since 2005, he has served as the Spiritual Director of the Singapore Archdiocesan Charismatic Renewal Experience, a position he continues to hold.

He has also held various other leadership roles within the Church, including being the parish priest of St Anne’s Church, Dean of Studies, Procurator, and rector of the Major Seminary in Singapore.

As archbishop, he has been responsible for overseeing the archdiocese, promoting unity, and engaging with youth and the broader community.

Interreligious Dialogue

As briefly mentioned above, Cardinal Goh has been actively involved in promoting interreligious dialogue and social harmony in Singapore, reflecting his commitment to fostering unity and solidarity among different faiths and communities.

In addition, he has been a member of the Presidential Council for Religious Harmony and the Presidential Council for Minority Rights, further showcasing his involvement in governance beyond the Church.

In 2022, his archdiocese announced it would set up a research institute to focus on: studying methodologies to promote friendship with other religious leaders; sharing these insights with bishops in the region; examining case studies from Singapore’s perspective on building inter-religious dialogue; advancing peace in the region.

Goh has also been keen to work with the government “where we have common values” but “at the end of the day, religion doesn’t get involved in politics.”

Youth Engagement

One of Goh’s primary focuses has been on engaging with the youth. He said in 2013 that he recognized their vibrancy, creativity, and energy and aims to understand their aspirations to help them contribute to the growth of the Church.

Structural Reforms

Cardinal Goh pledged to re-examine the structure of the Church to make it more effective and efficient. His goal when consecrated bishop was to improve communication and understanding within the Church, fostering unity and peace.

TEACHING OFFICE

In a pastoral message in May 2016 Cardinal Goh called on the faithful to “stand up for Jesus,” rejoice in the New Life in Christ and “to share the Good News of Jesus the Risen Lord and the New Life that He is offering to all of humanity.” He stressed that the world was in need of unity amidst “current climate of moral relativism, individualism and materialism.”

“We are paralyzed by so many different views that we end up in relativism and confusion as to what is truth and love. The reality is that there can be no unity unless there is love. But there can be no love unless it is founded in truth. So where is the truth to be found? Precisely, the Christian answer to true unity is the Holy Spirit who leads us to Jesus who is the fullness of truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf Jn 14:6).

He called on Catholics to “reclaim their identity as Catholics and disciples of our Risen Lord,” which is why, he said, it was important to join in the “Proud to be Catholic” movement the archdiocese had launched, in union with the rest of the Universal Church.

Personal Encounter with Jesus

For Cardinal Goh, teaching the faith is crucial, but it has to follow a deep encounter with Christ, especially for young people. In a 2024 interview with National Catholic Register, he explained what is needed is not a “routine faith” handed on from parents, but a “deep encounter with Jesus.”¹“We need to have a personal relationship, and the Church has to provide the opportunity, so it’s not just preaching, teaching; that is important, but that comes after. So even in the early Church, what do we do in the early Church? Didache comes after being evangelized. So the kerygma has to be preached first; then Didache; then the teaching. But we are putting the cart before the horse. We are teaching, and hopefully they receive the kerygma. … That is also my fear that the young people today, they don’t … because if they are brought up from a traditional Catholic family and if the parents are weak in their faith after confirmation, as Pope Francis will always say, it’s a farewell [to faith] — bye- bye. Because they have no faith; we call it is a routine faith. It is not real faith. So what we try to do now, even for young people, is also to give them a deep encounter with Jesus. And we have the office of young people doing parallel to what I’m doing for the adults. We give them a good experience of Jesus. Their lives change.”

Abortion

The cardinal has spoken out many times against legalized abortion; his archdiocese has promoted the culture of life and Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Evangelium Vitae.²“In the proclamation of this gospel, we must not fear hostility or unpopularity, and we must refuse any compromise or ambiguity that might conform us to the world’s way of thinking.” (EV 82) In proclaiming by word and deed the Gospel of Life, all Catholics have a role to play in enlightening consciences, solving social problems and supporting life. Evangelium Vitae calls all of us to work for human dignity for all human beings as part of our human responsibility. We must find solutions that respect life as a gift from the Creator, who breathed into man the divine breath, thus making the human person the image of God.”

The archdiocese has also promoted faithful adherence to Humanae Vitae and the Church’s prohibition of contraception.³“Humanae Vitae reinforced the reasoning that marital relations constitute a union of the loving couple with a loving God in which a new person can be created. This love is total and as such there can be no accommodation for giving something less than oneself as created by God, as would happen with contraception”

The website explained thoroughly the reasoning and background behind Humanae Vitae, including how problems began when the Anglican Communion allowed contraception in 1930.⁴“Prior to 1930, all Christian churches held the view that the use of contraception was an intrinsic evil. It was at the Lambeth Conference of 1930 that the Anglican Church allowed for contraception in limited circumstances and opening of the floodgates to a widespread use of contraception. Then when the first oral contraceptives hit doctor’s clinics in 1960, the celebrated pill blurred the lines still further. Questions were raised as to whether oral contraception should still be banned by the Church since, in some views, it didn’t interfere with the physical act of procreation. At the same time, the highly ideological presentation of Malthusian overpopulation was a growing concern of how the population growth in poor countries would affect the future.  The laity was voicing confusion over marrying the need to follow the teachings of the Catholic Church yet fearing the devastating human consequences to leaving population growth unchecked. In changing times, the real concerns needed to be addressed, and Pope John XXIII issued a commission in 1963 to open up the questions around birth control and population. Pope Paul VI expanded the commission, which eventually led to his release of Humanae Vitae (HV) in 1968”

Divorce and Remarriage

In 2018 he mentioned that he had asked the Pope for clarifications on the theme of communion for the divorced included in Amoris Laetitia, expressing concern over the confusion and division caused by the document.

“Many in the Church have doubts and are uncertain. Such confusion and division also frighten me, but the Holy Father told me: ‘Chapter VIII cannot be de-contextualised. It is only the end of the exhortation. Chapter IV is more important, where its principles are explained. For Pope Francis, the question cannot be reduced to whether divorced people can receive Communion or not?’ Rather, the question is: ‘How can we reach them, [and] assist them from a spiritual point of view?’ Unfortunately, sometimes there are different approaches between academics and those involved in grassroots pastoral outreach. Pope Francis belongs to the latter group.”

The Archdiocese of Singapore has provided information on Church teachings regarding divorce, that tried to clear up the misconception that divorced people were excommunicated. It explains they are not barred from communion and could receive it, when in a state of grace, without explicitly clarifying, whether this excludes people who remarried without an annulment and aren’t living chastely.

However, when providing information on annulment, the archdiocese emphasized that (civil) divorce is not a sin, but remarriage after divorce is.

In another article, published on the archdiocese’s website in 2017, after Amoris Laetitia had already been published, the archdiocese reaffirmed that when a catechumen is divorced and remarried, this can be an obstacle to baptism that needs first to be resolved.

Goh has spoken critically of relativism and secularism, seeing it as the “greatest challenge of today.”⁵“This is the greatest challenge today in the face of secularism and relativism. Without God, without absolute values, it is difficult to align everyone together. The ideology of relativism makes it impossible for anyone to agree to anything that is true, since no one is right. This explains why relationships are very fragile today. They are not built on truth or on lasting love. When we cannot agree on fundamentals, we cannot build any real unity. When society cannot agree on a set of core values, then it would be impossible to build any community, much less a lasting community.”

He has also lamented a decline in loving and faithful marriages, saying: “What we have today are very superficial relationships, even in marriage. Many of our marriages do not last because the foundation for strong marriages such as total love, faithful love, fruitful and sacrificial love are not considered non-negotiable values.”

He described the faithful as falling into one of two camps regarding Amoris Laetitia: those who wish to “hold on to the absolute norms” and the other “to show the compassion of God.” This, in turn, he added, has implications on how we see the Eucharist, as well, and appeared to disagree with Pope Francis’ frequent refrain that the Eucharist is “not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak”.

“Is it a reward for good behavior, or an antidote for the weak?” Goh asked. “If we say the latter, it also compromises the symbol of the Eucharist as a sign of perfect unity.”

He added: “Unless our life is founded on Christ, when we meet the storms of life, we will not be able to withstand the onslaughts. We will lose faith easily.” So long as we have faith, he continued, “we can overcome all things.” He also spoke of the need to “recognize the law of gradualness.” 

“We might not accept the gradualness of the law but we must realize that many are still not there yet,” he said. “This calls for compassion.”

Homosexuality and Transgenderism

In 2014, then-Archbishop Goh issued a Pastoral Letter to Catholics with Same-Sex Orientation. It was written in response to an earlier letter he had written explaining the Church’s official position on the family which had drawn “hurt, anger and disappointment.” Goh apologized if that letter had “conveyed insensitivity” and he reiterated the Church’s teaching. “Against the trends in the world, the Church needs to affirm the truth as revealed in scripture. This applies also to other difficult moral teachings of the Church e.g. pre-marital sexual union, divorce, contraception, artificial insemination, abortion, euthanasia, surrogate motherhood, stem-cell research involving embryos etc.”

In the earlier mentioned interview with National Catholic Register, he said:

“And I honestly believe all these ideological struggles, whether it’s gender ideology, same-sex, all this abortion, euthanasia — all this comes about because you are operating on the level of the head. On the level of the head, you can twist and turn. You can argue from every side. For us who are Catholics, if you encounter Jesus, you know he is your Lord and Savior. You will accept whatever is taught in the Scriptures. You will live your life according to what Jesus has lived and has taught, even though you might not agree — because we have faith in Jesus.”

Like many public figures who uphold the natural law, in 2014 Goh ran afoul of those pushing gender ideology. He apologized for any “insensitivity” that could have been conveyed in an initial statement he had made on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) issues the week prior, saying:

“I apologize if my initial statement conveyed insensitivity as from your feedback, I have come to realize that there is much variation in thought and lifestyle within this community. I want you to know that I am not indifferent to your pain and frustration, as I see many Catholics with same-sex orientation for spiritual support, counseling and healing.”

But even in his apology, he did not refrain from reaffirming the Church’s prohibition of sexual acts between individuals of the same sex, while at the same time acknowledging that there are many people with homosexual inclinations who strive to live chaste lives. “I know many of you truly love Christ and His Church, and seek to be faithful to the Gospel. Furthermore, many of you strive to live loving, faithful and chaste lives,” he said.

The cardinal continued:

“As the bishop of the local church which is a part of the Universal Catholic Church, my primary responsibility is to instruct the Faithful in accordance with the teachings of the Universal Church. I am not at liberty to change the truth as revealed in sacred scripture and that which is taught by the Magisterium of the Church, with regards to sexual relationships between those of the opposite sex, same gender or any other issue like divorce, contraception, abortion etc.”

In his pastoral letter, he also rejected the notion that modern science could lead to a change in Church teaching regarding sexual matters, writing:

“The Catholic moral viewpoint is founded on human reason illumined by faith. The Church is thus in a position to learn from scientific discovery but also to transcend the horizons of science and to be confident that her more global vision does greater justice to the rich reality of the human person in his spiritual and physical dimensions. Hence when science seems to contradict divine revelation as taught in the Bible, our faith must hold fast to the Word of God even if we cannot agree.”

Additionally, he questioned the notion that people are born homosexual, writing:

“In contrary, we find that upbringing, culture or education may play a part in nurturing persons with same-sex attraction. In addition, inner wounds inflicted on a person in-utero or in childhood through sexual abuse or otherwise, can also nurture this. In this respect, healing of such wounds may quell any tendencies as seen by several individuals who lost their attraction for the same sex after encountering inner healing of their childhood wounds… Though the verdict on nature or nurture is yet to be defined, it is clear according to scripture (Rom 1:24-28) that a sexual relationship between those of the same gender is not acceptable, as it contradicts the natural laws of God.”

Goh supported an orthodox Catholic group, ‘Courage International’, which encourages homosexual Catholics to live chaste lives.

In the same 2014 pastoral letter, he spoke out against adoption by gay couples, saying that children without a parent of either sex would risk lacking important elements in their development:

“When couples with same-sex attraction insist on marriage and adopting babies to form a family similar to that of the conventional family unit; the question arises if the child would receive holistic formation comparable to a child that is cared for in a stable family by a father and a mother. For a child is the fruit of the love between his/her parents. When there is a lack of holistic love due to damage of the family unit caused by a misrepresentation of one parent (through infidelity, divorce etc.) there is a tendency for the child to succumb to low self-esteem, rendering him/her vulnerable and incapable of authentic love. While the argument is that the child may still receive love from both partners who are in a stable same-sex relationship, the lack of a parental figure as portrayed by a member of the opposite sex may still render the child at risk.”

In the cardinal’s view, society as a whole would undergo destructive changes if adoption within same-sex unions would be normalized. He wrote:

“Same-sex union which evolves into the adoption and formation of children in an environment where a partner of the other gender is not represented, is contrary to the natural laws of God, and would ultimately be destructive to society and detrimental to the world and future generations. This is what I was referring to in my initial statement when I used the terms ‘detriment’ and ‘destructive’. They do not refer to the individual but the consequences of such a union on society and future.”

Anti-Sodomy Laws

In 2018, the cardinal weighed in on the debate over the repeal of the anti-sodomy law in Singapore that had existed since when Singapore was a British colony. He firmly opposed repealing the law S377A, warning that “by accepting homosexual acts as a social norm, the dreadful consequences for the stability of our families, the well-being of our children, and the risks to the common good will be long-term and irreversible.” But he said he would not object to repealing the law if it were “merely aimed at removing all potential criminal penalties against homosexuals.”

However, by 2022, Cardinal Goh’s position had changed significantly. He announced that the Catholic Church was taking a neutral stance on the repeal of Section 377A, and Goh said the Church would remain neutral “so long as our rights are protected.” He argued that any repeal required a same sex marriage ban to be constitutionally enshrined in return, so as to protect churches that defend natural law.

The shift from strong opposition to neutrality reflected Goh’s wish to take a more nuanced approach to the issue, acknowledging the separation between religious beliefs and secular law while still expressing concern for protecting religious rights.

Goh also attended a meeting in April 2024 in Prague with various conservative cardinals including Willem Eijk of the Netherlands (Archbishop of Utrecht), Angelo Bagnasco from Italy (Archbishop of Genoa) and Dominik Duka from the Czech Republic (Archbishop emiritus of Prague) to speak about the dangers of gender ideology.

Fiducia Supplicans

After Fiducia Supplicans was released, the cardinal quickly said that the Church did not now approve of the blessing of same sex unions, but that it provides guidance in making a distinction between the Church’s official blessings, and a pastoral blessing for all occasions outside the liturgical and sacramental setting.

A statement issued by his communications office shortly after the document’s release read in part:

“His Eminence emphasizes that the Church ‘wants everyone, without exemption, to receive God’s blessings for good health, loving relationships, financial security, and most of all their spiritual growth in understanding, discerning, and accepting the will of God in their lives as taught in scripture and by the Church. We hope that through encountering God’s love and mercy, they will be transformed by His grace and become the person that God has meant them to be.”

“Instead, this Declaration is the Church’s way of showing mercy, love, and compassion for those struggling through difficult situations and coming to terms with the demands of the Gospel. It is a prayer for these people – that they will come to know that truth is love, without which, love is compromised, and that there will be peace in their lives only when love and truth meet.”

Pastoral Mercy

Goh has appeared to soften his views on homosexuality somewhat during Francis’ pontificate and has embraced Pope Francis’ liberal attitude towards same-sex attracted people and the divorced and civilly remarried. He expressed his views in a 2022 interview with Vatican News, but without supporting any specific initiatives. “What I like most about the Holy Father’s teaching is inclusivity, that somehow everybody is important and also this strong emphasis on compassion. I think what the Church needs today is really compassion,” he said. “We need to journey with them as what the Holy Father sees instead of being judgmental, because I believe that we are all struggling to be faithful to the Gospel. We are not perfect either. I think the Gospel is the ideal of course. We cannot compromise the values of the Gospel, but at the same time we need to be realistic. We need to be compassionate, to feel with those who are struggling to live up to their faith.”

Goh added: “I like the Holy Father’s emphasis on compassion and inclusivity. Everybody must somehow be embraced by the Church, whether those who are divorced, those who are LGBTQ, those who are on the peripheries, the poor. And I think this is what the Church is all about.”

Relations between Church and State

Goh has expressed himself positively regarding the relationship between religions and the state in Singapore, including the fact that insulting a religion is illegal in the country.

When the US singer Madonna was to perform in Singapore, Goh warned Catholics not to attend the event and supported authorities who were limiting attendance to those over eighteen, saying “our attitude towards artistic expression cannot be too relaxed, so as not to sacrifice respect for other people’s religions.”

China

During a thanksgiving Mass celebrating his elevation to the cardinalate, Goh vowed to promote Singapore’s model and interreligious harmony across Asia.

Goh also authored a commemorative booklet, That They May Live, which outlined his pastoral views and vision for the Church in Singapore. The publication focused on four key areas:

• Faith in Asia: Promoting Christianity in Asia and its role in the world.
• Aid to the Poorest and the Least: Addressing poverty and inequality, focusing on helping those most in need.
• Climate Action: Emphasizing environmental responsibility and care for creation.
• A New Way of Inter-religious Dialogue for Human Fraternity: Fostering understanding and cooperation among different religions for the betterment of humanity.

The book reflects Cardinal Goh’s commitment to serving the Church and society, inspired by Pope Francis’ vision.

Furthermore, in 2014 he referenced Pope Benedict XVI’s 2007 prayer for the Church in China and urged Singapore’s Catholics to “reach out to migrant Chinese particularly, by showing them our genuine love and concern,” and to “support and participate in charitable projects for the poorer parts of China, and bring the Gospel of Christ to those who have not yet heard of Him.”

Synodality

In an interview with the National Catholic Register on the Synod on Synodality, he said that he liked “the retreat and the small-group sharing” as it was possibly to “journey with each other, listen to each other, without judgment, and accompany each other, especially when we are among bishops.”

“It’s much easier because we understand our own struggles and difficulties and challenges and also aspirations. That’s the good thing about the synod,” he said.

But he also noted that, at times, it was difficult to speak freely at the general assembly in Rome, and he criticized what he called “subtle pressure” not to raise issues that would not be welcomed by some participants. He said:

“When you have a plenary assembly where everybody is giving intervention [talks], that becomes a little bit more sensitive, because we are not able to be as open or direct as you wish to be … for fear that you might offend people who have other views,” he said. “So it needs a lot of courage to state what you need to say and be open about it. But I suppose there is also a subtle pressure that what we say, if it is not appreciated by some quarters, may not go very well. So I think that is also a subtle pressure.”

Cardinal Goh also concurred with other bishops who have suggested there should be “another level where it is really a Synod of Bishops, after hearing the laypeople, after journeying with them; there should be that level of bishop synods, where the bishops can come together.”

• 1
  “We need to have a personal relationship, and the Church has to provide the opportunity, so it’s not just preaching, teaching; that is important, but that comes after. So even in the early Church, what do we do in the early Church? Didache comes after being evangelized. So the kerygma has to be preached first; then Didache; then the teaching. But we are putting the cart before the horse. We are teaching, and hopefully they receive the kerygma. … That is also my fear that the young people today, they don’t … because if they are brought up from a traditional Catholic family and if the parents are weak in their faith after confirmation, as Pope Francis will always say, it’s a farewell [to faith] — bye- bye. Because they have no faith; we call it is a routine faith. It is not real faith. So what we try to do now, even for young people, is also to give them a deep encounter with Jesus. And we have the office of young people doing parallel to what I’m doing for the adults. We give them a good experience of Jesus. Their lives change.”
• 2
  “In the proclamation of this gospel, we must not fear hostility or unpopularity, and we must refuse any compromise or ambiguity that might conform us to the world’s way of thinking.” (EV 82) In proclaiming by word and deed the Gospel of Life, all Catholics have a role to play in enlightening consciences, solving social problems and supporting life. Evangelium Vitae calls all of us to work for human dignity for all human beings as part of our human responsibility. We must find solutions that respect life as a gift from the Creator, who breathed into man the divine breath, thus making the human person the image of God.”
• 3
  “Humanae Vitae reinforced the reasoning that marital relations constitute a union of the loving couple with a loving God in which a new person can be created. This love is total and as such there can be no accommodation for giving something less than oneself as created by God, as would happen with contraception”
• 4
  “Prior to 1930, all Christian churches held the view that the use of contraception was an intrinsic evil. It was at the Lambeth Conference of 1930 that the Anglican Church allowed for contraception in limited circumstances and opening of the floodgates to a widespread use of contraception. Then when the first oral contraceptives hit doctor’s clinics in 1960, the celebrated pill blurred the lines still further. Questions were raised as to whether oral contraception should still be banned by the Church since, in some views, it didn’t interfere with the physical act of procreation. At the same time, the highly ideological presentation of Malthusian overpopulation was a growing concern of how the population growth in poor countries would affect the future.  The laity was voicing confusion over marrying the need to follow the teachings of the Catholic Church yet fearing the devastating human consequences to leaving population growth unchecked. In changing times, the real concerns needed to be addressed, and Pope John XXIII issued a commission in 1963 to open up the questions around birth control and population. Pope Paul VI expanded the commission, which eventually led to his release of Humanae Vitae (HV) in 1968”
• 5
  “This is the greatest challenge today in the face of secularism and relativism. Without God, without absolute values, it is difficult to align everyone together. The ideology of relativism makes it impossible for anyone to agree to anything that is true, since no one is right. This explains why relationships are very fragile today. They are not built on truth or on lasting love. When we cannot agree on fundamentals, we cannot build any real unity. When society cannot agree on a set of core values, then it would be impossible to build any community, much less a lasting community.”