Why does CUP include “Unity and Peace” in its name?  After all, didn’t Jesus say:

  “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 10:34-39)

Which is it – Unity or Division?

The Catholic Church’s teaching on unity and peace, as reflected in the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas and the guidance of various popes, emphasizes that true unity and peace are grounded in love and charity. However, achieving this unity requires removing obstacles through justice.

The Church recognizes that Jesus’ mission was not always to bring immediate peace but rather to challenge people to adhere to the Truth of the Gospel, even if it meant division. Jesus acknowledged that his teachings would sometimes set people against one another, as they were forced to choose between following him, his teachings, and the fulfillment of the Old Testament or remaining loyal to their sinful attachments.

Early Church Fathers, such as St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Irenaeus, upheld the view that unity of the Church is essential and crucial.  Yet they also understood rejecting heresy and upholding the Deposit of the Faith protects peace.  True unity requires being of one mind, heart, and soul—united in Truth and Love. Divisions will persist until we achieve that desired unity, as Jesus himself acknowledged.

Rather than sacrificing truth for the sake of unity, Jesus consistently prioritized preaching the Truth. Lasting unity and peace can only emerge when we accept and live in that Truth.

We must be spiritually rightly ordered to seek and live in the Truth. Father Ripperger delves into the disordered spiritual faculties that can lead to diabolical disorientation. Our higher faculties (intellect and will) can become enslaved to our lower instincts and appetites. Unchecked lower faculties can disrupt the proper order due to concupiscence.  This is what is wrong within the Church and our nation now … people are spiritually disordered, so they cannot hear nor live in the Truth.

“In the world of the spirit, the head rules the belly through the chest – the seat, as Alanus tells us, of Magnanimity or Honor, that firm and poise of the soul which can alone give the intellect its proper place.” – The Abolition of Man, CS Lewis

The key to rightly ordering our spiritual faculties lies in the virtue of temperance, which involves practicing moderation and self-control. Fasting serves as an effective means to reorder these faculties. Cultivating virtue and moral character (the ‘chest’) is essential for governing our appetites (the ‘belly’) through the intellect (the ‘head’).

 

Practicing Justice out of Love

Practicing justice out of love is a fundamental principle emphasized by St. Thomas Aquinas. Justice, according to Aquinas, involves giving each person their rightful due. It ensures that individuals receive what rightfully belongs to them. In his work Summa Theologiae, Aquinas discusses the theological virtues: faith, hope, and love (charity). Love, he argues, perfects all other virtues. When we love God and our neighbor, we naturally seek truth and act justly.

Love stands as the highest virtue—one we should continually strive for. It encompasses both truth and justice. St. Augustine famously said, ‘Love, and do what you will.’ His point is that genuine love aligns our actions with truth and justice.

However, merely reporting someone’s faults without the intent to help others learn from the sinful nature of the scandal does not reflect love for God and neighbor. Our intentions when promoting truth through exercising justice must be rooted in love.

For Augustine, love involves seeking the highest good, which is God. When we love God, we desire to know and live in accordance with the Truth. Justice flows from this love, which involves giving each person their due.

In his work On Christian Doctrine, Augustine emphasizes that interpreting Sacred Scripture correctly requires both love (charity) and knowledge (truth). Love without truth can lead to error, while truth without love can become harsh and legalistic.

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:33

False Charity

Now, let’s explore the concept of false charity. While many argue that unity (and consequently, peace) comes from embracing our brothers and sisters (and their sinful ways), we must recognize that authentic charity requires Truth. False charity, characterized by good sentiments detached from truth, lacks relevance. As Pope Benedict XVI aptly stated in “Caritas in Veritate: “Without truth, charity degenerates into sentimentality. Love becomes an empty shell, arbitrarily filled.”

The Catechism warns against falling into the trap of ‘cowardice which gives in to evil’ (CCC 1889).  Instead, we should practice justice and be willing to confront sin—even if it leads to division—rooted in our love for God and neighbor.

“Each person finds his good by adherence to God’s plan for him, in order to realize it fully: in this plan, he finds his truth, and through adherence to this truth he becomes free (cf. Jn 8:32). To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of charity. Charity, in fact, “rejoices in the truth” (1 Cor 13:6).”

Caritas in Veritate, Pope Benedict XVI

 

CUP consistently strives to fulfill its mission. Every newsletter, prayer rally, and event is motivated by love for God and neighbor, avoiding cowardice. Unfortunately, we observe insufficient justice being practiced nowadays, as people hesitate to confront sin due to the perceived division it may cause.

Choosing silence when we encounter someone living in grave sin or promoting such behavior as noble under the guise of compassion would constitute a false charity. True love for that person requires helping them turn away from what is harmful.

As previously mentioned, we should follow the example of Jesus, who came to bring not only peace but also to call people to love the Truth of the Gospel.  It is fallen man – sin and error – that is the root cause of the divisions within families, communities, or even the Body of Christ. True charity, then, involves the difficult but necessary work of helping others encounter the Truth in love, in order to lead them to genuine freedom.  Until people accept Truth there will be division due to their fallen nature.

So, just as the Church’s duty is to guard and transmit the Truth, which is the foundation of true unity, this is precisely what CUP has done and will continue to do. We must recognize that truth and freedom go hand in hand. As St. John Paul the Great said, ” An important aspect of this vigor of Catholicism is found in the union of truth and freedom.”

Promoting the truth in charity respects the dignity and freedom of all people, which is necessary for genuine unity.  This is CUP’s mission:  To safeguard the dignity of every human person. As Pope Benedict XVI stated, “The Church appears as the champion of a healthy and lofty tradition whose rich contribution she sets at the service of society.” 

Upholding the Church’s timeless teachings, the Deposit of the Faith, can move us toward unity … perhaps not in our lifetime but in God’s time.

In light of our mission, let us take deliberate steps toward action. CUP’s unwavering commitment to love of God and neighbor and its courage to confront injustice serve as a guiding force.  We must recognize that silence in the face of sin and false narratives these are not true charity; it is missed opportunities to guide others away from harm. Just as Jesus said divisions would occur for truth’s sake, we too must engage in the difficult work of leading others toward genuine freedom. The Church’s duty to guard and transmit truth aligns with CUP’s mission—to safeguard the dignity of every human person. Let us promote truth in charity, respecting the freedom of all, and thereby contribute to authentic unity. As Pope Benedict XVI wisely noted, the Church champions a tradition that serves society, and upholding timeless teachings can indeed foster unity.

Let us have the courage and conviction, like Jesus’ disciples, to stick to His plan and not this world’s plan.