Loyalty
+ Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney
10 Oct 2004
Loyalty does not seem to be valued as much today as it was in my youth. Then the returned servicemen and women of World War Two were a powerful presence in Australian life. Victory in the Pacific and in Europe would have been impossible without loyalty to our cause, to one another and this was recognised generally.
Today youngsters are told that they will have to change jobs frequently during their lifetime, divorces are easier and more frequent and sports stars regularly change their team for better money. The Brisbane Lions remained champions for three years because a number of their stars took less money. This type of loyalty is not the norm.
To be called a loyal friend is a valued compliment, because loyalty like courage is demonstrated in hardship and under stress. Our loyalties show what sort of person we are, whether we are steadfast in our ideals and friendship, or whether we cut and run before criticism or opposition. No one wishes to be known as a fair weather friend.
A loyal friend should not be afraid to speak the truth tactfully, because true loyalty is not shown by yes men or rubber stamps, much less by flatterers.
We all know families where the members fight each other ferociously, but unite in enduring loyalty when attacked or criticised by outsiders. This is generally praiseworthy, but can be a trap, because some causes do not always deserve our loyalty.
Sometimes loyalties can be in conflict and we are forced to act against our inclinations and embrace a higher principle; e.g. when we believe a loved one or even our country has made bad decisions. On these occasions loyalty can require much courage. But a loyal parent always sticks with her child no matter what mistakes are made; this is personal and does not require condoning wrong doing.
Sometimes conflicting loyalties are more apparent than real. When Jesus was put on the spot over paying taxes he reminded us to give to God what belongs to God and to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.
Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and he remains THE symbol of betrayal in our society. He was unable to forgive himself and suicided. Peter, the head of the apostles was also disloyal out of weakness, when he denied that he was a follower of Christ. He repented and made good.
Family disloyalty rankles and remains longer than most other betrayals. The call to forgiveness then takes on a special challenge. As Shakespeare wrote “How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is to have a thankless child”.
Loyalties can and do change, for good and base reasons, because loyalty must be based on striving for truth.
Neither faith, nor hope, nor love are possible without loyalty. The Christian ideal of the good shepherd illustrates the leader’s loyalty to everyone in his flock. Loyalty is indispensable.
