Much of the deadlock in many areas of society – political, economic, social and religious results from people standing on principle. In each of these areas there are real differences within our society but there are also small but significant steps of progress that could be made. But often those small steps of progress are held back by those standing on principle.I came across an interesting movie where a man compromised his principles and I think it was the right thing to do. The movie is a 1964 black and white, called the Americanization of Emily. Starring James Garner and Julie Andrews it tells the story of a man whose war time job is to supply the best in food, drink and women to high ranking military officers. He is not an attractive character, has no morals and is a self described coward. During the war he meets an English girl, Emily, played by Julie Andrews, and of course they fall in love. Over time what he comes to realize is that the good life is not wine, women and song, but family life with a woman who loves you.
As Hollywood would have it, this coward ends up as the first man on the beaches on D-Day. There has been no change of heart, rather his superior officer, a Navy General, decides that it would be good publicity for the Navy if the first casualty was an Navy man and if that casualty was captured on film. And that is apparently what happens, James Garner is forced onto the beach by the gunshots of his commanding officer and appears to die in battle. And the Navy has it’s hero.
One flaw in the scheme, a week later, Garner returns from France on a hospital ship. No problem to the General however, a live hero is even better than a dead one. But Garner is furious, he was forced to risk his life for a publicity stunt. He is determined to expose the hypocrisy of war, once and for all. And when reminded of the price he would pay, he responds that it is a matter of principle. But in a dramatic scene in the few moments before the press appears, Julie Andrews reminds Garner of the cost they will pay for standing up for his principles. He will lose his job, his career, his freedom, his friendships and most likely her. Is he willing to give up all that really matters, a wife and a home, for his principles? He is not, and so he takes a deep breath, swallows his pride, allows himself to be used by the military PR machine so he can get what really matters, a wife and a family.
Principles like most things, come in sizes. There are some big principles that we hold onto no matter what. They are not subject to compromise and are worth any price to maintain. But there are smaller principles, things that are important to us, yet at times must be compromised to make life work. Compromising principles is never easy, is often messy and should never be taken lightly. But at times we have to sacrifice important beliefs to accomplish what really matters.
I think this is part of what Pope Francis is trying to say. The principles of sanctity of life and marriage are important principles. But if those two issues are the primary issues for which the church is known, what happened to the greater principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ?
