Fortitude, also known as courage, is a virtue. Dare I say it is one of the virtues most lacking today when it comes to the expression of our faith. Neutrality is not a virtue, though many people may think it is.

There are many topics in our public and private discourse these days that people are hesitant or afraid to discuss, either because they are considered too political — the old refrain of “don’t talk politics or religion” — or because people are afraid of how others might respond. Interestingly, many have little hesitation in speaking their minds on social media when they are safely behind a computer screen; yet when it comes to Catholic Christians speaking on behalf of the Church and her teachings, neutrality seems to be the most popular route.

A clear example is the abortion debate. The common perception frames it as a political issue — Democrats as pro-choice and Republicans as pro-life — so many avoid discussing it altogether. Yet this issue should transcend politics. A woman’s right to “choose” does not supersede a person’s right to live. This is not a political argument; it is a basic Christian truth.

There are, of course, many other issues. For example, “gay marriage” has become baked into our culture, yet the Catholic Church has consistently and clearly taught against it as a practice. More recently, questions surrounding transgenderism have come to the forefront. Both Pope Leo and Pope Francis before him have spoken forcefully against the mutilation of the body in response to a form of dysphoria.

When it comes to individuals who struggle with these issues, the Church — and all Christians — must be pastoral and loving. These struggles can truly be crosses for people to bear. We must meet people where they are. At the same time, this does not require silence when difficult issues such as abortion, “gay marriage” or transgender issues arise. Avoiding these conversations altogether is not the answer. Remaining silent or neutral when such discussions inevitably arise is itself a problem.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” (Lk 11:23) If we remain silent or neutral out of fear of others’ reactions, these words of Jesus should challenge us to choose a more virtuous path. The context in which Jesus spoke them makes this even more convicting. Just before this, Jesus had cast a demon out of a man who was mute. The Gospel notes that the man’s silence was caused by an evil spirit. It was the devil who made the man silent.

Fortitude is a virtue; neutrality is not. Though it can be uncomfortable to speak up when it comes to the moral and difficult teachings of the Church, as long as we speak the truth with love, there is nothing we should fear. We should not willingly become like the mute man in the Gospel who was silenced by an evil spirit.