Such Are the Times: A Catholic Case for Restraint in the Face of Political Pressure
“…a time to be silent, and a time to speak.” (Ecclesiastes 3:7)
There is a particular ache that can sometimes show up in a business owner's inbox. It sounds like this: “I used to support your business, but your silence says everything.” Or this: “Why haven’t you spoken out?” Or worse: nothing at all. A canceled order. A quiet unfollow.
Catholic women who own businesses are not exempt from this ache. It is painfully real and represents groceries, rent, health insurance, college tuition, and the ability to employ others with dignity. The pressure is real: Say something. Signal something. Align publicly — however that may be — or else. Many business owners are asking: What is the Catholic response to these times?
This piece is written for you: the woman behind the brand. It is for the Catholic business owner who loves God, serves her customers, and feels caught between silence and spectacle. These are real questions, born of real fear.
The following is not an argument for apathy, disengagement, or moral relativism. It is a reflection on why Catholics are not required to speak publicly on every issue, every moment, or every social demand placed upon them. At the same time, it acknowledges a harder truth: there are moments when we are called to speak. The challenge is not choosing between silence or speech, but learning to discern which is faithful; using the Church’s wisdom, not cultural pressure, as our guide. Take heart, the Church has wisdom for times exactly like this.
“Such Are the Times. We Are the Times.”
The quote often attributed to St. Augustine — “Bad times, hard times. This is what people keep saying; but let us live well, and the times shall be good. We are the times.” — captures something essential about the Christian posture in moments of cultural upheaval. Whether or not the wording is exact, the truth behind it is unmistakably Catholic: history is not redeemed by statements, but by saints.
The Church has lived through collapsing empires, violent revolutions, plagues, persecutions, and ideological frenzies far louder than anything an Instagram unfollow or Facebook comment section can produce. And in every age, Catholics have had to discern the same question: How do we remain faithful without becoming performative?
Silence Is Not the Same as Indifference
Modern culture treats silence as a moral failure. If you do not speak, you are assumed to agree with the worst possible interpretation of events. Catholic tradition disagrees. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that not every moment demands speech and that some moments are made holier by restraint.
“Even fools, keeping silent, are considered wise; if they keep their lips closed, intelligent.” (Proverbs 17:28)
“There is an appointed time for everything….a time to be slient, and a time to speak.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 7)
We are called to act with prudence (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1806), carefully discerning the right means to achieve the good. Choosing when and how to speak is an exercise of this authority.
The Forgotten Virtue of Our Age
If there is one virtue desperately needed today, its prudence. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines it for us:
“Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it.” (CCC 1806)
Prudence is not cowardice; it is not fear, and it is certainly not people-pleasing. St. Thomas Aquinas called prudence “right reason in action.” Prudence asks questions the internet does not:
Will this statement actually help anyone?
Does my platform give me competence, or just visibility?
Will speaking now clarify truth, or inflame division?
The Church Speaks—So You Don’t Have to Compete With Her
You're not obligated to turn your business page into a political pulpit. One temptation in these moments is the belief that “if I don’t say something, nothing Catholic is being said.” This is simply false. The Church already speaks. Clearly, consistently, and with moral authority on the dignity of the human person, the treatment of others, the necessity of law, the sin of violence, and the call to charity.
Notice what the Church does not do: reduce complex moral realities to slogans. You are not required to improve upon the Catechism with an Instagram caption. And what a relief that is! As a Catholic convert, the solidity of the Catholic Church, her clarity about what she believes, grounded in Scripture and Sacred Tradition, has been one of the most freeing experiences of my life. There is no pressure to say something simply to prove where I stand. Being Catholic already says it all.
Praise God that He established a Church capable of carrying the weight of moral questions far bigger than any one person, platform, or post.
When Customers Leave
It hurts when people leave. It hurts when your motives are misjudged. It hurts when your faithfulness costs you financially. And yes, it is tempting to wonder whether posting something might make it stop. Here, we are invited into a deeper examination of conscience. Jesus warned His followers:
“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.” (John 15:18)
But He also cautioned against needlessly provoking scandal. The question is not: How do I keep everyone? The question is: Am I acting with integrity, charity, and trust in God’s providence?
The Idol of the Algorithm
Let’s name the unspoken reality: Outrage performs well. Silence does not. But we are not disciples of the algorithm. That said, what is the Godly response?
Anchor yourself in the Church. Read the Catechism. Trust that the Church’s moral teaching is sufficient. Even when it is not trendy.
Practice charity offline. Support local ministries. Serve immigrants, the poor, the vulnerable in concrete ways, not symbolic ones.
Refuse false binaries. You can believe in human dignity and the rule of law. The Church does.
Accept unfollows without bitterness. Not every unfollow is a failure. Some are God’s pruning.
St. Paul reminds us:
“Do not conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.” (Romans 12:2)
A Final Encouragement
If you are tired, you are not weak. If you are cautious, you are not faithless. If you choose silence — not out of fear, but out of fidelity — you are in very good company!
And when the moment does come to speak, whether in defense of the vulnerable, in witness to truth, or in correction rooted in charity, the Church does not leave us unarmed. The same Scripture, Tradition, and moral reasoning that justify restraint also guide faithful speech. Discernment, not pressure, must decide the difference. Silence and speech are not opposites in the Christian life; they are companions, each holy in its proper time.
The Church does not ask you to be either silent or loud. She asks you to be faithful. Such are the times.
And yes, we are the times.
Amber Apple is a Digital Marketing Manager and writer. When she’s not weaving tales for her novel, you can find her in her natural habitat—snuggled up on the couch, lost in the pages of a book, clutching a cup of tea. Her love language is baking French pastries, so if you’re craving a daily dose of mouthwatering recipes and delightful musings, visit her blog, mrsamberapple.com, or connect with her on Instagram @mrsamberapple.