A matter of conscience

Individual integrity—the demand for it has never seemed greater in both the public and private arenas. Yet there are still pressures to ignore the Golden Rule or to stay quiet even when conscience is crying out for a moral stand. Are we really as alone as we seem to be at these times, or is there a divine help that gives us the strength to recognize and to do the right thing? The following experience offers some answers worth considering. The author, a Christian Scientist, was recently employed in public service; because of the sensitive nature of the experience, he has asked that his name be withheld.

A Senior government official I worked for had been inaccurately and unfairly criticized in a signed newspaper commentary. Since part of my duties was to prepare speeches and articles for this official, it was logical I be called on to draft a reply setting the record straight.

However, I faced a dilemma. My orders were to write a response that went beyond just the issues at hand. I was to ridicule this critic personally as well, "Tear him limb from limb." I felt I was being drawn into a type of response that has been too often used of late in the clash of ideas that occur in public debate.

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