Interview with Cody, who is studying kinesiology, took place next to the Cerritos College Library on February 20, 2019.
Do you consider yourself religious?
Cody: Yeah. I believe in a God and that He has a lot to do with our world and what’s happened to us and what we’re planned to do in life. I believe that people can choose who they believe in, but, for me personally, I just believe that there is a higher power that is affecting all of us.
Do you see evidence for this higher power or is it pure faith?
Cody: You can look at any hospital, you can find miracles all over the world that science can’t even explain. Science has all these theories but they don’t know how to explain it with science. So how else can you explain it but God?
Does your faith shape your morals?
Cody: I believe that you should do what you want to do. For me personally, I’m not hardcore like: whatever God says, you have to do it, whatever’s in the Bible, you have to do it. I believe whatever you want to do you should do, but for me, my moral compass does follow along the guidelines of God. I don’t believe that man should marry man. If man wants to marry man, go ahead. But for me personally, I would choose a man with a woman.
Do you consider yourself Christian?
Cody: I’m a Catholic. I’ve always been Catholic. And I feel like Catholics are more flexible than Christians. I don’t know if that’s right, but Catholics in my church – Holy Family in Artesia – are very flexible with everything. They’re accepting with same-sex marriage, they’re accepting of just pretty much anyone.
What would you say to the fact that so many popes have said that abortion is always wrong?
Cody: Oh, man. In my church, in my youth ministry, they always talk about that and obviously they say you shouldn’t do it. Again, my personal standpoint is: if you want to do it, go for it. That is ultimately your choice. That’s your life. If you choose to have an abortion, go ahead. But for me, if abortion was an option, I wouldn’t do it.
You say it’s her life, but what would you say to the argument that, if a woman is pregnant, there are two lives involved?
Cody: Okay – I would say – hmm – it’s – that’s a hard question. I would say, yes, there are two lives involved. I guess some people perceive it as, oh it’s not born yet. But I say it’s two lives because that’s a life that you’re taking away that had so much potential in the future or so much affect. Yeah, that’s a hard question.
You say that everyone should do what they want. Do you apply that same principle to things like drunk driving or killing a two-year-old?
Cody: Man. Yeah, I will. I mean obviously those are really bad but in those types of cases that’s all your moral compass. Yes, it’s your decision, although it’s something that was maybe not made in the best, the clearest of minds.
Should all these things be legal?
Cody: No. I don’t think those types of decisions should be legal. But for abortion and all that, yeah, I believe it should be legal to get an abortion if you want.
Why should it be illegal for a woman to kill a two-year-old, but legal for her to kill the same baby before it’s born?
Cody: I think it’s because, as I said before, like with the whole it’s not alive or had its first breath yet, the two-year-old had its first breath. It’s living. It’s two years of still learning, developing it’s brain. With the abortion, for some people it’s not alive, but – hmm – man – it’s just a really hard topic.
What do you believe about the afterlife?
Cody: I believe there is a heaven and there is a hell, and although you do make bad choices in life, you can repent of your sins and just ask for forgiveness from God.
A California Catholic Daily exclusive by Mary Rose.
I love how the interviewer always asks a question about abortion. How about adding a question about the poor? For example, would you help a homeless person who has been assaulted get help? A Good Samaritan question!
Angela– The abortion question is the most important one! Too many people today, are very lacking in sensitivity and moral training! To kill or not kill a baby– is not a so-called “choice!”. A baby is always a big responsibility! Everyone needs to be taught that!
Cody sounds like a very poorly catechised Catholic. Thank you 50+ years of the “spirit” of Vatican II.
Today’s society needs to replace the ignorant concept of narcissistic “choices” with mandated grown-up moral responsibility!
This interview says it all !
Weep for our culture. This young mans morals have been distorted by secular nonsense, poor catechesis, and garbage priests. May Christ judge these priests for failing their flock.
To Angela:
The interviewer asked about
— his belief in God
— how belief in a higher power affected his moral life
— same sex marriage
— should drunk driving and killing a 2-year old be legalized
— his belief in the afterlife
Apparently, you did not read the whole interview or else your biases caused some blindness. The other commenters were able to see Cody’s lack of catechesis and his “modernistic view” of “it’s right for you but not for me”…
Frankly, and I do NOT mean this as a cut or condemnation, I get the impression that this unfortunate young man has never been taught or challenged to actually “think” (versus “feel”) anything in his entire short life. I also get the impression that he is not at all beyond hope.
True, he is not beyond all hope. With God, all things are possible. Let us pray for those who have received either no or poor catechesis.
This is one of the saddest things I’ve ever read, a luke warm catholic. I hope and pray that the youth group at Holy Family in Artesia come upon catechisis…
But what was the point of this article? How about interviewing a good practicing catholic or is that too hard to find?
I’m Catholic and inflexible to lies