If what the Catholic Church teaches is the truth, then it literally is a matter of life and death. There is no room for people to sit on a fence and say that it is perhaps the truth, or that they will figure it all out when they “have the time.” I have more respect for people who have a strong opinion about the issue of the faith, either way. It is better to be an orthodox, loving member of the Catholic Church or a Christopher Hitchens-loving atheist. It shows passion, it shows a hunger and it shows drive. People who lack a conviction for either side show that they are not applying themselves to life.

We come across this disdain for a lukewarm attitude in Scripture too. In the book of Revelation, Christ says, “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm… I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Rev. 3:15-16). The imagery is startling. Christ would rather us have some passion than to not have any at all. He wants us to pick a side. And we, as Catholics, must take it a step further. We are called to pick the side of faith and to fight for it.

Imagine witnessing the masses of protesters squaring off against masses of pilgrims. Imagine being in the middle. How awful would that be? You would instinctively want to run to one side or the other, to join camaraderie and fellowship. Likewise, Catholicism has no place for weak intentions and to be lived out fully and authentically, there cannot be any fear. Instead, Catholicism calls us to be courageously bold and audacious, speaking the truth of Christ to the world.

We have been given Christ. Pope Benedict and the whole Church called the World Youth Day pilgrims in particular to stay “rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (Col. 2:7). In the war on absolute morality, the sanctity of life and the truth of salvation, there are two sides. Pick one.

(Keong, 21, is an English literature major at the University of British Columbia.)