Disordered Priorities Killing the Church

From Brian Holdsworth

“Anything not properly ordered becomes disordered, and the Church is no exception. If we give lesser goods priority over greater ones, the effects will always reveal disorder.” We often assume moral choices are about good versus evil—but what happens when the choice is between two goods? In this video, Brian Holdsworth explores how disordered priorities among competing goods have led to the Church’s current crises—from collapsing vocations to confusion about faith and worship. By looking at the hierarchy of goods, the nature of supernatural faith, and the consequences of misplaced priorities like ecumenism and social activism, this video makes the case that the Church’s renewal depends on recovering right order—beginning with faith and the liturgy. Argument Summary: 1️⃣ The hardest moral choices are between competing goods, not between good and evil. 2️⃣ Disorder arises when lesser goods are prioritized over greater ones. 3️⃣ The Church's institutions, today are suffering from disorder—evidenced by collapsing vocations and faith. 4️⃣ Ecumenism has been elevated above worship, weakening the Church’s foundation. 5️⃣ Social activism has been elevated above supernatural faith, draining its motive power. 6️⃣ True charity flows only from faith in Christ’s revelation of divine love. 7️⃣ To renew the Church, faith and right order must be restored—beginning with the liturgy. Timestamps: 0:00 – The real moral challenge: choosing between goods 1:14 – When virtues conflict: honesty, obedience, and prudence 2:06 – The principle of order: lesser vs. greater goods 2:41 – Disorder in the Church revealed in its effects 3:07 – The priest shortage as a symptom of disordered priorities 5:50 – Ecumenism and the loss of liturgical identity 8:48 – Faith vs. social justice: a false dichotomy 10:39 – Why love for the poor depends on faith in Christ 12:00 – The lesson of Julian the Apostate 13:05 – Where true renewal begins