“The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”

That famous quote is often attributed to Edmund Burke, but what he actually said may be even stronger: when bad men combine, the good must associate—or they will fall one by one.

In this reflection, Father Robert McTeigue, S.J. recalls the ancient story of the Hydra—one of the labors of Hercules—becomes a metaphor for the challenges facing the modern world. The Church has never been merely a comfortable institution. Its mission has always involved confronting evil, resisting tyranny, and proclaiming the truth of Christ.

The Church is not meant to be a cruise ship. It is meant to be a battleship.
This conversation continues in a special series of Friday discussions on The Catholic Current exploring a central question: Who are the tyrants of our time?

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