Fr Barron's comments on the breakdown of our ability to even converse on moral issues. He quotes a new Justice just recently appointed by Obama, who said of the same-sex marriage arguments made at the Supreme Court in America something like this: Whenever a lawyer makes a moral observation in a case such as this, for me the red flag of discrimination goes up. Not a "bad" moral argument, but the very fact that a moral argument is being made is what she objects to.
That's pretty similar to Green Party Parliamentarian Kevin Hague's objection to the word "virtue". He said the use of the word virtue "makes his hackles rise", that he finds it "offensive". How can you even have a conversation with a person who finds virtue(ie moral excellence) offensive?
Fr Barron goes on to say that because many people can't even have a coherent moral argument or debate, then all they can do is hurl invective such as bigot at their opponents. I constantly experience that, though for me, it doesn't put me off because I'm used to it, but the shallowness of it does frustrate me at times.
Once a people no longer wants to listen to moral argument and can't stand being reminded of virtue, then the next logical step is always shutting down opponents.