Really offending my Catholic sensibilities
For those who wonder why I like to take shots at Bill Donohue and people like them, it's simply this: More often than not he (along with the media who gives him so much play) makes us all--and our Catholic faith--look petty and irrelevant. While Donohue is foaming at the mouth over a piece of art that few will ever see, much less comment intelligently upon, fresh allegations of torture constantly crop up from Guantanamo and elsewhere. Whether those allegations have merit or not, there is no denying that holding people outdoors in cages without charges is a violation of their human rights. Yet I don't hear Bill Donohue or even many bishops for that matter rising in outrage, denouncing this as an extreme violation of "Catholic sensibilities"--you know, the sensibilities that recognize in every human person the image of God, who insist that every human life is of infinite worth.
Perhaps the world would be more willing to listen if we weren't wasting our time on irrelevancies like chocolate Jesuses. Perhaps if we were more robust in our defense of the human dignity of those labeled "terrorists"--whether they're guilty or not--our words on behalf of the unborn, the disabled, the terminally ill, might have more credibility.
posted by CtotheL @ 9:53 AM
10 comments
10 Comments:
The US is using torture (if you want to call it that) to obtain information from the terrorists about future plots against the US. I'm not a big fan of "torture" either but after 911--I think our government has the right to do what ever it needs to do to keep us safe. If you and Rosie want the US to be nice to these guys, eternal life may come sooner than you expected.
As long as you remember that Jesus and many of his followers since, right on down to the 20th century, have been victims of torture, and their torturers used the same logic--defense of the state--that today's use.
And, to quote the Passion narrative that we will be reading tomorrow:
Disciples: "Lord, shall we strike with a sword?"
Jesus: "Stop, no more of this!"
TO be honest the left and really the silence of the Catholic left these past days has been irratating
The Pope said two sentences about hell but not only does it get get misreported but he, the Church, and the entire Christian faith is mocked by left wing and so called "progressives blogs. I am sure there were exceptions and I have seen a few "Liberal Catholics" try to speak up. But to be honest it has been disheartening.
As to Donhaue he does important work. People are called to different things in the Church and different issues. I am not sure we should get in the business of degrading those calls because they are talking about our "issue"
JH
I grant that I have a bit of animus against Donohue, mostly because I think he contributes to reducing Catholicism to irrelevance, with the media his willing abettors. Quite frankly, I think he gives religion's detractors--in science, on the secular left--much ammunition. And, remember, though the right styles itself as "pro-religion," it does so only in service of its own agenda. Once religion begins to speak about politics, war, and the economy, the right is quick to shoo it back into its "spiritual" corner.
As for one's "issues," I think war and injustice far outrank the minor offense related to a chocolate sculpture of Jesus. The image of Christ is attacked profoundly every time a woman or child is exploited, a sick person is denied care for lack of insurance, and young men and women are sent to war. Surely those are "issues" that demand the attention of Catholics of all points on the religious spectrum.
"As for one's "issues," I think war and injustice far outrank the minor offense related to a chocolate sculpture of Jesus. The image of Christ is attacked profoundly every time a woman or child is exploited, a sick person is denied care for lack of insurance, and young men and women are sent to war. Surely those are "issues" that demand the attention of Catholics of all points on the religious spectrum."
I agree with that in part. But again some people have different callings to different issues.
I guess I am pretty conservative Republican right winger Pro Bush Catholic. But I do feel the need to consult all sources in these difficult issues.
The mocking of the Church though does nothing to help Social justice. I spent alot of time this past year trying to to eb an advocate for sane immigration reform. It was not easy because of several factors. But people like Sen Brownback, Gov Huckabee, and McCain gave me courage to realize that our views were not that much in the minority. The Church was speaking and pleading(even though I think having Mahoney as the public face of it was a bad PR move) but often it was not engaged seriously. Part of this is that the Catholic thought of such people as Day and Chavez is not taken seriously by the left. I find that disheartening because things such as the "Catholic workers movement" has a place in American political discussion and American Catholic thought and politics.
So I guess my point is in his own small way he is doing his part. Trust me some "conservative" anti Catholcism comes out when the Church speaks. I saw that on the immigration issue. At least we are not going quietly into the night
jh
Louisiana
Jesus was not a wimp. He submitted to his captures because he knew it was the will of God--he also said he did not come to "bring peace but division." To acheive true peace sometimes you must engage in conflict.
Call me heartless, but I really don't care what they do to the man who was involved in 911--if they can obtain information that will keep us safe, torture is justified. After all, if he wants to avoid torture he can just fess up.
"it does so only in service of its own agenda. Once religion begins to speak about politics, war, and the economy, the right is quick to shoo it back into its "spiritual" corner."
Yep as I said before the right has it owns problems. But at least the right knows they need me and that gives us some power.
As to the Economy, the war , etc. I know among Catholics there will be disaggrenet. I do think all voices should be heard. Also it might help if the Catholic left and Catholic right(in political terms) would start talking to each other more. At times when I am looking at Bishops statements I feel like I am looking at solutions toward pverty and other issues that are stuck in old thinking.
It would be interesting to see as to Economic policy and as to the poor what solutions could be found and endorsed if there was more dialouge
jh
I believe if we address the moral problems of our age---many of the societal problems will be alleviated. For example, single motherhood is a main cause of poverty---if we focused on promoting chastity and marriage--the scurge of poverty would be lessened.
You make very good points, JH. Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
The Catholic Leagues's and thus (Bill Donahue's job) is to address direct, public insults aimed at Christ and the Catholic Church. Each person has a different job within the body of Christ-- others are called to address social justice issues, but that's not Bill's main job at the present time.
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