From the
WaPo:
We now know that the reaction of right-wing Catholics to Notre Dame's invitation to President Obama falls into the category of "more Catholic than the pope."
To the dismay of many conservatives, the Vatican's own newspaper, L'Osservatore Romano, has offered what one antiabortion Catholic blog called "a surprisingly positive assessment of the new president's approach to life issues" -- so positive, in fact, that a spokesman for the National Right to Life Committee was moved to criticize Pope Benedict XVI's daily.....
The article will strengthen the liberal claim that the Catholic right's over-the-top response is rooted at least as much in Republican and conservative politics as in concern over the abortion question.....
A recent Pew Research Center poll found that two-thirds of Catholics approved of Obama's performance in office. .....Largely lost in the Notre Dame furor is the extent to which the ferocity on the Catholic right has emboldened moderate and liberal Catholics to fight back.
About time the social justice Catholics stepped back up for their views. Bill Donohue should be recognized as an aberration, not a spokesman. In
America, "The Catholic Weekly", an oped says,
The divisive effects of the new American sectarians have not escaped the notice of the Vatican. Their highly partisan political edge has become a matter of concern. That they never demonstrate the same high dudgeon at the compromises, unfulfilled promises and policy disagreements with Republican politicians as with Democratic ones is plain for all to see. It is time to call this one-sided denunciation by its proper name: political partisanship.....
.... church leaders must promote the primacy of charity among Catholics who advocate different political options. For as the council declared, “The bonds which unite the faithful are mightier than anything which divides them” (“Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World,” No. 92).
As an observer of Christianity,however, I have seen precious little example of that in any denomination!
6 comments:
As another WaPo oped put it, this one by a Jesuit priest,
I think part of the problem is that the bishops stopped listening and teaching and started ordering and condemning. With an educated laity it no longer works to simply say, "it is the teaching of the church." This is the equivalent of a parent shouting, "Because I said so."
The bishops must persuade and convince with arguments not by turning up the volume. When they resort to commanding and threatening punishments, people are turned off. Banning speakers, denying Communion, silencing theologians is a sign of weakness not strength. Censorship and violations of academic freedom come across as admissions that their arguments are not convincing and therefore the opposition must be silenced.
Velly intelesting, fer shur. The Pope fights back against the Popoids? Who'd a thunk it?
Off-topic: thinking of you, IT, as we enter "California Burning" season, Yet Again (and too damn early!). Tell me again, ReThugs, how "Climate Change is a Myth"... >:-/
Gee, IT, your comment could as easily be directed at GAFCON types, no?
Ya think? ;-) it's all much of a muchness.
Yes, I thought the same thing as I read the comment, too, IT. Very interesting indeed. But, the Jesuit nailed it on the head. And, that's exactly what some AC bishops are doing.
Dang, go and read the article to which IT refers and make sure to read all the comments on that article.
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