Again the NCR passes the Democratic Turing test. If an article was read to you where the source could be a Democratic Party operative or the NCR you would be hard pressed to tell the difference. They have called those who have opposed Catholic Charities from honoring Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino extremists. His overt support of abortion – the murdering of the innocent- can be excused because.
For Menino is also, apparently, an outstanding (and increasingly rare these days) advocate for the poor and the downtrodden.
Sorry no Kewpie doll as a reward for this one. You can not be an advocate for the poor and downtrodden when you advocate the murder of the most poor and downtrodden. This is almost a "but the trains run on time" argument. Everybody even those who advocate the most insidious evils have redeeming qualities. But this does not give a blank pass to any evil they might advocate. Both praise the good and denounce the evil.
In the end, Catholic Charities, headed by Fr. J. Bryan Hehir, stood firm and honored Menino. On the matter of adoptions by gay couples, Hehir explained that Catholic Charities, a faith-based organization that uses government money, must abide by state laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. Boston Archbishop Sean O’Malley stayed away from the dinner, basing his decision on a policy of the U.S. bishops prohibiting Catholic organizations from honoring those in public life who oppose church teaching. Of course, as we all know from other matters, bishops are autonomous and can interpret and apply such directives as they see fit — or simply ignore them.
Yes every time you dissent you are standing firm, but if you stand with the Church you are an extremist with a flock mentality. It is rather strange that they accept the argument that Catholic Charities must abide by state law then a paragraph later talk against the death penalty. So I guess if a state law says that you must violate Church teaching and a somewhat recent document by the CDF that is okay, but if a state law approves the death penalty then this must be opposed. I guess it is too much though to expect any kid of consistency from the NCReporter. To be consistent you have to be faithful to the Church. Dissent from truth obviously causes problems with consistency.
If this were merely a little Boston politics, it would be easy to overlook. It is, however, indicative of the kind of befuddled approach to the public arena that has become the Catholic hallmark in too many places.
Church leaders are being pushed and bullied by bands of extreme zealots who may refer to themselves as “authentic” Catholics but who have no bona fides beyond their small circles of discontent. One Boston area extremist who fomented opposition to the Catholic Charities dinner had this to say about Hehir on her Web site: “This man is pure unadulterated evil. He literally sends shivers up my spine. … If he and his cronies think we’re going to tolerate he [sic] and the archbishops’ material cooperation in abortions — we’ll chase them out of town faster than you can say Voice of the Faithful.”
Of course the one (unaccredited) example they provide of the extreme zealot is one that is pretty much ignored by Catholic bloggers and has made a habit of attacking other Catholic bloggers. Sure you can find fanatics in any bunch, but to use one that is pretty much discredited by Catholics who also opposed Catholic Charities for the invite is the typical tactic of the NCReporter.
We can become the absolutists, the literalists who keep cutting off limbs and poking out eyes to fend off that which we find disagreeable. Or we can rediscover the robustness of true Catholicism. We can recognize that politics is not religion. We can rejoin the fray, making our points by persuasion and example, not by ultimatums, sulking and walking away. [Source]
Of course if Catholic Charities has invited Arnold Swartzenegger or other pro-death penalties type they would have promoted a walk out. At least once we would have something to agree on.
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A priest reading the hate editorials/schismatic garbage in the National Catholic Reporter and he thinks the Catechism and throwing thieves from the Temple is darkness.
In the Name of Christ, come out of this priest, go directly to the foot of the Cross without harming him or any other along the way and await the disposition of the King of Angels, the Alpha, and the Omega, concieved of the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontious Pilate, suffered, died, rose from the dead, ascended to Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father where He will judge.
Sigh….and I suppose the NCR would have supported the walk-out and the SUCCESSFUL demand for an apology after Cardinal Arinze (a few years) ago “insulted” the good people of the ostensibly Catholic Georgetown U. by (horrors!) mentioning that abortion hurts families.
There is none so blind as those who will not see. They only spout the kind of language you quote in support of dissenters; “tolerance” goes out the door when it comes to people who uphold the faith and tradition.
We can become the absolutists, the literalists who keep cutting off limbs and poking out eyes to fend off that which we find disagreeable. Or we can rediscover the robustness of true Catholicism. We can recognize that politics is not religion. We can rejoin the fray, making our points by persuasion and example, not by ultimatums, sulking and walking away.
Let’s put this in the PC translator:
“We are losing. And rather than accept that our ideas are bankrupt, the few of us dissenters left need to become more shrill.”
Imagine the outrage if the goodly Archbishop dissolved those “Catholic” organs that were compromised into contradicting true Catholic teaching. Material Cooperation.
I was hoping that Archbiship Sean would be a breath of fresh air for Boston and drive the moneychangers from the temple (or in this case the infanticidests and militant homosexuals) but it just seems like more of the same stuff. And now Catholic hospitals in Massachusetts are going to be forced to provide “emergency contraception” in their hospitals, which can induce abortion. You think they’re gonna close those down though rather than assist in abortion like they should? I highly doubt it.
You get the feeling they made the “gouging eyes” and “cutting off limbs” statement as a purposeful allusion to the gospel, but really, I’m not sure it works the way they meant it to. I seem to remember being TOLD to rip out eyes and cut off limbs . . .
I, for one, find Carol McKinley’s blog, while definitely rough around the edges, high on my list of blogs-which must-be-read-each-day.
We (orthodox Catholics) are under siege here in Massachusetts and she’s on our side. Yes, she phrases things in an intense, even confrontational way (which attracts all kinds of nuts) but I find background info there which the other Boston Catholic bloggers are too afraid or too polite or too PC to say.
Lynne,
We don’t say them because there are some things too indiscrete or too uncharitable to say. Or too steeped in wacky conspiracy theories. And because I have journalistic standards and don’t pass off gossip as fact.
Dom, you’re a journalist. She’s not. Within the past few months, I’ve read most of her archives. I don’t find much difference between the two of you in terms of content (regarding the state of Catholicism in MA), just tone. I’ll admit, her tone is much different than yours. That doesn’t make her a bad person, okay?
[The translation]: “We are losing.”
Actually, no, they aren’t. For all intents and purposes, the Reporter wing won big on the Menino fiasco, as they have won big throughout the entire State. CC got to cuddle a powerful machine pol, raised beaucoup bucks and also got a tongue bath from Abp. O’Malley’s spokesflack. So they had to suffer with scattered protesters–so what? The protesters are a stubborn last stand, not some advancing force.
The ability of the Reporter to spin this into some kind of defeat only shows that they won’t be happy until the orthodox have been completely silenced and slapped down very, very hard. In fact, it’s probably the most telling editorial the Rep has ever published, and needs to be considered at some length. After all, more diocese advertise in the Reporter than they do in St. Blog’s. NCR represents the thinking of a lot more people in the American Church than is generally admitted.
Lynne,
There’s a large difference between me and Carol, which is what you said yourself in your first comment. For one thing I don’t make vitriolic personal attacks on the bishop. Neither do I posit wacky conspiracy theories. There are other substantive differences as well and I see them very clearly.
Lynne,
Gives you a whole new dimension to Bettinelli doesn’t it?
I caught him several times posting things that were completely untrue.
Anyone who is in the trenches knows that he’s about ten years behind on his information on what’s going down in Boston. Therefore, it all sounds preposterous.
Yes, he cuddles up just nice to the Bishop….a special feeling for those of us who actually know what’s going on.
Most people who are activists and have the inside scoop on what’s going on – don’t much take his bait when he tries to diss me – – but there are a few poor souls who are led down the path by his envy.
Whatever!
Be at peace.
p.s.
Bettinelli is well known for passing gossip as fact. It’s his whole shtick since he is out of the loops of anyone who is in the trenches doing the work. We feed him what we want, when we want – most times we don’t and we let him flounder.
He sent people on a wild goose chase during Katrina..quite frankly, people jeopordized their lives…he has called innocent priests “diddlers” – the list goes on and on. I won’t elaborate because it’s well known fact…Nobody takes Bettinelli seriously in the political and journalistic fields other than poor Fr. Fessio and bloggers who are clueless on what’s going down in Boston.
Both sides of politics “conspire” – which simply means we work together to find out what’s going on and what to do about it. To make people who are knowlegable out to be paranoid is how we end up with victims of perverts for so many years before people had to shrill in order to pry out the systemic flaw. Still, very much entrenched.
Just as we need Bill Donohue to do his gig with Walmart..as the days are gone when they’ll respond to nice letters…the Bishops and Boston Globe need their dose of hyperbole in order to get the job done. Otherwise, they “get away with it”.
Mother Angelica had to put up with similar nonsense from the craven men who let things get this far when she told off Mahoney. Remember? They all made her apologize for not being “nice” to the Bishop.
Dom is frothing at the mouth at me now, because the press and the people who are politically active, ignore him.
Of course, it stands to reason for anyone with a cerebellum and common sense – the reason why we do what we do, is because both the press and the Chancery ignore truth and logic in charitable ways. That is what the whole “crisis” is about…and continues to be about. It’s enabling…and the one and only thing the VOTFers are right about. We all agree with them on that point in fact. Dom is a poster boy for what’s wrong with the system.
His alternative is going along with TAT, etc,…telling himself that if only he doesn’t do it, it’s okay to get along with the Bishop and look the other way to what’s being done at other parishes. Every man for himself!
Weird!
Merry Christmas to one and all!
There are bloggers out there that are into making a name for themseleves instead of telling the truth. If a story sounds “off” figure there is something wrong. We need to pray for these poor souls! They sometimes have a hard time seeing the truth. They instead make thier own truth and change things around (lie) as to make themselves sound important.
I came to this site after reading the NCR editorial, wanting to see the actual text that was referred to about the Church in Boston, and see whether there might be any substance here. I was not disappointed .. there isn’t! What I found here is a site filled with ignorance and hateful speech, all in the guise of “true Catholicism” (the image of “sheep’s clothing” keeps coming to mind). I am a priest and will keep you in my prayers, praying that the Lord will soften your hearts of stone, helping you to see others with the love and compassion of the One we celebrate this season. May Mary, the Mother of God, who opened her entire being to the wonder of Divine life, intercede on your behalf so that you might be lead from the darkness you are in.
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