Here is an interview with Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein that contains clear and precise answers – that is if you think that mud is translucent.
Q: Some critics of the church say bishops and other leaders might look at this issue differently if they had more interaction with people who are gay. Do you have the opportunity to do that?
A: "I don’t. I mean, obviously, I probably do and don’t even know it. But I’m not going to go there."
Q: Right now, there is a lot of talk about the use of torture. Do you think there is ever a time when that is justified?
A: "I don’t know enough to know what is true and what is false (about the current practice by American forces). I don’t think it is clear whether there is or there isn’t torture. But no. There is no justification for torture. At least I can’t understand why (it would be needed) in this day and age in a civilized society."
Well how about the fact that you can never do evil to achieve good regardless of the day and age?
Q: "The DaVinci Code" continues to remain on The New York Times best- seller list more than two years after it was published. What do you make of that book’s popularity?
A: "I think people like intrigue. I think they like to see a major institution such as the church being tweaked a little bit. I read the book. What bothers me about the book is that it is footloose and fancy-free with history and fact. And I am not so sure that a lot of people are alert to that."
Q: What were your qualms with it?
A: "Some of the interpretations of Da Vinci’s paintings. Some of the insinuations about Opus Dei. Some of the insinuations about how the Vatican functions. Just enough kernels of truth, but a great deal of poetic license."
So the assertion that Jesus married Mary Magdalene and that Christianity is totally false are less important insinuations? Now the Archbishop did try to provide good answers in accordance with the Church in this interview it is just that they were not put very well and the arguments used were less than satisfying. Though of course not everybody is blessed with the intellectual heft of Pope Benedict XVI.
Q: What are the chances the Colts will have a perfect season?
A: "We’ve got a really good shot at it, but I don’t want to put a jinx on it."
At least he makes no claim to being a prophet.
2 comments
I can understand why the good bishop is hesitant to say anything about homosexuality, in light of recent events. Just plead the Fifth and move on.
As for torture, has anyone come up with a definition yet? Al Gore’s speaking engagements come perilously close to violating any ban on torture. How about the music of Haugen, Haas, and Schutte?
These answers do sound a bit disappointing, but I know nothing about their completeness or accuracy. I will say this for Archbishop Buechlein: under his watch on the USCC’s committee overseeing cathechetical texts, VERY significant improvements in content of k-8 texts across many publishers have been made. Not perfection, but serious improvement.