Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
From the remarks last month of Rev. Charles Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia, to the "Cardinal O'Connor Conference on Life":
Catholics need to wake up from the illusion that the America we now live in – not the America of our nostalgia or imagination or best ideals, but the real America we live in here and now – is somehow friendly to our faith. What we’re watching emerge in this country is a new kind of paganism, an atheism with air-conditioning and digital TV. And it is neither tolerant nor morally neutral.
As the historian Gertrude Himmelfarb observed more than a decade ago, “What was once stigmatized as deviant behavior is now tolerated and even sanctioned; what was once regarded as abnormal has been normalized.” But even more importantly, she added, “As deviancy is normalized, so what was once normal becomes deviant. The kind of family that has been regarded for centuries as natural and moral – the ‘bourgeois’ family as it is invidiously called – is now seen as pathological...."
The task you need to take home with you today is this. Never give up the struggle that the March for Life embodies. No matter how long it takes; no matter how many times you march – it matters, eternally. Because of you, some young woman will choose life, and that new life will have the love of God forever.....
Changing the course of American culture seems like such a huge task; so far beyond the reach of this gathering today. But St. Paul felt exactly the same way. Redeeming and converting a civilization has already been done once. It can be done again.
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May '10
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
Noesis Noeseos: @katievs
On the specific issue of the First Amendment and how its protections for Catholics regarding the mandate for providing contraceptives is being violated, I agree with you 100%. Here style matches substance, and no honest division exists amongst the populace. The battle is upon us and can be won NOW with a decisive commitment.
What I think perhaps you do fully appreciate is how the left is using the occasion of Rick Santorum's surge in the polls to pull a sleight of hand.
They are working up the right into such a state of embarrassment over Rick Santorum that we are losing focus. Conservatives are eagerly agreeing that opposition to birth control is so "extreme" and backward and unacceptable that anyone who maintains it is beyond the public pale. Having staked their claim there; having dispatched Santorum to the obscurity whence he came, they will be eager to "move beyond" all discussion of birth control. Can we get off the social issues please? Let's talk about gas prices. Let's talk the economy.
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
KC Mulville
Noesis Noeseos
Just now, when the Republicans could prevail so easily as long as the public discourse focused on economics and foreign policy, just now may not be the best time to draw the focus to arenas in which the populace is still so severely divided.
No.
What prompted this contraception debate? Was it that the conservatives decided, out of the blue, to start opening social-issue cans of worms? No.
Now, having completely lost the issue in the fog ... amazingly ... the GOP candidates are being blamed for bringing up contraception. People are wondering why they felt the need to bring it up now.
They didn't. · 8 minutes ago
Nicely put.
Nov '11
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
For my own sanity, say it with me now, "Contraception AND sterilization" mandate. Does anyone think that the federal government should be encouraging people to sterilize themselves? That is exactly what they are doing with the mandate. I am mystified as to why everyone keeps saying "contraceptives" when that is not the only issue, nor the most important issue, in my eyes.
Jan '12
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
KC Mulville
No.
What prompted this contraception debate? Was it that the conservatives decided, out of the blue, to start opening social-issue cans of worms? No.
Now, having completely lost the issue in the fog ... amazingly ... the GOP candidates are being blamed for bringing up contraception. People are wondering why they felt the need to bring it up now.
They didn't. · 6 minutes ago
On the specific issue of mandates for contraceptives, you are right, as is Katievs. On the broader questions of abortions and, depending on the interplay of courts and legislatures, the legal status of--oh, why not call the spades spades?--aberrant conjunctions, I'll continue to suggest that regrettably, the campaign to correct wrongs must take a tactical pause.
Jan '12
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
katievs
Noesis Noeseos: @katievs
On the specific issue of the First Amendment and how its protections for Catholics regarding the mandate for providing contraceptives is being violated, I agree with you 100%. Here style matches substance, and no honest division exists amongst the populace. ...
What I think perhaps you do [not] fully appreciate is how the left is using the occasion of Rick Santorum's surge in the polls to pull a sleight of hand.
My friend, I am too well aware of the tricks of the Left. Within my previous circle of acquaintance were out and out Marxists. They made no secret of how they operate. I knew of Robert Scheer when he wrote for the Berkeley Barb. I went on a peace march against the Viet Nam War in 1965 only to see Bettina Aptheker, daughter of the leader of the Communist Party USA, try to provoke us naifs into rioting.
I know that the Left is exploiting Santorum's intensity for all they can, but I can see also that because his perspective lacks, shall we call it, "Newtonian" complexity, he sometimes unwittingly plays into their hands.
Jun '11
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
Noesis Noeseos
Do you have any idea of how offensive this claim is to believing Jews?
Is it the religious claim that offends you, or a concern for discrimination against Jews?
The claims of Christianity and Judaism conflict. But we certainly ought to be able to live, work, and converse with each other without taking offense over those conflicting claims.
Feb '12
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
Noesis Noeseos
Do you have any idea of how offensive this claim is to believing Jews?
I'd like to hear your response, fellow, lest I come to believe that Torquemada is your best friend. · 2 hours ago
Edited 2 hours ago
Noesis Noeseos
Richard, I believe, was speaking to the larger culture which is with out faith. I can not speak specifically to him but I can tell you that I associate weekly with hundreds of like mind evangelical Christians who would do anything for the Jewish people. Believing Jews are not the problem with our culture, and the problem with our culture was what Richard was speaking directly about.
Jan '12
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
Christopher Esget
Noesis Noeseos
Do you have any idea of how offensive this claim is to believing Jews?
Is it the religious claim that offends you, or a concern for discrimination against Jews?
The claims of Christianity and Judaism conflict. But we certainly ought to be able to live, work, and converse with each other without taking offense over those conflicting claims. · 3 minutes ago
Alas, I fear that I cannot conceive of how the religious claim can be totally separated from a mind that harbors, at least to some degree, a berth for the transports of bigotry. I am aware that you do not see it this way, but here we must regard each other from a friendly but still guarded distance.
I am also aware that only a greater commitment to charity than I possess could suggest a path to reconciliation.
Jan '11
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
Noesis Noeseos
On the broader questions of abortions and, depending on the interplay of courts and legislatures, the legal status of--oh, why not call the spades spades?--aberrant conjunctions, I'll continue to suggest that regrettably, the campaign to correct wrongs must take a tactical pause.
I'd agree with you that from merely a public relations point of view, it doesn't pay to stigmatize Americans as immoral.
But the smart move isn't to just stay silent.
I'd say that the presidential campaign is a perfect time to discuss ... in fact, the time when we're supposed to discuss ... the legal principles behind these issues. The president is the chief nominator of Supreme Court justices, and we need to scrutinize the principles by which he'd nominate justices.
I say we should focus, not on the moral debate, but on the legal and Constitutional hurdles we need to clear before we can haggle over morality.
So, don't ask about contraception ... instead, ask about what the Fourteenth Amendment really commands. Don't ask about abortion ... ask about what "privacy" implies.
The president isn't our Moral Chieftain, but he does nominate SC justice. Focus there.
Jun '11
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
Noesis Noeseos
Alas, I fear that I cannot conceive of how the religious claim can be totally separated from a mind that harbors, at least to some degree, a berth for the transports of bigotry. I am aware that you do not see it this way, but here we must regard each other from a friendly but still guarded distance.
I am also aware that only a greater commitment to charity than I possess could suggest a path to reconciliation. · 0 minutes ago
At least in the U.S., a vigorous commitment on all sides to the First Amendment is an excellent framework. I was delighted to see Rabbi Soloveichik seated in solidarity with my own (Lutheran) President Harrison, and RCC Bishop Lori at the House hearing on the Obama administration's assault on religious liberty.
For myself, being a disciple of Jesus requires me to love all men regardless of their religion or other differences (not that I'm any good at it).
Dec '10
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
Noesis Noeseos
Professor Rahe, I respect you mightily, but I do not envy at all how you must have to accommodate some of the burdens that fideism and dogma must place upon the intellect. There is sublimity indeed in the speculations of Thomas Aquinas, but even his had to defer to authority for authority's sake. Most regrettable. · 2 hours ago
To quote one of my favorite bands The Judys in their song Don't Be a Hippie, "No dogma is dogma."
May '10
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
Noesis Noeseos
I know that the Left is exploiting Santorum's intensity for all they can, but I can see also that because his perspective lacks, shall we call it, "Newtonian" complexity, he sometimes unwittingly plays into their hands.
As I see it, everyone on the right who is not opposing the grotesque media caricature of Rick Santorum and their attempt to impose a de facto religious test on candidates for President is playing into their hands.
That Santorum has been imperfectly adept at repelling their relentless charges is utterly unimportant.
In this present battle, he is standing on the right and everyone who cherishes our liberties should be standing four square behind him.
I don't mean they have to prefer him for our nominee, but they should fight the lying spin about him. It's meant to demoralize and defeat us.
Edited on February 25, 2012 at 10:21pmJan '12
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
KC Mulville
.
I'd say that the presidential campaign is a perfect time to discuss ... in fact, the time when we're supposed to discuss ... the legal principles behind these issues. The president is the chief nominator of Supreme Court justices, and we need to scrutinize the principles by which he'd nominate justices.
I say we should focus, not on the moral debate, but on the legal and Constitutional hurdles we need to clear before we can haggle over morality.
So, don't ask about contraception ... instead, ask about what the Fourteenth Amendment really commands. Don't ask about abortion ... ask about what "privacy" implies.
The president isn't our Moral Chieftain, but he does nominate SC justice. Focus there. · 14 minutes ago
Sounds good to me.
Jun '10
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
Noesis Noeseos
But again I'd like to offer for reflection a tactical concern, a matter ofstyleand timing andemphasis. Just now, when the Republicans could prevail so easily as long as the public discourse focused on economics and foreign policy, just now may not be the best time to draw the focus to arenas in which the populace is still so severely divided.
That's simply not true. I hate to break it to you but there is simply no easy path to victory this fall. It's always an uphill battle to beat an incumbent, but more to the point the public is just as divided on economics and foreign policy as on social issues.
Take Iran, with the exception of Ron Paul (who won't win) all our candidates support military action to stop Iran from getting nukes. Liberals furiously oppose this, the last thing they want is another war in the Middle East.
Or take the deficit. Lots of people in this country, perhaps a majority, think the best way to shrink the deficit is to raise taxes, mainly on Wall Street and "the 1%."
Jun '10
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
Noesis Noeseos,
I'll give you one more opportunity to be offended, but no offense intended. :)
Sr. Rosalind Moss (54 min.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw0iSP5p1_M
Mar '11
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
The good Archbishop seems to be confusing paganism and aetheism. Paganism is an honorable religion that pre-dates Christianty by thousands of years. It's true that it is often hijacked by leftists, but then the catholic church is maybe going through the same thing now. I doubt that the Catholic church can redeem America - conservatism, maybe, but even that seems a long shot right now.
Jan '12
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
Christopher Esget
...
For myself, being a disciple of Jesus requires me to love all men regardless of their religion or other differences (not that I'm any good at it). · 15 minutes ago
Perhaps you are not what you believe you ought to be, but I am willing to bet that you are better for the efforts you have already made. And if you don't mind my throwing in a little of you know whom, that is how the Holy Spirit operates in the minds of men: the teachings have been given, and not only are they received but they are also worked upon.
May '10
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
It strikes me that the Catholic Church wouldn't have found itself in this position, if it hadn't of injected itself into matters of state in the first place. Protestant evangelical groups do this too, and it always backfires. Conservative evangelicals gained political power in the 80's, then the Liberal evangelicals are having their turn now. The whole thing stinks, because they both end up as disappointed special interest groups in the end. Religious organizations should affect change in the culture and stay out of politics, but considering it's history, that would be pretty difficult for the Catholic Church to accomplish.
Jan '12
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
katievs
I don't mean they have to prefer him for our nominee, but they should fight the lying spin about him. It's meant to demoralize and defeat us. · 23 minutes ago
Edited 9 minutes ago
Good point. And if Newt has fallen short here, I wish I could apologize for him. I suspect, however, that the main culprit is the RINO.
Jun '11
Re: Paganism with Air-Conditioning and Digital TV
I suspect that he means not to equate them but to make a connection between them and their hostility to Christianity.