When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
I know we've hashed this out a bit already at Ricochet, but my latest column for the Wall Street Journal suggests that we should be wary any time the media starts defending the papacy:
American political reporters aren't known for their vocal support of Roman Catholic teachings. But when they discovered recently that Minnesota Congresswoman and Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann was once a Lutheran, they began defending the papacy as if they were the Vatican's own Swiss Guard. They asked with concern, could Catholics even vote for a former Lutheran?
Ms. Bachmann's former church, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, hasn't followed the mainline Protestant church practice of regularly revising its doctrines. The Lutheran confessions, or statements of faith, are found in the Book of Concord, first published in 1580. They explain the doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone. Accordingly, they don't believe the pope's authority comes from God.
This shouldn't be surprising to anyone familiar with the Reformation, but it hit the press hard. "Michele Bachmann leaves church accused of anti-Catholic bias," the Los Angeles Times reported. The Atlantic Monthly: "Michele Bachmann's Church Says the Pope Is the Antichrist." From the Washington Post, we learned that the Lutheran Confessions use "unfortunate wording." ...
Some Lutheran church bodies have said that the teachings on the papacy were true at the time they were written but are no longer in effect. Certainly the original historical context is key, when the memory of popes who had abused indulgences, murdered rivals, launched wars and squandered church resources was fresher. Today, Lutherans still hold that the office represents an unbiblical authority to speak unilaterally for the church.
And yet the current pope, Benedict XVI, is particularly close to the Lutherans. As his biographer John Allen has written, the Lutherans are to Pope Benedict what the Orthodox were to his predecessor John Paul: "the separated brethren he knows best, and for whom he has the greatest natural affinity." Indeed, far from the sectarian battles that reporters may envision, the fact is that confessional Lutherans and Pope Benedict are partners in the battle against what he has called the "dictatorship of relativism."
Catholics and Lutherans know where they disagree and why. They'll be forgiven for taking a pass on the media's new interest in resolving their disputes.
I used to get upset that the media more or less ignored confessional Lutherans -- even though we're much larger than, for instance, The Episcopal Church. Mostly they ignore us because we don't get involved in politics or change our beliefs like some religious groups do. But if the last week's butchering of Lutheranism is any indication, perhaps I should be glad that they avoid us.
But this idea that the media is some great defender of the papacy is laughable. Just this week we saw how it treated Archbishop Charles Chaput who has been moved from Denver to Philadelphia. The coverage didn't exactly praise him for his fidelity to the Vatican or the teachings of his church. Far from it, in fact. I wrote about that, too, over at my website that analyzes media coverage of religion news.
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Jun '10
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
I'd guess that most who work in the MSM are quite secular, so this ridiculous reporting's source is a combination of agendas -- anti-faith and anti-Bachmann. It certainly isn't pure, unbiased journalism!
The idea that there is some festering hatred between us Catholics and you Lutherans is preposterous. My older brother dated a Lutheran minister for quite a while & my mom was hoping for a wedding. My younger brother was a member of the Lutheran youth group & was warmly welcomed. Both I and my kids have had Lutheran classmates attending our Catholic schools. Plenty of ecumenical church services celebrated together, as well. It really paints a picture of viscious hatred, don't you think?
May '10
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
I've always been Catholic. Never had a moment's serious doubt that it is the Church established by Christ, that its teachings are true.
But my faith came alive thanks to the influence of evangelicals. They taught me that Christianity is about a personal relationship with Jesus. They taught me to love the Bible. Some of them thought the Pope was the antichrist. It was a point of discussion and debate between us, against a backdrop of mutual respect and warm friendship.
You really have to wonder whether these reporters have ever had a single serious conversation with a believing Christian.
Jun '10
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
It was mutual:
"We would make known [...] that Martin [Luther], his followers and the other rebels have set on God and his Church by their obstinate and shameless temerity. We would protect the herd from one infectious animal, lest its infection spread to the healthy ones. Hence we lay the following injunction on each and every patriarch, archbishop, bishop, [...]: that in the strength of their vow of obedience and on pain of the sentence of excommunication, they shall, if so required in the execution of these presents, publicly announce and cause to be announced by others in their churches, that this same Martin and the rest are excommunicate, accursed, condemned, heretics, hardened, interdicted, deprived of possessions and incapable of owning them, and so listed in the enforcement of these presents. Three days will be given: we pronounce canonical warning and allow one day's notice on the first, another on the second, but on the third peremptory and final execution of our order. [...] The faithful Christians, one and all, shall be enjoined strictly to shun these men." (From: Pope Leo X: Decet Romanum Pontificem: Papal Bull on the Excommunication of Martin Luther, the Heretic, and his Followers, January 3, 1521)
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
I was just signing on to link to this wonderful column, but you got there first, Mollie. Beautifully written, wonderfully observed, made me laugh out loud - and I was in the middle of reading it to my wife when I thought, "Hey! That's OUR Mollie!" Is Ricochet a cool place to hang or what?
Jun '11
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
It's a bizzaro world these MSM inhabit, where Christians are still burning each other and the 100 Years War still rages.
Jun '10
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
Was. Not is.
Michelle Bachmann is running for president in 2012, not 1521.
This controversy is one of the dumbest ever.
Jun '10
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
We must understand that when it comes to Christianity, the main goal of the media is division. Christians, specifically traditional Christians, are the last stand against complete moral and cultural relativism. We see these attempts in Catholicism all the time. The media elevates disobedient "catholics" who hate their own church very consistently; Pelosi, Biden, Cuomo. They are painted as heroes. The Obama administration, when they actually do appoint a Catholic to any position, also seeks to appoint disobedient Catholics to positions of prominence.
Where there is no apparent division, the media simply creates one from nothing, as is the case here. Traditional Lutherans and orthodox (small o) Catholics probably agree culturally on 90% of issues. So the media simply fabricates division in an attempt to divide its enemies.
Pope Benedict has done more for Christian unity than maybe any other figure of the past few hundred years. And he is loathed for this by liberals and the media alike. Don't confuse feigned media support for him for actual support, that would be an error.
Once Christianity is removed, and total relativism is instituted, the media can quite happily and calmly say whatever they want, unchecked and unquestioned.
Aug '10
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
And what religion was John Wayne Gacy ??
See, that's what Michelle Bachmann, according to sources, really meant : that serial killers are all from a different religion and that migraine bloodlibel is a episcopalian construct !
She has also been tied, according to ex-staffers, with pictures of baptists actually drenched in water wearing what appear to be ritualistic robes of some nefarious design.
I just hope the press doesn't find out that the Nordstrom in Minneapolis has Bruno Magli shoes and gloves ? That would pretty much cinch the conspiracy.
The press is just barely perceptible through the slime they inhabit. Guess that is where those air bubbles emanate from... how gross.
Edited on Jul 22, 2011 at 12:10pmMay '10
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
So the Press has discovered the Reformation, thank G-d, I have been waiting for some time for them to catch up.
Just wait till they hear that Michelle Bachmann has recently joined the The Esoteric Order of Dagon....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esoteric_Order_of_Dagon
Dec '10
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
As a pastor asked on Dennis Prager's show, do these reporters from the LA Times, The Atlantic and the Washington Post have degrees in theology?? Well... do they?
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
Thank you so much!
Apr '11
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
It's 1960 all over again, in reverse: Can a Catholic even vote for a Protestant? I guess non-West Virginians will have to sort it out for us, perhaps following a speech by Ms. Bachmann addressing a group of Roman Catholic bishops somewhere in the Southwest.
Jan '11
Re: When The Press Defends The Papacy, Be Suspicious
Katievs
"You really have to wonder whether these reporters have ever had a single serious conversation with a believing Christian."
Don't wonder. The answer is no.