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A Challenge to the Title of Most Clueless Catholic™
Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Senator Time Kaine is mounting a serious challenge to Vice President Joe Biden and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for the title of America’s Most Clueless Catholic™. (There is a special category for Secretary of State John Kerry, but Ricochet’s Code of Conduct doesn’t allow one to name it).
During his keynote address at the national dinner for the Human Rights Campaign, an influential LGBT advocacy group, Kaine predicted that the Catholic Church will eventually drop its opposition to same-sex marriage. Channeling the gobbledygook that, at times, comes from Pope Francis, Kaine dug deep into his Jesuit training and opined:
“I think it’s going to change because my church also teaches me about a creator who, in the first chapter of Genesis, surveyed the entire world, including mankind, and said, ‘It is very good’.”
Kaine (also) cited Pope Francis’ “who am I to judge” comment, and then said: “I want to add: Who am I to challenge God for the beautiful diversity of the human family? I think we’re supposed to celebrate it, not challenge it.”
Like many of his fellow contenders for the title, Kaine cherry-picked his verses, forgetting the parts about God creating man in His own image, creating them male and female, and commanding them to be fruitful and multiply. But heck, why sweat the details for such a lofty goal?
Of course Kaine, adopts the mantra of his mentors by being “personally opposed” to abortion. This however, has not prevented him from receiving a 100 percent rating in 2016 from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the political arm of the nation’s largest abortion provider and, recently, a perfect rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America. Why let your principles inform your actions, right?
Of course, the progressive media love it when a Catholic runs as a Democrat. For instance, the New York Times gushed over Kaine’s “spiritual awakening” in Honduras. But as one writer has put it, it seems the experience brought Kaine closer to Karl Marx than Jesus Christ. Of course, with his grounding in Liberation Theology, and his upbringing under Jesuit influence — and the friendships he carried on with the liberation theology priests — has given Kaine a bond with the Pope:
“I really feel I know him,” Mr. Kaine said. “The age he was in 1980 and ’81 was about the same age as a lot of my friends were. The Jesuits.”
Sheesh.
But Kaine should not assume his title in this august contest will remain unchallenged. Not to be outdone, two members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops — Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington D.C. — signed a joint declaration last month with Iranian Religious leaders that contained this type of nonsense:
Christianity and Islam share a commitment to love and respect for the life, dignity, and welfare of all members of the human community. Both traditions reject transgressions and injustices as reprehensible, and oppose any actions that endanger the life, health, dignity, or welfare of others. We hold a common commitment to peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.
What a world we live in. The race is on for the title.
Published in Religion & Philosophy
I meant names of Jesuit *educational institutions*, in particular, at the college level. After the Land of Lakes statement of 1967 and 1991 Ex Corde Ecclesiae, I’d say that’s no easy feat.
Not necessarily. For one thing, we can take the tradition as solid guidance. We just don’t recognize any infallible authority there.
I’d argue it would be difficult for any Catholic institution on the college level, Jesuit or otherwise. Naturally, the cora personalis liberal arts education of Jesuit secondary schools and the Cristo Rey outreach schools have their own challenges. But the success of whether a Jesuit school remains a standard for excellence is always going to be debatable, especially to the people who went through the school and believe they received a quality education.
So let’s ask another question. For sake of comparison, can you cite three outstanding Catholic institutions, using the same standard – and why?
Nothing new for the neo-pagan left. As the Roman empire was dying and Christianity rising about 60% of the pagan population engaged in homosexual acts in a culture of sterile marriages, infanticide and abortion. It is not a healthy society that confuses the alimentary canal for the reproductive system while murdering its children.
I frequently point out to my fellow Catholics who make such asinine comments like Kaine that from a very simple prudential judgement, it is irrational for any Catholic to even consider cooperation with the Homosexuality normalization movement after the scandals that erupted in the early 21st century with the sexual misconduct of ordained homosexuals (1200 cases, 87% of all misconduct was homosexual contact with a lower incident rate of actual pedophilia than the general population <2%). The perennial Church teaching on Homosexuality is correct and proven by experience.
The same emotional reasoning was used to permit the ordination of active homosexuals resulting in a cost to the faith was an astounding $4 to $6 billion dollars and a collapse of the Moral teaching and authority of the Church. What part of the truth is open to change with that reality?
Georgetown, Fordham and the other Jesuit colleges are no longer Jesuit, they are lay run. The Jesuits handed control over to lay people. That’s the Land of Lakes legacy. And good luck getting the Ratio Studiorum. So, this isn’t about standards of excellence, its whether the institution is Jesuit, or simply a hollowed out secular train wreck.
This is over the top, quite simply. What’s your level of knowledge of the philosophy and theology departments at these schools (that’s a serious not contentious question)? Would you rather have this or not have it?
Ratio atque Institutio Studiorum Societatis Jesu ain’t what it used to be, for sure, but it hasn’t disappeared.
Inappropriate? That was his perception based on the orientation. It may not be accurate, but that is Georgetown’s fault. Sit through a current orientation. They didn’t mention the word “Catholic” once. They did brag on how they were the first university in the US to have a school Imam and that they also had a school Rabbi. One shouldn’t have to look for a religious experience at a Catholic university – it should smack you in the face or upside your head.
We don’t disagree, assuming you agree the law in the OT doesn’t apply to Christians.
It boils down to two:
The rest is commentary.
Catholics have Kerry, Biden, Pelosi, and now Kaine.
Mormons like me have to deal with Harry Reid. Seems like a choice between Scylla and Charybdis.
Happily for me, Reid will soon fade out of the public eye soon.
The four Catholics will, it seems, go on forever.
I think you’re sort of making my point.
Is this a euphemism for “pedophile priests”?
Carl Olson is thinking along the same lines as I am and expands on my comment #33. And as is his wont, he says it much better than I ever could.
“Christianity and Islam share a commitment to love and respect for the life, dignity, and welfare of all members of the human community. Both traditions reject transgressions and injustices as reprehensible, and oppose any actions that endanger the life, health, dignity, or welfare of others. We hold a common commitment to peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.”
Pretty much all of it. The history of Islam shows us that they hold no such respect, do not reject those things stated and to this day show no such mutual respect (count the number of churches in Saudi Arabia).
As this article states:
Well, that is a real problem isn’t it. Who speaks for Islam other than Mohammed?
Today is the 10th anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s Regensburg Address. Catholic World Report has some good essays up recounting this event here, here, and here.
Islam sees God as pure will. In their view, God can will them to sign the happy dance joint declaration today, and tomorrow God can will that they disregard what they signed. Until Islam can embrace reason, these types of statements seem meaningless to me.
Or as Fr. Fessio puts it:
Same sex marriage will never receive the blessing of the Roman Catholic Church. The name Sacrament of Holy Matrimony says it all. My high school Latin is a little rusty (almost a half century ago) but the word Matrimony comes from the word matrimonium a Latin gerund which translates as “making a mother.” While the ancient Romans were notoriously tolerant about homosexual relationships they were clear on the concept that marriage was about procreation.
The RCC, an organization in continuous existence since ancient antiquity, like their Roman ancestors recognizes marriage as a sacred rite where a girl or pulcher (hence the word pulchritude a synonym for female beauty) transitions to a wife or uxor and mother or mater. To this day the modern wedding is all about the bride while the groom plays a supporting role. A lesbian wedding has two prima donnas, an oximoron, while a gay wedding has two supporting roles but no star.
Oddly enough the classical definition of marriage is being defended by Roman Curia of the Holy See, a group queerer than the Village People.
Let me move away from “inappropriate” then. But, yes, the word “ashamed” is inaccurate. Schools that are “ashamed” of their identities do not have midnight masses and chapels occupying central campus locations. Please don’t blame the school for a misjudgment based on the evidence of a single orientation intended for a wide spectrum of potential applicants. We can also agree to disagree on whether any campus experience should smack one “upside the head.”
Sure. Off the top of my head, with regards to members of the Society of Jesus, Father Joseph Fessio, who founded Ignatius Press and was involved in the founding of Ave Maria University. Both are quality institutions and orthodox. Also, Father James Schall is a terrific thinker, philosopher, and writer on all things in life from an orthodox Catholic point of view. Father Robert Spitzer, who has a doctorate in philosophy, is known for being an excellent professor, and is known for his explanation of the relationship between physics and faith. Additionally, Father Mitch Pacwa, who is known for his expertise in world religions, and is an evangelist on EWTN. Also, orthodox. All excellent at what they do.
Educational institutions: Big time mission abandonment into secular progressivism at many universities: Gonzaga the latest example. I’ve heard mixed things about Georgetown & Regis. At the secondary level, U of D Jesuit in Detroit & St. Ignatius in Cleveland are two quality educational institutions and are Catholic off the top of my head.
For excellence and orthodoxy, I would look to more Dominican and Benedictine institutions.
“I’m a conflicted moderate on the matter, but my votes just happen to align perfectly with the most extreme position of one side.”
I’m torn between finding this more disgusting or dishonest. It’s close.
I would not concede even this much. The dietary laws are explicitly overridden in Peter’s vision in Acts. The ritual laws (circumcision, for example) were very clearly superseded by the early church (first council in Jerusalem) and New Testament scriptures.
The moral laws (including sexual morality) stand without the possibility of “evolution.” They’re a matter of truth or untruth.
Which are the rules permitting the buying of slaves from neighboring nations? Dietary laws or ritual laws?
Sounds good to me. I’m not sure we have any disagreement here. It looks to me like you’re doing a pretty good job articulating a criterion or two.
Extensive. The theology departments are unmitigated disasters. The philosophy departments have more isolated pockets of orthodoxy, but *none* can provide a full scholastic preparation for scholastic Catholic theology. Allow me to dig up a 1999 quote that did a comprehensive survey across North America and presented the jaw droppingly bad results on the Theology departments.
First, I’m having trouble remembering that. Is that in Leviticus somewhere?
Second, I’d say that that sort of question shows why identifying a thorough set of criteria can take some hard work!
Third, two strategies come to my mind for tackling such a rule.
One strategy is to start with what’s in the New Testament; Paul does list (in a letter either to Timothy or to Titus) that slave trading is one of those impermissible sins. That might point to the right answer.
Another good strategy is to investigate whether there might be a third category besides ritual and moral laws. Some of the laws may be neither ritual nor moral but strictly legal, pertaining to the Mosaic theocracy but not pertaining to any Jewish or Christian communities that are not part of any government.
Now that it’s morning, I might as well tackle this one.
Look, peeps, two questions.
Shouldn’t a theology department at a Christian and denominational school teach at least some of the religious and ethical teachings of that denomination as . . . fact?
Now, do you think the theology or religion departments at most Jesuit universities, Baptist universities, etc. . . . actually do that?
Oh, there you go again. Using logic and stuff. Pfffft.
First, Leviticus 25:44-46.
Second, “Slaves be obedient to your earthly masters . . . .” Paul to the Ephesians 6:5.
Third, yes I understand there might be other categories, but I was responding to a comment that limited them to only three.
Fourth, the more you fine tune the “strategy” for reading these passages the more it looks like you’re just making things up in order to avoid admitting that the book contains some transparently morally abominable dictums. That’s really my point. Biblical literalists are constantly forced into a position of reinterpreting the Bible in order to duck things that by modern standards appear morally indefensible. Except where the gays are concerned of course.
Ah, thanks!
This isn’t an approval of the situation they’re in, just advice for how to honor the Messiah while they’re in that situation.
(Doulos can also be translated “servant” or “bondservant,” but, since it can still be translated “slave,” never mind.)
Jolly good.
I think you mean that it looks like I’m trying to avoid admitting that the Bible prescribes the death penalty for adulterers, committers of homosexual acts, some varieties of incest, etc.
Well, the Bible doesn’t tell me to support death penalty for adulterers et al. But it did prescribe the death penalty as part of the Mosaic theocracy; you find that a “transparently morally abominable dictum,” but I don’t, and I’m not trying to avoid it.
As a man who has lusted and envied, the interesting thing (based on the Sermon on the Mount and James’ letter) is not that the Bible teaches that adulterers and gays have committed death-worthy sin, but that I have too.
Wow, remind me to steer clear of you.
Please note that I also don’t find it a transparently morally abominable dictum that I deserve death for my sins:
There is that persistent theme in Scripture. It’s in the book of Amos, it’s in Nathan confronting David, it’s the judgment from the Sermon on the Mount and in the letter of James, and it’s Paul in Romans 2. It says: “You are that man”; you, who condemn sin in another, you do the same things.
I am that man.