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Kim Davis, the Pope, and NPR
An email from a friend:
Published in Law, Religion & Philosophy“A holiday, like Liberalism, only means the liberty of man. A miracle only means the liberty of God. You may conscientiously deny either of them, but you cannot call your denial a triumph of the liberal idea. The Catholic Church believed that man and God both had a sort of spiritual freedom. Calvinism took away the freedom from man, but left it to God. Scientific materialism binds the Creator Himself; it chains up God as the Apocalypse chained the devil. It leaves nothing free in the universe. And those who assist this process are called the ‘liberal theologians.'” — G. K. Chesterton in Orthodoxy
If like me you listened to NPR’s Morning Edition this morning, you’d know that the entire first ten minutes of the broadcast was a survey of news that the Pope had summoned and met with Kim Davis. The lede of the piece? Its entire conceit? That the Pope had probably made a mistake; that an aide had entrepreneurially set up the meeting; that just a day before Pope Francis was heard to have said something which could be construed as suggesting that he didn’t even know who Davis was, so he probably — certainly! definitely! — did not request the meeting with Davis; it must have been a mistake.
I mention this only to convey the happy news that the liberals are just as confused as us.
Meanwhile, the Pope is entirely consistent. He’s about serving persons, especially persons on the margins. And he’s about human rights and dignity, about the common good and the responsibility of governing bodies toward the people they represent.
Snow globes are most beautiful and amusing when shaken.
And I find this shaken and confused globe most beautiful and amusing.
I for one am not confused about Kim Davis. I’m behind her 100% and applaud the Pope for meeting with her. Good grief, where does NPR get off putting that spin on it? But yes, liberal “theologians” are highly confused.
Peter,
I applaud the Pope for the meeting. However, I have just one question for you. Why do all of the correspondents on NPR sound like they are 12 years old and of indeterminate gender?
Just curious.
Regards,
Jim
My research indicates that Davis is not a Catholic, but rather holds to some odd strain of Pentecostalism that denies the Trinity. So it is entirely possible he (the Pope) was explaining the Trinity to her. That’s my theory, anyway.
You know what? I had the very same thought. As for an answer, it sure beats me. Maybe it has something to do with an urge to demonstrate a certain coolness?
I wonder what NPR made of the Pope’s remarks on his way back to Rome about the need to honor the right of conscientious objection.
Seems to me if you’re silent about the Pope meeting with cruel dictators, you should keep your mouth shut when he meets a Kentucky county clerk.
I think NPR has lost the ability to speak about religious freedom. They can’t even understand what it means.
Somebody autotuned their gonads.
Peter,
Certainly yours is one possible explanation. Of course, the most parsimonious explanation would be that they are of indeterminate gender.
Just speculating.
Regards,
Jim
What drug do you take to be able to convince yourself that Pope Francis summoned Kim Davis accidentally or was tricked into meeting her ? That’s some effective stuff.
My fear is that Kim Davis has inadequate legal counsel.
It would be easy to work out a religious accommodation for her under Title 7 or the state RFRA. Even if that required awaiting the legislature in January (I don’t think it does as the Clerk’s office is an executive function), the Judge could have preserved the status quo until then- they do it all the time. Having folks drive to the next county for a license isn’t a deprivation of rights as the constitution has no time, place or manner obligation for the delivery of services.
Very easy to give all sides what they want here.
I fear these lawyers want a Marbury v Madison-like showdown over federalism, and they are using Kim as that vehicle to get there.
You have to think of the client first. I fear that’s not being done here.
FWIW, I bought copies of Chesterton’s Heretics and Orthodoxy, as well as a copy of Catholic Catechism, so that I better understand discussions among Catholics on Ricochet. Starting with Chesterton’s earlier book, Heretics.
Requiring people to drive to the next jurisdiction is OK, but requiring people to drive to the next baker is not?
I’m with you on that, brother.
Didn’t I make this point on Facebook just yesterday? Come on!
Spin, you are correct. Kim Davis attends a Oneness Pentecostal church. I join you in hoping that Pope Francis at least drew her closer to a Trinitarian understanding.
Could be. I’m not on Facebook.
The good folks at NPR should have read the full transcript of his question and answer session with the press on his flight back to Rome.
The Mayor of Rome who calls himself Catholic has sanctioned gay marriages:
There is no love lost between the Mayor and Pope Francis. Pope Francis may be a little more complex than we thought.
From the same press conference on the plane.
Pope Francis: I can’t have in mind all cases that can exist about conscientious objection. But, yes, I can say conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right. It is a right. And if a person does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right. Conscientious objection must enter into every juridical structure because it is a right, a human right. Otherwise we would end up in a situation where we select what is a right, saying ‘this right that has merit, this one does not.’ It (conscientious objection) is a human right….
Terry Moran, ABC News: Would that include government officials as well?
Pope Francis: It is a human right and if a government official is a human person, he has that right. It is a human right.
I support humans serving in government. Some robots just don’t have sufficient empathy to be a responsible public servant. It would be too easy for hackers or unscrupulous public servants to alter robots so that they would no longer serve humans, even though that is what we are made for. I believe the work of government is best left to functional human beings with intact consciences.
But you do, Astro Boy.
What the heck are you doing listening to NPR? That was your first mistake. ;)
I believe I saw that Kim Davis’ parents are Catholic. She may have been raised Catholic.