Sunday, September 30, 2012

Reason and Religion: "Now Let's Get This Straight"

Readings for September 30, 2012, 26th Sunday in Ordinary time 2012:

26th Sunday in Ordinary time 2012

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
September 30, 2012

A little girl was set in a corner to contemplate her misdeeds. After some time, she gets up and goes back to her mother with this big smile on her face and mother asks her if she's going to be good now? The little girl answers by saying, "I've been talking to God."

Mother asked, "what did God say?"

"He said that you, mommy, should learn to put up with me!"

Really! How often do we do exactly the same thing with God: we don't want to give up our misdeeds but we really want God to put-up with us.

There are three truths that I want you to keep in mind as you listen to the words of my homily this afternoon/morning.

First: keep in mind that all actions have a consequence. Or you might say that every action has a reaction.

Two: Every word means something.

Three: Every sin hurts someone! Every sin is an abomination before God!

You heard the gospel reading for today and you may be wondering how literal we are to take the these readings. We nevertheless should come away with the reality that sin is a serious matter before God.

I was reading some time ago of the recent gallop poll indicating that 80% of Americans believe in God. And nearly as many believe that Jesus is God's son. And yet, only 40% believe that religion is important in life.

Now let's get this straight, we believe that there is a personal God who created us and reigns over us.

And we believe that Jesus is His very own Son and yet we do not take the words of Jesus seriously?

We do not feel that these words apply to us?

His words are not really important?

I'm not certain that this is very wise approach to life, what do you think?

I read recently of an account of our soldiers liberating the extermination camp at Dachau at the end of WW II. The horror of which I will not repeat here today, remembering a neighbor lady who would say to her husband, who love to tell stories, "but Hobert: there are children present!"

Sin upon sin that calls and pleads before the throne of God for justice.

Story upon story recalls the sin of man that hurt the innocent.

The story of two ministers who became close friends to the point where they minister together in the little church and even lived together in the same house. One night the two ministers with the one little son went to the store to get goodies for the families.

They never arrived home. A young man who should not have been driving a car because his license was revoked and he had forged insurance papers. His misdeeds racked up 18 pages of moving violations and yet he was driving again.

Driving 60-70 miles an hour in a 35 mile zone he veered off and hit the car in which the two ministers and the little boy were in, head-on.

All the police could say when they went to their home to announce the incident, the accident, whatever you want to call it: 'the little boy lives.' Our sins hurt. Whether small or great, our sin hurt one another.

You'll remember here locally, of our two firemen who died in the Noah's Ark fire. I remember being at a prayer meeting one night shortly after and one of the ladies, remarked, well this must be God's will.

I don't remember exactly why I blew up, other then that to think that this was God's will was very offensive to me. I asked to speak to the group and this is what I said, "I do not believe that this is God's will because it is not God's will that anyone should die, but that because sin entered the world we all must die."

Some time later we find out that this fire was set, someone's sin took the life of two innocent firemen. Sin hurts!

Here's the story that is almost beyond belief. A very small country in Africa had five airfields. Only one was paved, and because of that unpaved runway a man named Glenn would practice driving balls. He was simply practicing driving the ball but he did hit a birdie in a practice drive, a little birdie.

He struck a passing seagull in midair. The unconscious gull subsequently fell in the open cockpit of a French built Mirage fighter plane which was taxing on the runway. The gull landed on the pilot.

The bird regain consciousness and began flapping wildly, which startled the pilot: as you might imagine. The pilot lost control and crashed into four other Mirage fighter jets setting on the tarmac. The pilot was okay, and gull was able to leave the cock-pit before impact, but the entire fighter defense force of the nation was completely destroyed.

I could tell you story after story of similar situations. Maybe they'll help us all to understand that life sometimes works that way particularly when it comes to harboring sin in our life? Those simple vices like greed and envy and lust and sloth and anger can very quickly get out of hand. And sometimes the consequences of a sinful action are far out of proportion to the original action.

I had wanted to spend more time on the revelation of Pope Leo the 13th and his asking of us to pray the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, but time will not permit. With what's going on in our world we surely need a revival of the prayer to St. Michael. So look at the back of your missalette, in the upper right corner, and say with me the prayer to St. Michael.
"St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls, Amen."
You have to wonder after hearing the story of the little girl, if we really are very much like this little girl wanting to have our own way and trying to convince others that this is God's way as well.

There is one thing I can tell you for sure, and that is God is not out to punish us, but there is a point at which, God allows us to have our own way and that in it self is punishment enough. We praise you Lord, we Bless you Lord, we Worship You, we give You all Honor and Glory, Amen

'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.

More reflections:
Related posts:

Evangelization, Belief, and the Common Cold

I'm coming down with a cold, with the anything-but-perky mood that goes with the annoying illness. The first few ideas I had for today's post sounded, on second thought, like they came from a cantankerous old coot.

I'm old enough to fit the crotchety-old-man stereotype: but don't think that's an excuse for ranting. Or grumbling.

Sweetness and Light, Doom and Gloom, Getting a Grip

I don't think 'religious' blogs must be relentlessly cheerful and upbeat. On the other hand, I doubt that we need one more prophet of doom, gloom, and despair.

Actually, I'm not allowed to despair. (Catechism, 2091) I've been over that before. (January 9, 2012)

Knowing What I Believe: and Why

Knowing what I wasn't going to write narrowed the possibilities, somewhat. But I still hadn't found a viable topic.

I looked at the readings for tomorrow, which include that bit starting with Numbers 11:25. I'm not writing about Moses, either: but that prophet's experience reminded me of the New Evangelization, and the upcoming Year of Faith; which I've posted about before, too. (July 22, 2012; June 22, 2012)

Happily, my salvation doesn't rely on how I feel at any particular moment. I depend on what one very special person did, two millennia back. And - yep, I've posted about that before, too. Fairly often. (March 11, 2012)

One idea about evangelization - new and otherwise - and I'm done with this post. I think one of the first priorities is to understand what I believe, and why. And that's another topic.

Now it's time for me to rest, and drink plenty of fluids.

Allegedly-related posts:

Friday, September 28, 2012

Freedom, Fear, and the Internet

One of America's cultural values is the belief that freedom is important. My native country hasn't always been consistent about applying that value: but I think we've got a pretty good track record.

When I became a Catholic, I learned why freedom is so important. That's real freedom: not 'free to agree with the boss.' Here's a quick look at what I'm talking about:
  • Individual freedom is very important
    (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1730-1742, 1901-1902, 1907, 1915)
  • So is responsibility
    (Catechism, 1731-1738)
  • Government is
    • Necessary
      (Catechism, 1898)
    • Not the highest moral authority
      (Catechism, 1899-1904)
  • Governments can be a threat to freedom
    (Catechism, 1883)
Believing that freedom and responsibility are important can make being a good citizen tricky. Particularly since 'I was just following orders' isn't an acceptable excuse:
"...I also have to be a good citizen. (Catechism, 1915, 2411, 2239) But 'giving Caesar what belongs to Caesar' doesn't include believing that some local authority can redefine natural law.

I'm expected to do good and avoid evil: even if some leader says otherwise. (Catechism, 2242) ...
"
(July 6, 2012)
The folks running America look different today, and say different things. But in other ways the establishment hasn't changed very much in the last half-century. I've been over this before:
Today's America is still a pretty good place to live, I think. But keeping our freedoms means paying attention. As I've said before, there's an election coming in November.
  1. Threats to Freedom, Obvious and Otherwise

1. Threats to Freedom, Obvious and Otherwise

As usual, reading more than the headline makes sense. This article doesn't show that America has become a 'second-class nation,' although some politico or 'expert' may say so before the election:
"U.S. lags Estonia in web freedom, reports says"
FoxNews.com (September 24, 2012)

"More than three quarters of citizens have access to the Internet, there's widespread e-commerce and e-government services, and the press and bloggers are free to say anything online.

"No, it's not the U.S. It's Estonia.

"The Baltic country of 1.27 million topped a list from Freedom House published Monday assessing the state of the net in 2012, with the fewest obstacles to access and violations of Internet rights.

" 'Estonia has become a model for free Internet access as a development engine for society,' the report concludes, noting that 'the program's focus has shifted from basic concerns such as access, quality, and cost of Internet services to discussions about security, anonymity, the protection of private information, and citizens' rights on the Internet.'

"The U.S. earned second place in the report, with a score of 12 out of 100 – just two points shy of first place....
I'm not upset, or surprised, that America came in second in the Freedom House list.

Estonia isn't America

The two countries aren't the same. For one thing, Estonia is a whole lot smaller than America: or Minnesota, the state where I live. Estonia's population is a little less that one quarter Minnesota's 5,344,861 estimated 2011 number - and far less than America's 311,000,000 or so residents. (U. S. Census) I suspect that Estonia's leadership doesn't have quite the same concerns as America's.

The Freedom House report looked at how countries handled Information Age issues like:
  • Internet services
    • Access
    • Quality
    • Cost
    • Security
    • Anonymity
  • Protection of private information
  • Citizens' rights on the Internet

Crime, Caution, and Freedom

Someone could make a few juicy conspiracy theories, starting with these paragraphs:
"...The report, titled 'Freedom on the Net 2012,' cautioned that recent developments may threaten that freedom, however.

" 'The current administration appears committed to maintaining broad surveillance powers' to combat crime, the report says. 'Moreover, reports have emerged that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking expanded authority … to ensure that communications can be intercepted when necessary.'...
(FoxNews.com)
Depending on which set of folks I wanted to impress, I could claim that the FBI is in cahoots with the
Then there's the nifty notion that 'all of the above' are really run by shape-shifting, space-alien lizard men, and that's another topic or two.

More seriously, I am concerned about what could happen in America if legitimate concerns over crime and national defense got distorted by fear and a desire for control.

Threats, real or imagined, can be frightening; and fear can help folks do strange things:

It Could be Worse

"...Countries lagging on the list come as no surprise. In last place is Iran, with a score of 90 out of 100 -- indicating a near total lack of freedom online. The country announced on Sunday that it would filter access to Google's services, after a video on YouTube titled 'Innocence of Muslims' led to widespread rioting and violence across the Muslim world...."
(FoxNews.com)
I suppose there's some comfort in knowing that things could be worse. America, after all, is almost at the top of that 'Internet freedom' list. Folks in some parts of the world have a much harder time getting information and sharing ideas:
"...On Monday, a Google spokesman told FoxNews.com that Iranians were unable to access its services.

" 'We have received information that users cannot get access to Gmail and Google Search in Iran. We have checked our networks and there is nothing wrong on our side.'

"Other countries earning failing grades for Internet freedom include Cuba (86), China (85), and Syria (83).

"Sanja Kelly, project director for Freedom on the Net at Freedom House, said the report revealed the growing challenges to freedom on the World Wide Web.

" 'The findings clearly show that threats to Internet freedom are becoming more diverse. As authoritarian rulers see that blocked websites and high-profile arrests draw local and international condemnation, they are turning to murkier - but no less dangerous - methods for controlling online conversations.' "
(FoxNews.com)
I'm not worried that America will suddenly become 'just like' Iran, or Syria, or Cuba. I do, however, remember when America was cleaning up the mess left by HUAC and other over-enthusiastic efforts to 'protect' America.

As I said, folks can do strange things when they're frightened. Another source of trouble, I think, is the well-intentioned meddler who likes to help people. You can tell who's being helped, by the hunted look in their eyes. And that's yet another topic.

Related posts:

Monday, September 17, 2012

The Go Daddy Girl® and Getting a Grip

Quite a few years ago, someone on Eternal World Television Network (EWTN) noted that their television network had contracts with several cable services. On some services, EWTN had it's own dedicated channel; on others, they shared a channel with some other network. It one case, the other network was a porn channel.

The person with EWTN said this was great: EWTN's time slot on that channel came after the porn - so anyone who was watching the 'adult' programming and didn't change channels promptly would see at least part of the Catholic network.

I suppose I could decide to be upset at EWTN's willingness to share bandwidth with a pornography service: but I'm not. I agree with the person on EWTN: the situation was an opportunity, not an affront.

The Go Daddy Girl® and Me

I'm pretty sure that my Brendan's Island website (brendans-island.com/) was unavailable a week ago. I use the Go Daddy hosting service:
"Web sites serviced by DNS and hosting provider Go Daddy were down for most of today, but were back up later this afternoon. A hacker using the "Anonymous Own3r" Twitter account claimed credit for the outage...."
(Go Daddy-serviced Web sites go down; hacker takes credit"
(Elinor Mills, CNET)
I didn't learn of the outage until several days later, when I checked my personal email. Go Daddy had sent a 'sorry about that' message, and offered in-store credit as a token of sincerity.

Normally I'd have noticed something was wrong last Monday, but last week was anything but normal. I was in North Dakota, being the acting boss of a candle manufacturing company:
I got back to central Minnesota on Saturday. As I've said before, I'm not a 40-year-old kid any more. I'm still pooped, and may take the rest of this week off.

While catching up on what had been happening in online communities, I read a slightly-snarky post about the Go Daddy service outage, and its effects on some Catholic websites. The fellow apparently thought that nice Catholic websites shouldn't use the Go Daddy hosting servers.

Go Daddy, Decency, and Women Driving Cars

I see his point, sort of. He stated out that Go Daddy has (soft) porn in its advertising: and that good Catholics shouldn't have anything to do with the company.

GoDaddy's trademark Go Daddy Girl® advertising started out with commercials that were, I'll grant, not up to the broadcast television standards of the '50s. I know of a crisis pregnancy organization that won't have a thing to do with Go Daddy, because the young women they help shouldn't thing that they'll be treated as sex objects.

Today's Go Daddy Girl® is shockingly indecent, too. Sort of:



In some parts of the world, I understand that no 'decent' woman would appear:
Danica Patrick's photo isn't the only indication that Go Daddy doesn't conform to Saudi sensibilities: or to the cultural norms of 1950s America. I clipped this image from the Go Daddy Twitter account today:


In the World - - -

I thought that the original 'Go Daddy Girls' were inappropriate: but I decided to use GoDaddy as a hosting service anyway.

If I had the technical skills and time it would take to set up and maintain a reliable server, I wouldn't need a hosting service. But even if I had the skills and time, I'd much rather be doing something other than handle the technical side of keeping a website available.

I did the usual due diligence, and found that Go Daddy offered the best balance of cost, reliability, and service. Yes, they got national attention with the original Go Daddy Girl® - but I wasn't operating a sensitive social agency, and was operating with a very limited budget

I'm not wracked with shame that I use
  • A hosting service that conforms to cultural norms
  • A combined television/Internet/phone service that
    • Includes naughty television programs
    • Could be used to contact my mistress
      • If I had a mistress
        • Which I don't
Some folks decide that it's better to withdraw from the world. Some may do so in order to concentrate on spiritual growth. Some may have less adequate motives.

I have a high regard for those who have what it takes to enter a cloistered religious order. That's not my vocation, and that's another topic or two.

- - - But Not Of The World

I plan to continue using Go Daddy's hosting service: and the 'impure' company that makes it possible for me to use a telephone, browse the Web, and watch television. I could isolate myself until the world provided a thoroughly 'nice' way to share my thoughts: but I'd rather deal with the world as it is.

I figure it's up to me to control what I see, and what I write. And that's yet another topic.

Somewhat-related posts:
In the news:

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

9/11, Religion, and Assumptions

I saw a little poster online this morning. It read something like this: 'science helped people fly to the moon; religion made people fly into buildings.'

That statement reflects a belief that I've run into before. I don't think it's true. The '...fly into buildings' poster included a clever little image that recalled what happened in New York City 11 years ago today.

Several thousand people were killed that day, by folks who apparently had deeply held religious convictions - and a sincere belief that killing those who didn't agree was a good idea. I disagree with that view: very much.

More about my take on 9/11/2001, in another blog:

Religion, Killing, and Assumptions

Like I said earlier, on Google+: Some dangerous lunatics are 'religious lunatics.' Some folks are religiously dedicated to killing those who wear the wrong clothes, or don't say the 'right' things.

But - and this is what is so confusing - some dangerous lunatics aren't particularly religious. And some folks who kill those who don't agree have nice, non-religious motives.

I think the problem is with the assumption that not agreeing should be a punishable offense: but what do I know? I'm one of those religious people. ;)

Science, Religion, and More Assumptions

One of the more common assumptions in American culture is that science and religion are absolutely, completely, irrevocably hostile toward each other.

I can sort of understand why those who hate religion want science to be 'against religion.' It may make their belief feel 'scientific,' by which they mean 'real.'

Even knowing about the Victorian gentlemen's snit that's behind the belief that religion and science are feuding, I find it difficult to sympathize with 'religious' folks who insist that faith requires a dedicated refusal to learn about God's creation - particularly anything that's been learned since about 1850.

And that's another topic.

Related posts:

Monday, September 10, 2012

Temporary Change in Schedule

We're supposed to be 'in the world, but not of the world.' For the next several days, maybe a week or more, I'll be very much 'in the world.'

A medical emergency in the family didn't directly affect my schedule, but its effects on other members of the family has. We've been shuffling tasks around, and that process will have me filling in elsewhere. I doubt that I'll have time or opportunity to write posts here.

This is a temporary situation, and I expect to be back to my regular schedule - eventually. Thanks for your patience.

Posts, related and otherwise:

Business, Change, and Profit

I've said it before: change happens. The America I grew up in isn't the same country as the one I live in today. Some of the changes were, I think, improvements. Others, not so much.

On the other hand, some things haven't changed.

Roman Grandeur and Fast Food

Living in ancient Rome was quite a bit like living in a large city today. Folks ate fast food, some used a taxi service, and many lived in apartment buildings:
On the other hand, nobody would mistake 21st century Rome for the 1st century city.


(Dueduezerosettesettequattro, via Wikipedia, used w/o permission)
Part of the central business district, Rome.

Stealing Information: Faster, Easier; Still Wrong

When I was growing up, it was possible to make a copy of a book: for anyone with a print shop, and a lot of time. Then photocopying machines became part of everyday life.

As I recall, some publishers frantically tried to keep folks from using them. Instead, we got a few updates to copyright law. Today, intellectual property rights law and custom is catching up to what's possible with yesterday's information technology.

But publishing 'copyright' material was wrong a half-century back, and still is. Legally and ethically.

"The Future: Just Like Today - - -"

I remember when 'the future' was going to be just simply nifty: atomic cars; monorails and elevated highways everywhere; and art deco skyscrapers as far as the eye could see. A little later, science and technology were going to kill us all: after driving every cute animal on the planet to extinction.

I've been living in "the future" for quite a while now. What we got was 'none of the above.' I can't say that I'm disappointed.

Theft, Social Justice, and Natural Law

Theft was wrong before I was born, and still is. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2401)

Even when it's legal, or socially acceptable, unfairly taking what belongs to another person is wrong. (Catechism, 2402-2402)

The 'don't steal' principle extends to the treatment of animals and social justice: and that's another issue or two. (Catechism, 1928-1942, 2415-2436; "Mater et Magistra," John XXIII (May 15, 1961); "Encyclical Quadragesimo Anno," Pius XI (May 15, 1931); "Rerum Novarum," Leo XIII (May 15, 1891); Amos)

Some laws are arbitrary rules, made by human beings for our convenience or safety. For example, driving on the right side of the road is 'correct' here in America: but would likely get me killed if I tried it in a country where folks drive on the left side.

Some laws reflect natural law: an ethical order that's woven into this creation. Theft, murder, and lying, are wrong because they violate natural law. Laws like that can be officially ignored by human authority, but they're still there: and are as immune to legislative repeal as the law of gravity.

Ethics, Business, and a New View of Profit

The section of "Caritas in Veritate" I'm in now gets back to business ethics, and why 'business as usual' isn't a good idea.

It also looks at the old 'profit/non-profit' view of business - and why it's not enough to deal with an emerging social and economic reality:
"...This is not merely a matter of a 'third sector', but of a broad new composite reality embracing the private and public spheres, one which does not exclude profit, but instead considers it a means for achieving human and social ends...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 46)
The idea isn't that profit is wrong: just that profit is a means to an end, not an end in itself.

Related posts:

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Human Nature, Humor, and God

I could assume that God has absolutely no sense of humor, and frowns on merrymaking of any sort. As for getting more drinks when a wedding party runs dry? Horrors! (John 2:1-10)

Then there's Matthew 7:3 and Acts 9:11. Those verses have, I'm confident, deep spiritual significance. They also, I strongly suspect, had a funny angle that's still there for folks who are willing to admit my Lord's humanity. That's almost another topic.

I do not think that God gave humanity a sense of humor - and now intends to punish us severely for having a sense of humor. That just doesn't make sense. Not to me, anyway.

Still, I'm just "some guy with a blog," with no more teaching authority than any other Catholic layman. (And Now, for Something Completely Different: Catholics and Humor)

Phyllis Diller and - Dignity?

I've been meaning to write about the funny side of faith for a while now. The death of Phyllis Diller last month helped get this post started.

'Phyllis who?' I remember Phyllis Diller: but I also grew up in America; and remember the Apollo 11 landing, the first Earth Day, and the days when transistors were the latest cutting-edge technology.

I found short 'Phillis Diller' clips, "Embedding disabled by request." They're a pretty good introduction to her style of comedy.

I think they're funny, but your experience may vary. Also, the language and content of some jokes was typical of '70s America. You have been warned:
Phyllis Diller's comedy routines didn't exude dignity, but I think she helped establish dignity for women in America. That's going to take a bit of explaining.

First, saying that someone has "dignity" isn't the same as saying that the person is a stuffed shirt:
  • Stuffed shirt
    • A bore who is extremely
      • Formal
      • Pompous
      • Old-fashioned
      (Princeton's WordNet)
  • Dignity
    1. The quality of being worthy of
      • Esteem
      • Or respect
    2. Formality in
      • Bearing
      • Appearance
    3. High office or rank or station
      (Princeton's WordNet)
Stuffed shirts have "dignity," in the "formality in bearing and appearance" sense. They also, according to the Catholic Church, have the dignity that comes from being human: "the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect." (Princeton's WordNet)

I'm quite sure that when the Church talks about "dignity," it's that sort of basic respect.

I'm a practicing Catholic, so I have to embrace "...a Christian humanism that radically affirms the dignity of every person as a child of God...." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1676)

Comedy and Culture

Not all stand-up comedy "affirms the dignity of every person as a child of God," radically or otherwise. Sometimes, though, I think getting folks to laugh gets some of them to think: and can help change a culture.

Retro People Clip Art, via squidoo.com, used w/o permissionAs I've said before, I remember 'the good old days:' when "she's as smart as a man" was supposed to be a compliment; and one of my sister-in-laws shocked a school by taking shop class. 'The good old days' are gone: for which I am profoundly grateful.

Being a grimly serious social activist is one way to try turning a culture around. Another approach is to become a successful stand-up comedian:
"The Power Of Comedy And Phyllis Diller"
Liza Donnelly, ForbesWoman, Forbes (August 21, 2012)

"Phyllis Diller reminded me of my mother. I grew up in the fifties and sixties, and my mother and I loved watching comedy on television. Laugh-In and Sanford and Son are the two I remember us watching together, but in the years before that, we often saw Diller performing her wacky routines on the talk shows. My mother was of the post-war generation and was a homemaker. She really only got to express herself by decorating the house and cooking us dinners - I always thought she aspired to do more....

"...She understood that in order to break into the male world of stand-up, she had to play by their rules: don't vary from the stand-up format; and because you are a woman, act and look ridiculous. She needed to pretend she was not a successful at being a 'woman' (read: pretty, sexy, domestic, good wife and mother) because in 1950/60s America, 'real' women were not supposed to be funny...."

'Nice' Women, Culture, and Assumptions

I don't think Phyllis Diller's jokes transformed American culture - by themselves. I do think that Phyllis Diller's success as a comedian helped change America's rather limited notions about what a 'real' or 'nice' woman should do.

I've known folks who seemed to believe that men and women should act 'correctly.' So far, I'd agree. The problem was that they seemed to believe that God's eternal and unchanging law was indistinguishable from the cultural mores of a particular set of Americans: between about 1945 and 1955.

By those standards, these women weren't being very 'nice:'
"At this time the prophetess Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel."
(Judges 4:4)

"When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls....

"...2 Like merchant ships, she secures her provisions from afar....

"...She picks out a field to purchase; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

"She is girt about with strength, and sturdy are her arms...."
(Proverbs 31:10-28)
I'm not shocked at Deborah's behavior, because I understand that there's more to my faith than what's happened in my native culture recently. A lot more.

Popular piety: Dryly Discussed

"Popular piety" is what happens when folks take what the Church teaches, and apply our cultures' ways of 'being religious.' Sort of:
"Besides sacramental liturgy and sacramentals, catechesis must take into account the forms of piety and popular devotions among the faithful. The religious sense of the Christian people has always found expression in various forms of piety surrounding the Church's sacramental life, such as the veneration of relics, visits to sanctuaries, pilgrimages, processions, the stations of the cross, religious dances, the rosary, medals,180 etc."
(Catechism, 1674)
Quite a bit of 'etcetera' has collected over the millennia. For example, my own native culture is essentially northwestern European. We drag a tree inside near the winter solstice, when the Church celebrates the birth of Jesus: and call it a "Christmas tree." Our midwinter celebrations also involve quite a lot of stuff that's red and green: just like in the older 'good old days.'

The Church didn't change what my Lord taught to accommodate barbarian warlords. But we weren't forced to pretend we were Romans, either. Or Hebrews, or anyone but ourselves.

"This Wisdom is a Christian Humanism"

There's a serious side to being human: but like I said before, humor is in the mix, too. And the Church is okay with that:
"Pastoral discernment is needed to sustain and support popular piety and, if necessary, to purify and correct the religious sense which underlies these devotions so that the faithful may advance in knowledge of the mystery of Christ.182 Their exercise is subject to the care and judgment of the bishops and to the general norms of the Church.
"At its core the piety of the people is a storehouse of values that offers answers of Christian wisdom to the great questions of life. The Catholic wisdom of the people is capable of fashioning a vital synthesis. . . . It creatively combines the divine and the human, Christ and Mary, spirit and body, communion and institution, person and community, faith and homeland, intelligence and emotion. This wisdom is a Christian humanism that radically affirms the dignity of every person as a child of God, establishes a basic fraternity, teaches people to encounter nature and understand work, provides reasons for joy and humor even in the midst of a very hard life. For the people this wisdom is also a principle of discernment and an evangelical instinct through which they spontaneously sense when the Gospel is served in the Church and when it is emptied of its content and stifled by other interests.181"
(Catechism, 1676) [emphasis mine]
I've quoted that part of the Catechism before. (December 18, 2010) Maybe I should seriously consider using more humor in this blog. And that's another topic. Topics.

Related posts:

Friday, September 7, 2012

The Pope and Truth; Father Benedict Groeschel's Interview; and Cleanup Crews

For whatever reason, Father Benedict Groeschel's interview in The National Catholic Register didn't outshine Hurricane Isaac and the Democratic National Convention this week.

That journalistic SNAFU, what the Pope said about truth and "tolerance," and how folks are cleaning up after the hurricane, are my picks for news to discuss this week:
  1. Who's Afraid of Truth?
  2. "Without Our Usual Screening and Oversight"
  3. Prayer and Cleanup Crews

1. Who's Afraid of Truth?

"Upholding ethical truths is not intolerance, Pope states"
David Kerr, CNA/EWTN News (September 4, 2012)

"Pope Benedict XVI told a group of his former students that Christians should not be scared to uphold ethical truths despite the fear of being branded 'intolerant.'

" 'Today, the concepts of truth and intolerance have almost fused together, so that to say that one has the truth becomes synonymous with intolerance. And we Christians do not dare to believe or to speak about the truth,' the Pope said in his homily during Sunday morning Mass at Castel Gandolfo...."
I might have a little more respect for today's establishment, if they'd decide that both of these attitudes are wrong:
  • Although personally opposed to abortion, I don't have the right to force my views on others
  • Although personally opposed to slavery, I don't have the right to force my views on others
Both statements assume that some human beings aren't 'real' people, and so may be treated as property.

The first reflects the preferred reality of today's 'better sort' in America. The second expresses an attitude which, finally, has become socially and legally unacceptable here.

As I've said before:
"...I sincerely hope that it doesn't take something like two centuries and a major war to sort out the question of whether or not it's okay to kill babies, cut up (living) people for parts, or make one class of people fair game for doctors with an urge to experiment...."
(February 2, 2009)

2. "Without Our Usual Screening and Oversight"

"Father Groeschel steps down from EWTN show"
CNA (Catholic News Agency) (September 4, 2012)

"Franciscan friar Father Benedict Groeschel has stepped down as host of EWTN's Sunday Night Prime television show following his apology for making comments about the sexual abuse of minors.

" 'Father Benedict has led a life of tremendous compassion and service to others and his spiritual insights have been a great gift to the EWTN family for many years. We are profoundly grateful to him and assure him of our prayers,' Michael P. Warsaw, president and CEO of EWTN Global Catholic Network, said Sept. 3...."
Maybe the Democratic National Convention and Hurricane Isaac kept The National Catholic Register's rush into print story from becoming this week's top news item.

What's the Story Behind That Story?

The byline of "Father Benedict Groeschel Reflects..." gives John Burger credit for broadcasting Father Groeschel's statement. The National Catholic Register's Contacts lists John Burger as the publication's News Editor. I haven't read whether or not Mr. Burger was actually involved, though.

The story came out in late August, just before Labor Day weekend, when many Americans like to take a vacation. Maybe Mr. Burger decided to have someone else on the staff, or an intern, handle that particular piece. Or maybe he got distracted by something more important when Father Groeschel's interview crossed his desk.

In one way, why Fr. Groeschel's remark got published without explanation doesn't matter. It's been done, and can't be undone. I hope someone in The National Catholic Register will be trying to sort out the decision-making process involved: but that's not my job, happily.

'Oops'

The National Catholic Register's Editor in Chief apparently found out about the article, and added an 'oops, sorry' note under Mr. Burger's byline:
"Father Benedict Groeschel Reflects on 25 Years of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal"
John Burger (August 27, 2012)

"...Editor's Note

"...Child sexual abuse is never excusable. The editors of the National Catholic Register apologize for publishing without clarification or challenge Father Benedict Groeschel's comments that seem to suggest that the child is somehow responsible for abuse. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our publication of that comment was an editorial mistake, for which we sincerely apologize. Given Father Benedict's stellar history over many years, we released his interview without our usual screening and oversight. We have removed the story. We have sought clarification from Father Benedict.
"Jeanette R. De Melo
"Editor in Chief"
I'm glad that De Melo's statement included "...without clarification or challenge ... an editorial mistake ... apologize ...." I think that's a professional, common-sense, way to deal with "an editorial mistake."

I also think that at the very least, someone who knew a little about Father Groeschel, Catholicism, and child abuse - and was paying attention - should have been involved. But what's happened, happened.

"...In a Coma For Over a Month..."

Father Groeschel's Franciscan brothers explained, but did not excuse, what he said:
"...About seven years ago, Fr. Benedict was struck by a car and was in a coma for over a month. In recent months his health, memory and cognitive ability have been failing. He has been in and out of the hospital. Due to his declining health and inability to care for himself, Fr. Benedict had moved to a location where he could rest and be relieved of his responsibilities. Although these factors do not excuse his comments, they help us understand how such a compassionate man could have said something so wrong, so insensitive, and so out of character. Our prayers are with all those who have been hurt by his comments, especially victims of sexual abuse...."
(Franciscan Friars of the Renewal) [emphasis mine]

Guilt Acknowledged: Now What?

Father Groeschel has apologized and stated that what he said was wrong. I'm pretty sure that some folks who read what The Catholic Register published will still feel bad. That's understandable: and brings up the idea of forgiveness.

I haven't been sexually abused, so 'I don't know what it's like.' On the other hand, I've had an unpleasant and avoidable experience or two. (February 3, 2009) I could:
  1. Cherish my hurt and resentment
  2. Decide that forgiveness is a good idea
On the whole, I think option #2 is the sensible one: partly because that's what Catholic Church says I should do. Forgiveness is a big deal. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 976-983)

As I've said before, forgiveness isn't stupidity. (Catechism, 1861) (May 4, 2012) Besides, forgiveness isn't so much something I do for the other person: I do it for me, to keep from ripping myself apart from the inside:
"...The purification of memory does not mean to forget history. ... The Gospel message of forgiveness and new life purifies bad memories, which entail feelings of bitterness, hatred and revenge. It allows us to see a painful history with reconciled eyes and with a reconciled heart, not to forget but to forgive and be forgiven...."
("Spiritual Ecumenism: the inescapable way forward, Msgr. Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity (April 2005))

Decisions and Regret

"...Fr. Groeschel decided to step down from the program after consulting with EWTN and with his religious community, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, [president and CEO of EWTN Global Catholic Network] Warsaw said....

"...Fr. Groeschel apologized for the remarks last week, saying he did not intend to 'blame the victim.' He affirmed that a priest or anyone else who abuses a minor is 'always always wrong' and 'always responsible.'

"'I deeply regret any harm I have caused to anyone,' the priest said, adding that his mind and his way of expressing himself are 'not as clear as they used to be.'

"Warsaw said the comments at the EWTN-owned National Catholic Register 'should never have been published' and 'in no way' reflect the views of the Register or EWTN.

" 'It should have been obvious to the editor that Father Benedict's physical condition and mental clarity have deteriorated and that the comments were completely inconsistent with his life's work and witness,' the EWTN president said. 'We apologize that these remarks were published and ask for forgiveness for this error.'..."
(CNA)
I'm strongly inclined to agree with Warsaw: Father Benedict Groeschel's condition should have been obvious. But The National Catholic Register rushed that article into publication, damage is done, and we need to deal with the consequences. I think information helps, so here's what the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal said, and the Register article:

3. Prayer and Cleanup Crews

I think prayer is a good idea. I also think it's important to help in a more obviously-practical way, when possible:
"Catholics responding to challenges of Isaac cleanup"
Hillary Senour, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (September 6, 2012)

"As Gulf Coast residents continue the recovery process following Hurricane Isaac, Catholic groups throughout the South have begun organizing disaster relief services for victims....

"...Hurricane Isaac, which made landfall Aug. 28, dropped more that 15 inches of rain, flooded parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama and has killed at least seven people in the U.S.

"Immediately following the hurricane, Catholic Charities of New Orleans and the archdiocese-run Second Harvest food bank were on site offering food and water to victims. Since then, Catholic Charities has begun offering counseling and spiritual support in the form of prayer....

"...Catholic Social Services of Mobile has been working to determine 'how best our agency can respond to this particular disaster,' said John Wilson, who heads disaster preparation and response efforts for the Archdiocese of Mobile....

"...One of the challenges facing the relief efforts will be the smaller amount of federal resources than was available in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina....

"...The Mobile archdiocese has called for a second collection at the upcoming Sunday Masses to benefit local hurricane victims....

"...Catholic Charities of Biloxi is essentially doing the same work it normally would, but is now operating in 'disaster mode' by providing abbreviated case management in order to help a larger number of people...."
The basic rules for the Church are to love God, love our neighbor: and see everyone as our neighbor. (Matthew 5:43-44; Matthew 22:36-40, Mark 12:28-31) (Matthew 5:43-44; Luke 10:25-30; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1825)

Giving canned food to a community pantry, volunteering for cleanup work, seeing to it that food and workers get to the right places, and pitching in a few dollars to help: what one person does may not seem like much. But many folks, working together? That's another topic.

Related posts:

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Response to an Ancient Offense

I've run into this line, or something close, in movies:
"If you want something done right, do it yourself."
Supreme Commander Fowler Birdy, "Power Rangers S.P.D." (2005)
As I recall, it's been said by an arch-villain losing patience with inept minions, an exasperated manager, and a frazzled parent.

On the other hand, I can't remember a 'religious' movie, from "Ben Hur" (1959) to "Oh, God!" (1977) having God say "if you want something done right...," which is a little surprising.

Or maybe not so much. It's not quite the tone I remember from either the old Bible epics or the more recent comedies. And that's another topic or two.

Ancient Offense: Only One Solution

Sin is an offense against God, so only God can forgive sin. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 431) That's why Jesus became one of us:
"Jesus means in Hebrew: 'God saves.' At the annunciation, the angel Gabriel gave him the name Jesus as his proper name, which expresses both his identity and his mission.18 Since God alone can forgive sins, it is God who, in Jesus his eternal Son made man, 'will save his people from their sins.'19 In Jesus, God recapitulates all of his history of salvation on behalf of men."
(Catechism, 430)
I've started another part of the Catechism, "And in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord," 430-455.

It's not an exhaustive discussion of Jesus. Like John said:
"There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written."
(John 21:25)

A Name, a Mission

Names mean things, for the most part at least. It's not always obvious where I live, since my culture got into the habit of using names from other languages - and keeping names from older versions of English.

Some names, like Victor, are still words in the contemporary language. Others once had equally obvious meanings, which aren't so obvious today. Edward, for example, means wealth-protector. "Ward" still means "to protect" in English, among other things: and I'm getting seriously off-topic.

Here's what "Jesus," and a few of my Lord's titles, mean:
  • Name
    • Jesus
      • "God saves"
      (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 452)
  • Titles (partial list)
    • Christ
      • "Anointed One"
      • "Messiah"
      (Catechism, 453)
    • (Only) Son of God
      • Signifies the unique and eternal relationship of Jesus Christ to God his Father
      (Catechism, 454)
    • Lord
      • Indicates divine sovereignty
      (Catechism, 455)
Like John said, there's more. But that's all for now.

Related posts:

Monday, September 3, 2012

Generic Ethics

It's been several years since I started seeing ads about "ethical investing."

In the ones I saw, "ethical" seemed to mean not investing in companies involved in tobacco products, alcohol, or gambling: and giving money to folks who recycled. I'm oversimplifying, of course.

"Ethical investing" looked like a well-intentioned effort - or maybe a marketing gimmick playing off old-school 'American values' on the one hand, and the 'green' sensibilities of post-60s America.

Beer, Bingo, and Environmental Awareness

The Catholic Church says that abusing alcohol, tobacco, or other substances is a bad idea: and that we shouldn't do it. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2290)

We're also told that a passion for gambling can lead to big trouble. (Catechism, 2413) But the Church doesn't insist that we shrink in horror from Demon Rum - and Catholic organizations in America, like Knights of Columbus, are notorious for running Bingo games.

The Church forbids the "disordered use" of any creature, and insists that we take good care of this world. (Catechism, 339, 373, 2415) If that's 'not what you read in the papers,' I'm not surprised: and that's another topic. Topics. (April 17, 2012, April 3, 2012)

It looks to me like investing in something like (pre-1989) Christian Brothers' distillery might not be a problem; and I'm not troubled about working a shift at the local Knights of Columbus annual Bingo games.

"The Economy Needs Ethics"

"Caritas in Veritate" approves of ethical financing and investment funds.
"...These processes are praiseworthy and deserve much support. Their positive effects are also being felt in the less developed areas of the world...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 45)
This section starts out by saying that ethics are important, but that not any old ethics will do. 'There always seems to be a catch.'
"Striving to meet the deepest moral needs of the person also has important and beneficial repercussions at the level of economics. The economy needs ethics in order to function correctly - not any ethics whatsoever, but an ethics which is people-centred...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 45)
"People-centered?" I think this is what Benedict XVI meant:
"...It would be advisable, however, to develop a sound criterion of discernment, since the adjective 'ethical' can be abused. When the word is used generically, it can lend itself to any number of interpretations, even to the point where it includes decisions and choices contrary to justice and authentic human welfare.

"Much in fact depends on the underlying system of morality. On this subject the Church's social doctrine can make a specific contribution, since it is based on man's creation 'in the image of God' (Gen 1:27), a datum which gives rise to the inviolable dignity of the human person and the transcendent value of natural moral norms...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 45)
Since "morality" usually means "rules about sex" in my dialect of English, I generally use "ethics" to describe the "system of morality" Benedict XVI referred to. (June 3, 2011) Moving on.

Unethical 'Ethics'

When ethical theory moves away from the ideas that individual people are important, and that ethics is more than an arbitrary set of human rules, bad things happen. That's my opinion. And, much more to the point, that's what Benedict XVI said:
"...When business ethics prescinds from these two pillars, it inevitably risks losing its distinctive nature and it falls prey to forms of exploitation; more specifically, it risks becoming subservient to existing economic and financial systems rather than correcting their dysfunctional aspects. Among other things, it risks being used to justify the financing of projects that are in reality unethical...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 45)
What comes next is, I think, a very important point:
"...The word 'ethical', then, should not be used to make ideological distinctions, as if to suggest that initiatives not formally so designated would not be ethical...."
("Caritas in Veritate," 45)
Labels can be important: but 'what's inside' is what really counts. Simply calling a policy "ethical" doesn't make it so.

Ethical, not Political

Finally, about "ideological distinctions." In this context, ideology probably means political orientation: "an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group or nation." (Princeton's WordNet) The Catholic Church isn't "political," although part of its job is to point out issues that involve politics.

I think some of the anger I've seen directed at the Church comes from frustration at this refusal to claim, or at least imply, that some particular party or nation 'owns' God. And that's yet another topic.

More posts about "Caritas in Veritate" (Charity in Truth)
"Caritas in Veritate"

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Marian Apparition: Champion, Wisconsin

Background:Posts in this blog: In the news:

What's That Doing in a Nice Catholic Blog?

From time to time, a service that I use will display links to - odd - services and retailers.

I block a few of the more obvious dubious advertisers.

For example: psychic anything, numerology, mediums, and related practices are on the no-no list for Catholics. It has to do with the Church's stand on divination. I try to block those ads.

Sometime regrettable advertisements get through, anyway.

Bottom line? What that service displays reflects the local culture's norms, - not Catholic teaching.