tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post5019335230468775417..comments2024-03-23T12:05:23.537-05:00Comments on The Wild Reed: D.C. Council Calls Archdiocese's BluffMichael J. Baylyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-44507547216279823892009-11-16T12:30:51.066-06:002009-11-16T12:30:51.066-06:00You may be right Kevin. Here is the latest shot. ...You may be right Kevin. Here is the latest shot. "Mark, call me Tomas de Torquemada, "Defender of the Faith." Yes it's time for a wholesale Inquisition on how the Church has become a haven for fey priests." This is another person who is back the first guy. I still didn't get an answer on what other groups should be targeted by the new Inquisition.Mareczkuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13122584421854834046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-61536645628465954242009-11-14T16:13:14.521-06:002009-11-14T16:13:14.521-06:00For your own mental hygiene, I would suggest not v...For your own mental hygiene, I would suggest not visiting, and certainly not posting, on such hate-filled sites. Such hatred cannot be changed with dialogue. That will require a big dose of grace and witness. I don't think many bishops use the term, sodomite, but same sex attracted, yes.kevin57https://www.blogger.com/profile/01681985465980196347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-85891600135781831542009-11-13T19:24:31.240-06:002009-11-13T19:24:31.240-06:00Good post. Interesting to see what the D.C. Counc...Good post. Interesting to see what the D.C. Council members had to say - I'm glad they aren't going to back down. I did see in a post at the Episcopal Cafe that a TEC bishop had responded to this and said the Episcopal Church would be happy to help if the Catholic Church bows out.crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05681674503952991492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-33785349082827673992009-11-13T17:13:10.367-06:002009-11-13T17:13:10.367-06:00This is just so sad to me. Why does the Church ha...This is just so sad to me. Why does the Church have to fight anti-discrimination laws? It is shameful. I was in a discussion on another site and I got called a sodomite by one poster. Another poster said that they need a new Inquisition to get rid of the sodomites. How many bishops actually use the term gay? Many refuse to use this term and use sodomite instead. Or else the NARTH inspired "same sex attracted." I know that I am venting here but I am sick of the hypocricy of some of our bishops. Where is Christ here?Mareczkuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13122584421854834046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-67976885872158114512009-11-13T13:14:41.590-06:002009-11-13T13:14:41.590-06:00Hi Dan,
I think if you were to ask the good folks...Hi Dan,<br /><br />I think if you were to ask the good folks who actually work in Catholic Charities about this, they wouldn't have an issue with the non-discrimination laws of D.C. It's not Catholic Charities calling the shots here, but the Archdiocese. <br /><br />Not all Catholics believe it is "morally wrong to support same-sex marriage in society" - especially, I would argue, those who work "on the ground" and "in the trenches" with real human beings and their daily concerns - some of which are to do with their LGBT loved ones. <br /><br />The conscience of these folks tells them that they can support the civil rights of LGBT people <em>and</em> keep serving the poor through their work with, for example, Catholic Charities. <br /><br />Why can't the hierarchy respect these people's conscience and not violate it by insisting they be part of this outrageous ultimatum of theirs?<br /><br />I think one way around this problem is for Catholics Charities to become its own non-profit organization separate from the hierarchy. Folks who work there could then keep their jobs, continue serving the poor, and be true to their conscience. The hierarchy would become that much more isolated and, hopefully, be compelled to evolve.<br /><br />Finally, I have no problem with people following their conscience when it disagrees with mine. I just don't think it's either very Christian or adult-like to throw tantrums and make threats when it becomes clear that following your conscience is going to make life difficult. It is this type of behavior that I'm critiquing in this post.<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-41047432298124893952009-11-13T13:09:04.644-06:002009-11-13T13:09:04.644-06:00"Catholic Charities, along with the teaching ..."Catholic Charities, along with the teaching of the Catholic Church, believes it is mos morally wrong to support same-sex marriage in society."<br /><br />Are you certain you're correct with that statement, Dan? My recollection is that a significant number of the Catholic board members of Catholic Charities in Boston resigned a few years ago when the archdiocese tried this same anti-gay political game with Catholic Charities there.<br /><br />Polls show a higher percentage of U.S. Catholics supporting gay marriage than is the case in most churches.<br /><br />We are the church.William D. Lindseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246026074693891965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-78928868660860310372009-11-13T12:35:15.692-06:002009-11-13T12:35:15.692-06:00"extortion", "strong-arm tactics&qu..."extortion", "strong-arm tactics", "subversive activity", "thug-type behavior"?<br /><br />For refusing to act against one's own conscience? This is ridiculous hyperbole, TheraP! Catholic Charities, along with the teaching of the Catholic Church, believes it is morally wrong to support same-sex marriage in society. If the city requires contract holders who agree with Catholic Charities to abide by laws that violate their own consciences, then the people at Catholic Charities are surely within their rights to refuse the money. How is this "childish" or somehow "blackmail"?<br /><br />Further, can you explain to me how Catholic charities is "subverting the separation of church and state"? Is it establishing a state religion? Is it interfering with the free practice of another religion? Is it forcing anybody to join their religion? Absolutely not. The people at Catholic Charities are simply acting in accord with their consciences as they seek to help the poor and disadvantaged. You are somehow equating "separation of church and state" with "don't act upon your moral beliefs if they are in some way related to religion." Again, ridiculous.<br /><br />And Michael, you have quoted favorably theologian Christine Firer Hinze's definition of conscience as "an absolute subjective guide: one must always follow it, and external authorities may not force a person to violate it." (<a href="http://thewildreed.blogspot.com/2006/06/reflections-on-primacy-of-conscience.html" rel="nofollow">link</a>) Are you now critical of those who follow their conscience when it disagrees with yours?Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10829574522791907940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-84762953932831891542009-11-13T12:20:05.508-06:002009-11-13T12:20:05.508-06:00Thanks for the link, TheraP.
I too am glad that ...Thanks for the <a href="http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/therap/2009/11/return-of-the-inquisition.php" rel="nofollow">link</a>, TheraP. <br /><br />I too am glad that so many people are concerned and outraged by the tactics of the hierarchy. Hopefully some action can and will be taken, and something good will come out of it all - including for the wider church.<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />MichaelMichael J. Baylyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087458490602152648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27612445.post-42018446068325832722009-11-13T10:32:52.462-06:002009-11-13T10:32:52.462-06:00This is extortion by the church! These kinds of a...This is extortion by the church! These kinds of acts should be prosecuted! Or tax-free status revoked! <br /><br />I think we need to engage lawyers in the pursuit of how the Vatican's (yes, it's ultimately the Vatican, isn't it) strong-arm tactics are akin to what gangsters do in the pursuit of their aims!<br /><br />We need something like an RCC ACLU - or whatever it would be called. Because this is becoming a kind of subversive activity in the name of religion. Subverting separation of church and state. And threatening harm to the "least among us" - those who are closest to the Heart of Jesus.<br /><br />I'm glad to see so much blogging on this kind of thug-type behavior on the part of people who are ordained to be "servants". <br /><br />Sometimes, it is so hard to trust the parable of the wheat and the weeds. So hard to be the salt. The leaven. Clearly the Heart of the Church is alive and well - but not among those who, like Uriah Heep bow and scrape to the pope, while robbing and raping - and hiding the culprits!<br /><br />As one line in the Psalms prays: <i>With a spirit of fervor sustain us.</i> <br /><br />We will need every ounce of spiritual grace and strength in this furnace which reminds me of the book of Daniel.<br /><br />I did a tiny blog on this yesterday on a political site:<br /><br />http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/therap/2009/11/return-of-the-inquisition.phpTheraPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17684120043427738135noreply@blogger.com