The Washington Post recently published an op-ed by Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco defending the many Catholic bishops who have publicly considered barring pro-choice Catholic politicians from the Eucharist. But Archbishop Cordileone went a step further: he declared his support for the recent anti-abortion legislation in Texas, including praising the Lone Star State for “investing $100 million to help mothers by funding pregnancy centers, adoption agencies and maternity homes.” The reaction to the op-ed was perhaps unsurprising, and not a single published letter was positive.
One reader reprimanded the Archbishop for overstepping “in arguing for and supporting changes in the law of the land to enforce its moral positions on those who do not agree.” (Aren’t all laws based on moral positions and enforced upon a population, some of whom will not agree?) Another accused the Church of being “not really pro-life” because it has been “generally silent on other life issues: war, climate change, capital punishment and housing and food insecurity.” (Has this person read any encyclicals by Francis, Benedict XVI, or John Paul II?)
Other readers were quite a bit more antagonistic and abrasive. A Maryland woman accused the Church of seeking to impose the equivalent of “sharia law” on women and noted “the institution’s spectacular failure to protect the children in their flock from the predators in their midst.” (Perhaps she’s unaware that, according to one survey, approximately seven percent of public-school students have been sexually abused by a teacher or coach).
Another argued that because the Old Testament has God saying some frightening things that this proved the Archbishop a hypocrite. (Because the Church’s condemnation of abortion comes only from the Bible?) And finally, a reader noted that “contraception is also against Catholic teaching, adding to the absurdity of men in robes making health-care decisions for the rest of us.”
The Catholic Church is equivalent to the Taliban; Catholic priests are sexual predators; the Bible is a manual of murder and misogyny; the Church is a bunch of old, ridiculously-clothed men who don’t know anything about women’s healthcare. These are the arguments of the pro-choice movement. They expose, quite shamelessly, the anti-Catholic bigotry that underlies the pro-abortion movement.
Why is that? What is it about anti-Catholicism — which has quite a long history in our country—that pairs so well with pro-abortion politics? I would argue that perhaps it is because both originate from a certain prideful assertion of the autonomous self, untethered from authority.
The Reformation, after all, can be traced back, at least rhetorically, to Martin Luther’s famous assertion — some of which is likely at the apocryphal at the Diet of Worms in 1521:
Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason — I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other — my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.
In other words, the truth of the Christian faith is ascertained not via resource to a divinely-originating authority like the Magisterium but in the individual conscience of the Christian.
For Protestants, Luther’s declaration is a rallying cry. But for Catholics, and especially Catholic scholars like Brad S. Gregory in his excellent book The Unintended Reformation, it is ultimately individualistic and egocentric because it places religious authority squarely in the self. Thus, as Protestants encountered Catholics, particularly in the American Colonies and later the United States, the response to the Church was one of violence and anger against a religion viewed as inherently inimical toward personal autonomy, be it religious or political….
The above comes from a Sept. 30 story in Crisis Magazine.
The Washington Compost is an echo chamber for beltway creatures and is not a place where true Catholics would recognize themselves.
This was a physically ugly human being suffering from the deadly sin of Pride. A peasant tent on disruption. Catholicism is of a convienant religion. But getting rid of wives by fowl means Henry 8. Long line of thieves
“I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils”-Martin Luther
Like we have been trying to tell some people.
It is Protestant.
I’m not sure a Jewish woman in Plano is equivalent to Martin Luther. This article oddly juxtaposes the two.
Why not admit you love my posts Vault/YFC
What is your point?
I pray for your soul that the hate you have will turn to love
The “Lone Star” State of Texas has many traditional, family-oriented Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, who believe in God, and gladly accept the authority of Jesus Christ and the Biblical truth. Most may not know much about the Reformation. But that doesn’t matter. A good, traditional, church-and-family-oriented daily way of life, with good manners and good morals, and good discipline, makes for a good family, a good church, and a good community, anywhere! That is the backbone of the authentic, “Christianized,” “older America,” that we have lost, since the filthy, evil, Satanic-infested, radical,1960s “hippie era!” Both coasts in America are full of extremely immature, immoral, mis-educated, smart-aleck, rebellious, pseudo-intellectual “hippie liberals,” busy destroying our Nation. They laugh at the states in-between coasts, calling them the “flyover states.” They are very sick, rebellious people, and need good leadership and good moral and intellectual discipline, to lead them out of their sin and filth. Like Lucifer, who fell woefully from grace– they shamefully declare to Almighty God, “Non serviam!” (“I will not serve!”) Lucifer’s big, fat ego caused his shameful downfall– “pride goeth before a fall,” as Scripture says.
In today’s Relativistic Culture anything is “OK” except the truth. Thus, the people who claim to be the most tolerant, inclusive, open minded and “liberal” are acting more and more like totalitarian dictators and their followers. While claiming to be “woke” and “caring” they don’t mind slaughtering infants in the womb or ruining people’s lives or riots, murders, deadly drugs and violence in out culture.
What is the best response we can make? Well, the Church tried appeasement with the Fascists and Nazis. We’ve tried joining the radicals (some of us have), we’ve said “Be nice!” and “Play fair” and “Submitted to their rules and insanity. None of that has worked.
What has worked?
THE TRUTH!!!
Maybe you are just being distracted by the wrong people.
I understand that the squeaky wheel gets the grease; you also can just replace the wheel.
We have jobs to do like feed the hungry, counsel the doubtful. adore the Eucharist, pray the Rosary.
Like the Bible says “Turn from evil and do good.”
St Dominic (I’ve heard) only talked to God or about God.
Be a follower of Eternal Truth. Reflect Eternal Truth.
Ten more years of suffering by the people of that Archidiocese. He is universally despised.
This is done to every bishop at some point. Like we are in 3rd grade. “Everyone hates you!”
Why is he “universally despised”, Fred?
The “Lone Star” State of Texas has many Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, who believe in God, and accept the authority of Jesus Christ and the Biblical truth. Most may not know much about the Reformation. But that doesn’t matter. A church-and-family-oriented way of life, with manners and morals, and discipline, makes for a family, a church, and a community, anywhere! That is the backbone of the “America,” that we have lost, since the 1960s era! Both coasts in America are full of “liberals,” busy destroying our Nation. They laugh at the states in-between coasts, calling them the “flyover states.” They are people, and need leadership and moral and discipline, to lead them out of their sin and filth. Like Lucifer, who fell from grace– they declare to Almighty God, “Non serviam!” (“I will not serve!”) Lucifer’s ego caused his downfall– “pride goeth before a fall,” as Scripture says.
Wanted to see how Chrtistfidelis’ post would read without the adjectives and adverbs.
sharing– you do not know Christifidelis. You need good manners! Learn to write your own posts, in your own style– and respect others, whom you do not know, and never shall meet.
I was concerned it might offend you. I apologize.
the response to the Church was one of violence and anger against a religion viewed as inherently inimical toward personal autonomy, be it religious or political.
Lazy monk not up to the job of self denial. Suffering g from the deadly sin of Pride. Ants game. Worthless coward. Knight fought n died but this cowardly cleric wanted attention. Born liar
Nothing like getting hate on the Internet 475 years after you died.
The LORD has made everything for a purpose,
even the wicked for the evil day.
Every proud heart is an abomination to the LORD;
be assured that none will go unpunished.
Proverbs 16:4-5