Cafeteria Catholics

Over at The American Conservative magazine, John Schwenkler writes about Cafeteria Catholics:

Joe Carter asks how Catholics determine whether and to what extent they’re obligated to concur with papal encyclicals. If I may be permitted a moment of deepest cynicism, the obvious answer is that it depends on how nicely the relevant teachings comport with their partisan political affiliations and other preexisting biases, which is how we end up with the oh-so-unsurprising spectacles of predominantly Republican frequent churchgoers being among the most prominent supporters of torture, left-liberal Catholics preaching about the “seamless garment” as a way to justify prioritizing health insurance mandates over laws protecting the unborn, and alleged conservatives who were openly dismissive of Vatican condemnations of the Iraq war going on about Ex Corde and Evangelium Vitae while approaching papal articulations of Catholic social teaching – which seems as good a candidate as any for the second conjunct of the “faith and morals” criterion – with a hermeneutic of suspicion and a deconstructionist’s bicolored pen. (“[S]pinning so fast … I would be surprised if they haven’t fallen over a few times already” was Caleb Stegall’s apt description of the recent antics from the FT crowd; I would just add that simply watching the twirling is going to leave me motion-sick.) It’s a sad, sorry excuse for humility and prophetic witness, and while I’d love to see the Vatican attempt to combat it by issuing some strongly-worded official statements on the spiritual dangers of excessive partisan identification, the problem of course is that no one would bother to listen.

The rest of the entry, and the comments, can be read here.

Former papal theologian praises Obama's 'realism,'

John L. Allen, Jr., writing in National Catholic Reporter, reports that "an influential cardinal and Vatican adviser has praised Obama’s 'humble realism' and compared the president’s approach to abortion to the thinking of St. Thomas Aquinas and early Christian tradition about framing laws in a pluralistic society."

We might ask, "Who saw that coming?"

The full article is here. Here is an excerpt:

Swiss Cardinal George Cottier, 87, former theologian of the papal household under Pope John Paul II, laid out those views in a cover essay in the current issue of 30 Giorni, perhaps the most widely read journal of Catholic affairs in Italy.

Styled as an analysis of two Obama speeches – his May 17 commencement address at the University of Notre Dame and his June 4 speech to the Islamic world in Cairo – Cottier’s essay was overwhelmingly positive, repeatedly arguing that Obama’s “realism”, as well as his commitment to finding “common ground”, resonate with Christian tradition and the social teaching of the Catholic church.

Seen through American eyes, perhaps the most striking element was Cottier’s analysis of what Obama had to say at Notre Dame. The university’s decision to invite Obama, and to award him an honorary degree, were widely criticized in Catholic circles in the States, given Obama’s positions on abortion, embryonic stem cell research and other life issues. More than 80 bishops publicly objected to the event.

Cottier, however, compared Obama’s Notre Dame address to Pope Paul VI’s encyclical Ecclesiam Suam, in its accent on dialogue and common ground, and to the document Dignitatis Humanae of the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) on conducting the search for truth in a pluralistic society. Christians, Cottier wrote, “can be in agreement” with Obama’s “way of framing the search for solutions.”

Climate change

First of all, thanks to those who inquired about our absence from the scene. We are back now and ready to continue.

Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good is a lay Catholic organization that promotes increased awareness of Catholic Social Teaching through the media and provides opportunities for Catholics and citizens of good will to advance the common good in the public square. They send along the following:

What does climate change have to do with the common good? A lot. The current environmental crisis affects us all, but especially those enduring poverty. Whether our neighbors here and around the world live in lands subject to erosion, can only afford to inhabit polluted areas or do not have the economic means to protect themselves from ecological calamities, the most vulnerable among us are profoundly affected by the global environmental crisis.

As people of faith called to be good stewards of God's creation, we must ensure that our elected officials make political and economic choices that reflect proper care for the earth and respect the dignity of all people.

Help make a difference. Learn more about how you can take action to protect the environment and give voice to the particular needs of "the least among us." Check out the links to the following organizations and start making your voice heard. And be sure to share this email with 10 of your friends!

Franciscan Campaign on Climate Change is organizing Franciscan and Franciscan-hearted persons (people who are inspired by the witness and example of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi) to participate in the Catholic Climate Covenant. Right now they are organizing Congressional visits over the Memorial Day Recess. All are welcome to participate.

Catholic Climate Covenant is an effort supported by more than a dozen Catholic organizations to increase the visibility of the Church in addressing climate change. They are encouraging organizations, parishes, families and individuals to take the St. Francis Pledge to pray, learn, assess, act and advocate.

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns is working to raise greater awareness about the connections between our economic choices and environmental consequences. Maryknoll is taking action to bring sustainability to both areas of our life with a particular emphasis on caring for persons who are poor.

What Would Jesus Buy?

What Would Jesus Buy?

Saturday, December 20, at 7:30 PM.

This comic documentary follows the Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir as they go on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse: the destruction of the world through consumerism and the fires of eternal debt! The Reverend Billy takes us into the heart of America—exorcising the demons at the Wal-Mart headquarters, seizing the center stage at the Mall of America, and heading to the Promised Land (Disneyland). Don't miss this hilarious critique of corporate culture and globalization!

The film-showing—-cosponsored by Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace and Upper Hudson Peace Action—-will take place at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, located at 405 Washington Avenue (across the street from the downtown SUNY campus). Admission is free. Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome. Please invite your friends and carpool.

Capitalism and religion

The latest edition of Commonweal has an article on capitalism and religion which notes:

When laissez-faire economists believe in God, they are usually certain that he is one of them. The invisible hand of the market is, they think, also the hand of Divine Providence, which anoints and protects those who manage to provide for themselves.
. . .
The Catholic Church has always taught that the proper alternative to bad government is good government. Sometimes this means less government, sometimes more. In Vatican II’s Gaudium et spes we read that “political authority...must always be exercised within the limits of the moral order and dedicated toward the common good.... The complex circumstances of our day make it necessary for the public authority to intervene more often in social, economic, and cultural matters.” According to the church, negative freedom alone is insufficient. A government that refrains from mistreating its own citizens but makes little effort to keep them from mistreating each other-or to keep their pursuit of conflicting goals from leading to injustice-is not doing its job.

In light of the current fiscal picture in New York and the rest of the nation (and the world) Albany Catholic highly recommends you read the rest of this article.

Is abortion THE issue?

E.J. Dionne Jr., the Catholic columnist at The Washington Post, writes about how different bishops are responding to that question:

It has become commonplace in American politics: Certain Roman Catholic bishops declare that the faithful should cast their ballots on the basis of a limited number of "nonnegotiable issues," notably opposition to abortion. Conservative Catholics cheer, more liberal Catholics howl. And that is usually the end of the story.

Not this year. Catholics, who are quintessential swing voters and gave narrow but crucial support to President Bush in 2004, are drifting toward Barack Obama. And this time, some church leaders are suggesting that single-issue voting is by no means a Catholic commandment.

In an interview on Monday, Gabino Zavala, an auxiliary bishop in the Los Angeles Archdiocese, said his fellow bishops have long insisted that "we're not a one-issue church," a view reflected in their 2007 document "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship."

"But that's not always what comes out," says Zavala, who is also bishop-president of the Catholic peace group Pax Christi USA. "What I believe, and what the church teaches, is that one abortion is too many. That's why I believe abortion is so important. But in light of this, there are many other issues we need to bring up, other issues we should consider, other issues that touch the reality of our lives."

Those issues, Bishop Zavala said, include racism, torture, genocide, immigration, war and the impact of the economic downturn "on the most vulnerable among us, the elderly, poor children, single mothers."

"We know that neither of the political parties supports everything the church teaches," he added. "We are not going to create a culture of life if we don't talk about all the life issues, beginning with abortion but including all of them."

Zavala was careful to say that he did not want to take issue with any of his fellow bishops. But his view contrasts with that of others in the hierarchy.

Earlier this month, for example, Bishop Joseph Martino of the Scranton (Pa.) Diocese issued a letter warning that "being 'right' on taxes, education, health care, immigration, and the economy fails to make up for the error of disregarding the value of a human life." He added: "It is a tragic irony that 'pro-choice' candidates have come to support homicide — the gravest injustice a society can tolerate — in the name of 'social justice.' "

Bishop Zavala's desire to speak out with an alternative view is a sign of how much has changed in four years: Progressive Catholics are now as organized as conservative Catholics were in 2004. At Web sites such as prolifeproobama.com, they are arguing that the abortion question does not trump all other concerns

Albany Catholic suggests you read the entire article, here.

A special Veteran's Day presentation

Capital Repertory Theatre

in collaboration with The American Place Theatre

presents:

Tim O’Brien’s

The Things They Carried

Monday, November 10th, 2008 at 7:30 p.m.

In honor of Veteran’s Day, Capital Repertory Theatre is staging a special evening performance of The American Place Theatre’s production of Tim O’Brien’s masterwork of contemporary literature and Vietnam War remembrance. Adapted in collaboration with the author, this production is a searing 60 minute monologue selected verbatim from the novel that takes the audience through a harrowing journey with its young inductee.

Immediately following the performance, take the opportunity to reflect on the work on stage by staying for a panel discussion with combat veterans:

Ed Bloch, U.S. Marine Corp combat veteran, WWII -- Currently a member of Veterans for Peace, President of the NYS Council of Veterans Organization, Director of the Regional Chapter of the Inter-faith Alliance.

Terry Kindlon, U.S. Army combat veteran, Vietnam War -- Criminal defense lawyer, currently partner in Kindlon, Shanks, and Associates, frequent op-ed contributor on issues of war and peace.

Scott Ritter, U.S. Marine Corp, Intelligence Analyst, Persian Gulf War; U.N. Weapons Inspector -- Internationally recognized speaker on issues of U.S security, foreign policy and the Middle East; author of Waging Peace: the Art of War for the Anti-War Movement.

Tyler Boudreau, U.S. Marine Corp combat veteran, Iraq War -- Author of Packing Inferno: the Unmaking of a Marine and founder of Iraq War Veterans for Iraq Refugees.

Moderator: Mary Darcy, former host and producer of NPR’s nationally syndicated award winning 51%’ -- Currently owner/editor of Alloveralbany. com

SEATING IS LIMITED

To Reserve Your Seats Call The Capital Rep Box Office Today

518.445.SHOW

$20 General Admission / $15 for veterans, subscribers, and students