| Submit your comments on this article |
| Home Front: Politix |
| How to tell a duck from a fox |
| 2004-04-15 |
| "If it quacks like a duck and looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it's probably a duck. A fox can claim to be a duck all day long. But he's still a fox." We've all heard that saying, or some version of it, a thousand times. The reason is simple: It's true. Our actions prove who we are. If a gulf exists between what we say, how we look and what we do, we're not living in a spirit of truth. A fox, even if he quacks, is still a fox. Sooner or later, it becomes obvious. I remembered this last week as I read yet another news report about candidates who claim to be Catholic and then prominently ignore their own faith on matters of public policy. We've come a long way from John F. Kennedy, who merely locked his faith in the closet. Now we have Catholic senators who take pride in arguing for legislation that threatens and destroys life — and who then also take Communion. The kindest explanation for this sort of behavior is that a lot of Catholic candidates don't know their own faith. And that's why, in a spirit of charity, the Holy See offered its guidance and encouragement in a little document last year On Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Public Life. Nothing in this Roman document is new. But it offers a vision of public service filled with common sense. More at the link... |
| Posted by:Old Patriot |
| #9 The difference/problem? A lotta Catholics in America are nominal and swing his way -- and that's at best ... the idea, probably, was that if done right, he'd hit upon an apathetic feel among Catholics-in-name-only (which may be the majority, I have an "ethnic" Catholic for a teacher in, ironically, World Religion) ... (four words: "Catholic Lesbians" and "Matthew Fox" :P) |
| Posted by: Edward Yee 2004-04-16 2:34:52 AM |
| #8 Jarhead, as a Catholic, you do have to put God first in your life. And that means honoring His Church here on earth, including the Magisterum (teaching authority). If someone cannot do that (and Kerry & Kennedy cannot as evidenced by their behavior), then they are most definitely not a Catholic, and are better off going to another Christan sect that is amenable to your viewpoint. Its like claiming to be a Marine, but treating Honor as a convienience to be discarded when circumstances make it difficult. If someone wants to be that "flexible" with their morals, they should be a used car salesman, not a Marine. Likewise for Catholics. To continue to willingly and repeatedly and unapologetically vote Pro-Abortion and such, in direct contravention to the Church's teachings and authority is to set one's self apart from the community of the Church, and as such, they should not be taking communion of the Holy Eucharist. The stain is upon their soul if they wrongly take Eucharist. I have my disagreements with the Church over some issues, like the Death Penalty, but I subsume my views to conform to those of the Church as a matter of faith. If I didnt have faith that the Church was right in its central teachings, especially a core teaching like Human Vitae (and consider the possibility that my viewpoint could be wrong), then I would have no business being a Catholic. And anyone that tries to claim Catholicism to their advantage while not taking up the burden of the full teachings is not only a hypocrite, but a decietful moral midget as well. Its that simple: to be a Catholic you have to commit: follow the precepts and follow up in the life you live - if you cannot at least try (we all fail, its the trying and asking for forgiveness that matters), then you should go elsewhere. FYI, Denver's last Archbishop ended up as a Cardinal at the Vatican. And the current one is a heck of a writer and a great moral teacher (I read a bunch of his stuff online thanks to your links). So don't think that the voice of an Archbishop will not be hear outside of the Archdiocese - especially with as clear and well supporta a moral case as Archbishop Chaput makes. I bet this one has the Vatican's ear on more than a few things, and stands tall in the US Council of Bishops. |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2004-04-15 11:14:49 PM |
| #7 Jarhead, I couldn't agree more. Let me also say that I'm not a Catholic. What I hear the Archbishop here saying is that if you're a Catholic, and you want to be seen and honored (and collect votes) as a Catholic, you should ACT like a Catholic. Otherwise, you're nothing but a hypocrite. In John Kerry's case, the use of the term is redundant. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-04-15 10:08:19 PM |
| #6 Using religion to get votes is lame imo. Kerry's actions were disengenuous and deserving of criticism. On the same token as a Catholic, I believe my faith is a personal thing. If I don't vote in line w/my church then they have the right to do what they gotta do. I'll be honest though, if I think something's best for the country as a whole (whether its keeping abortion legal or whatever) and my church doesn't see it the same way and wants to pressure me - then the country comes first. Politicians are sworn to defend and support the U.S. Constitution not any church. Separation of church and state I am a big fan of. I'd have to tell the church to back the f*ck off, not everyone's a Catholic. This is a hot button issue and everyone has exposed nerves when it comes to religion. Kerry should of never brought this subject in the public eye. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-04-15 9:53:02 PM |
| #5 Though I guess he was thinking it would make him look more devout. This fuckup is even worse than Howard Dean's not recognizing which Testament he was talking about. |
| Posted by: growler 2004-04-15 6:13:07 PM |
| #4 If the idiot knew anything about Catholicism, he'd have known not to take Communion. Hell, he should've known since the papers were talking about it before he did, on Easter. Taking Communion was monumentally stupid on his part. It will not play well with practising Catholics. |
| Posted by: growler 2004-04-15 6:12:22 PM |
| #3 Kerry's thinking the Catholic confrontation over communin will be his Sister Souljah moment - I think it will expose his hypocrisy to Catholics, who don't need or want him as their poster boy (a la their pride for the real JFK) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-04-15 5:56:05 PM |
| #2 Old Patriot, IF the NorthEastern Catholic Church heirarchy feels same way,this may be just tip of iceberg. |
| Posted by: Stephen 2004-04-15 5:48:20 PM |
| #1 This is not good news for Kerry, who needs to attract a large percentage of the Irish Catholic vote to carry any of the Northeast states. Unfortunately, it's written in Denver, and may never get seen in that part of the nation. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2004-04-15 5:29:16 PM |