Posted on 10/01/2007 2:39:41 PM PDT by Balt
Well, it looks like the USCCB is just going to thumb it's collective nose at anyone who is rude enough to continue to be concerned about this Kathy Saile scandal. For your PP, the scandal has two layers: (1) her appointment, and (2) the very existence of the office to which she has been appointed, which basically translates into The Office of LetUsTellYouWhatYouShouldBeConcernedAbout. A great triumph for Vatican II's notion of the "Apostolate of the Laity (so long as the laity agree with us)" -- the last bit being in the fine print that was inadvertently left out of most published copies.
One could argue, I suppose, that the USCCB's intransigence on the issue of this appointment -- and the flippant way in which they've responded to the concerns of many of the faithful -- represents a defeat in the eternal battle of holiness and sanctification vs. management and marketing in the Church. But your PP sees it differently. It's almost impossible now for the USCCB to continue to present itself as anything but a bloated bureaucracy of middle management hacks the principle function of which is to justify its own existence. Douglas Adams, in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, lampooned the phenomenon in the story of the "Gulgaphrimcians" (sic):
Like most planets in the galaxy, Gulgaphrimcia was divided into basically three classes: (1) the Ruling Class, made up of all the thinkers and policy makers; (2) the Working Class, made up of those who actually made things and did things and maintained the infrastructure of the society, and (3) the Middle Class, made up mostly of management consultants, journalists, marketing executives, hairdressers, public telephone sanitizers, lobbying groups, and those who were constantly arguing that the two other classes had to be in constant conflict with one another. Unable to take it anymore, the first and second classes (which, much to the chagrin of the third group, always got along anyway) came up with a plan to rid their society of the useless third of their population. They invented a series of scenarios pointing to the certain doom of their planet brought about by various causes which they knew no thinking or practical person would ever believe, and unleashed them onto a sycophantic media. As expected, the third class was very "concerned," and was easily persuaded that the planet was doomed. At the direction of the Ruling Class, the Working Class constructed a series of three enormous star ships called the Ark Fleet (only one of which, the "B Ark," was actually capable of space flight). With the entire Middle Class packed safely on board, the B Ark was hurtled into space, streaking toward an unknown planet which they had no problem believing to be a paradise compared to Gulgaphrimcia, thoroughly convinced that the reason they were sent along first was so everyone following would know they were colonizing a planet where they could be sure of getting a good haircut and where they knew the telephones would be clean.
When the four hitchhikers, Arthur Dent, Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox and Trillian, ask the captain of the B Ark (on which they've hitched a lift) when they expect to land on their new planet, he responds that they're not going to land exactly; their ship has, in fact, been programmed to crash on it, though he can't remember the reason. Ford exclaims, "You're all a bunch of bloody loonies!" to which the captain replies, "Yes, that it! That was the reason!"
In any case, the last shot at the Kathy Saile scandal should go to Diogenes at Catholic World News, since he broke the story:
The National Rifle Association (NRA) describes itself as "America's foremost defender of Second Amendment rights."
If you were invited to participate in an event organized by the NRA as a "unique opportunity to contribute to, learn from, and network with accomplished and up-and-coming women who share your passions," would you see it as a great opportunity to argue in favor of gun control?
Neither would I. But then I'm not the sort of astute political tactician the US bishops are likely to hire.
Now ask yourself: Why would the NRA invite me to speak to a networking session for gun enthusiasts? Probably because the organizers judged, on the basis of my public statements on other issues, that I would be a reliable ally.
So even if I did surprise that NRA audience by arguing for restrictions on handgun ownership (which, by the way, I wouldn't do -- but that's another matter), the most dedicated advocates of gun control might wonder what I was doing at an NRA function. I wouldn't blame them.
By the way, for those who have no intention of reading the book, the remaining population of Gulgaphrimcia never got the chance to enjoy a relaxed life rid of the useless third of their society, as they all succumbed to a viral infection contracted from a dirty telephone.
Any Catholic apologist who not only makes extensive use of Douglas Adams, but also bothers to explain what happened to the thinking classes of the Gulgaphrimcians can’t be all that bad...unfortuntely, the planet colonized by the Gulgaphrimcian lower class was said to be Earth.
Now, if the answer to meaning of life, the universe and everything is 42, who can answer what the question was, according to the great experiment which was Earth? (If drawing staws and casting lots isn’t sinful, than neither is drawing Scrabble tiles!)
Was it the Earth, or was it the Earth Mark II? It's not all that clear. Oh, well. My favorite part of that story line is when the Mechanical Subcommittee of the Colonization Committee reports that their having "a bit of trouble with this wheel thing." Arthur remarks, "It's the simplest single machine in the entire universe!" to which the committee chairman replies, "All right, smarty pants. You tell us what color it should be."
The Priestly Pugilist nails this issue again. The USCCB confuses “social justice” with socialistic “justice”. A salvific or pastoral mission teaches and inspires us to be charitable, to love, to give; a “socialistic” mission is coercive and punitive. A “hitchikers” journey through the USCCB web site and through the past three decades of pronouncements reveals a socialist political body which diffuses the pastoral mission of the Church. They adopt post modern terminology like “cultural diversity” and attempt to advance a legislative agenda that if passed in its entirety would leave diminish liberty, and the pastoral role for the Church. They dismiss critics of their immigration agenda as “nativists.” The USCCB needs to reestablish its pastoral mission and recognize that its political goals are seductions even though they sound sentimentally utopian. This is an important moment for the American Church and yet the USCCB continues as it has been since it became politically radicalized in the 70s.
As Pope Benedict cogently states the case against this strand of political “theology” (its effects are seen in Europe) it is evident that “God has disapeared; man is the only actor left on the stage...only the organization of the world counts. Religion matters only insofar as it can serve that objective. The post-Christian vision of faith and religion is disturbingly close to Jesus’ third temptation.”
The PP thanks you!
**The Priestly Pugilist nails this issue again. The USCCB confuses “social justice” with socialistic “justice”. **
So true! Thanks for that phrase.
PP—You have it wrong. I (we) thank you. You have no idea how refreshing your blog is. You have no idea how much hope it gives many Catholics who otherwise feel rather powerless over the political diminution of a proud and rich theology. It is you, good buddy, who deserves our appreciation, and our prayers. I’ll be gone for a week or so, but i trust you can defend the castle. :)
Fear not. The boiling oil is ready for the pouring. :)
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