Posted on 08/27/2009 10:41:06 AM PDT by NYer
Well, I feel as if I've finally "arrived."
True, over the years my name has been mentioned disparagingly a few times in the pages of America, but what appeared in its online edition today has reached a whole new level of invective (even by America's standards of invective).
I responded yesterday to Sr. Maureen Fiedler's obit piece on Senator Ted Kennedy in NCR ("He Made Me Proud to Be Catholic"), and my comments obviously hit a raw nerve among that community of disciples over at America, as evidenced by my being roundly chastised by one of their writers today.
Honestly, I don't think my remarks were in any way untoward, but clearly that writer disagrees. In just six irrate paragraphs, he manages to brand me me a "boor," a "loudmouth," "ignorant of history," "callous," "inhumane," "indecent," and "hateful" — all the while insinuating that my comments on this issue (and those of other pro-life people) are simply a "rant."
Kettle, meet Pot. Pot, meet Kettle.
Here is the exchange:
From National Catholic Reporter ...
I don’t often cry when a public figure dies. This morning, I cried when I heard the news that Senator Ted Kennedy had passed away.
I "grew up" with the Kennedy Clan. I remember how John Kennedy broke the "Catholic barrier" with his election in 1960. I remember Robert Kennedy’s prophetic words as he ran for President in 1968… his fearless embrace of the “least of these” and his opposition to the War in Vietnam. And I remember the wrenching agony of the two Kennedy assassinations.
But today feels a bit like the end of an era. Ted Kennedy, like his brothers, was a champion of civil rights, women’s rights, and the welfare of the “least of these.” He strongly and eloquently opposed the war in Iraq. Because his life (and the lives of others in his family) embraced the great Catholic social justice tradition, they have made me proud to be a Catholic.
So I guess now… the torch has been passed… to us.
Patrick Madrid's response:
At best, Mr. Kennedy was highly selective as to which of "the least among us" he would deign to defend. Case in point: Abortion. The senator established his record squarely on the extremist position of defending the legality of abortion. Many are not aware that he was originally publicly pro-life (I comment on the details of his transformation from pro-life to pro-abortion here). As a result of Ted Kennedy's indefatigable championing of the pro-abortion movement, tens of millions of the "least among us" — unborn girls and boys — were killed through abortion under his senatorial auspices. Whatever his positive qualities may have been, and no doubt he had some, the tragic reality is that Senator Kennedy's long political career was squandered by his vociferous, relentless promotion of abortion. And that, sadly, will be his enduring legacy. I agree with you that tears are appropriate upon hearing the news of this man's death, but not for the reasons you are crying them.
And the response from America Magazine:
Someone named Patrick Madrid, who runs a blog and is involved with something called the Envoy Institute at Belmont Abbey in North Carolina, decided to attack my colleague at NCR Sister Maureen Fiedler for her post remembering the late Senator. "Maureen, with all due respect," he begins, words that reek of condescension. He writes: "Whatever his positive qualities may have been, and no doubt he had some, the tragic reality is that Senator Kennedy's long political career was squandered by his vociferous, relentless promotion of abortion. And that, sadly, will be his enduring legacy. I agree with you that tears are appropriate upon hearing the news of this man's death, but not for the reasons you are crying them." I have my moments of hubris but it has never occurred to me to tell another soul why and why not to cry, still less in a blog post.
The Boors Who Demean Ted Kennedy
Here we see the demarcation line drawn between American Catholics.
Pro-life bump!
I can assure you that "Sr. Maureen Fiedler" and I have almost nothing -- including the religious/moral teachings that guide our lives -- in common.
The simple truth is that one of us isn't a Catholic at all.
She can grieve for that disgraceful, bloated slob if she wants. I, for one, have long held him in contempt as a scandalous public figure who has wrought terrible things in this world during his life.
Of course, Sr. Maureen might also note that Mary Jo Kopechne is unavailable for comment on this day of sober reflection.
There is a growing gap between the Catholic Church and the Catholic Religion.
Sister Maureen Fiedler, Sister of Loretto, Ph.D is an American activist and radio host. She is a progressive, sometimes controversial activist within the Roman Catholic Church. She has a long history working with interfaith coalitions on a variety of issues including: social justice, peace, anti-racism work, gender equality, human rights and female ordination to the Catholic Church. She holds a Ph.D in Government from Georgetown University.
Ted Kennedy was a poor example of a Catholic.
I still crack up every time I think of that.
Sister Maureen Fiedler is a poor example of a Catholic.
Kennedy was a blubbery historical monster, like Nero.
It's funny, her "resume": social justice, peace, anti-racism work, gender equality, human rights and female ordination to the Catholic Church., especially the "social justice", and "human rights" parts don't seem to apply to the unborn...
Kennedy was:
A an irredeemable alcoholic - supported by incontrovertable facts.
A traitor - supported by recently released records of his communications with KGB operatives in his efforts to undermine Reagan.
A murderer - How many millions of the unborn? How many? And then there’s Mary Jo.
A socialist - by his own words: “The reason why socialsim hasn’t worked in the last 6000 years is because I wasn’t in charge of it.”
And finalyy, on the basis of the preceding items - a malignant narcissist.
Nice legacy, Ted.
Very true.
There appears to be a vacuum on the order of 10-6 torr inside her skull.
If you read all the comments on the America blog it’s an interesting debate. A lot of the posters make good comments defending Madrid. I do have to wonder, though, if such a large personal logo is really appropriate for someone blogging on religious matters.
You are making that up. No?
It is very nice to have you, Patrick. Welcome.
Interesting the comments to the America article are mostly against Winters. Perhaps they were swamped by Freepers?
I think Patrick Madrid is the best and I’m always recommending his books to people.
Mr. Madrid is quite correct about Senator Kennedy and completely correct to admonish them.
The reason why socialism hasn’t worked in the last 6000 years is because I wasn’t in charge of it.
Good question. Source?
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