Posted on 02/18/2010 5:56:52 AM PST by marshmallow
Questions… questions…
From The Catholic League:
JOE BIDEN RIDICULED FOR WEARING ASHES
Fox News analyst Bob Beckel today criticized Vice President Joe Biden for wearing ashes on TV; today is Ash Wednesday and Biden is Catholic.
In the middle of a discussion on President Obama’s stimulus plan, Beckel gratuitously said, “Sorry about laughing, but I looked at Joe Biden’s forehead, and I know it is Ash Wednesday, but I’m not sure I would wear that ash on the air. Anyway….”
Catholic League president Bill Donohue wasn’t amused:
Bob Beckel’s admonishing remark, “I’m not sure I would wear that ash on the air,” makes us wonder whether it is the public display of ashes he finds risible, or the religion that sports them.
In any event, there is no record of Beckel ever lecturing a Jew about wearing a yarmulke on TV or a Muslim wearing a turban. Must be something about Catholicism that bothers this guy. We’d love to know what it is. At the very least, a clarification about what he meant is in order.
I am not a fan of Vice President Biden. I think his public record as a pro-abortion "Catholic" Senator and his risible comments about Church doctrine concerning abortion deserve all the beatings we can deliver. I think it is a scandal that his bishops would not deny him Holy Communion.
However, you do not have to be in the state of grace to receive ashes on Ash Wednesday. You receive because you are a sinner.
At the same time, I remember something in the readings about washing your face and not being obvious as a penitent in public… yes… I remember reading that somewhere (cf. Matthew 6).
Tough call.
So…. ashes in public? Give witness to your Catholic identity in a world which needs it?
Wash them off because of what the Lord says?
Discuss.
The point being: did Zero actually say that?
Is this the first time he has done this? Has Biden been photographed in public with ashes on his forehead in previous Ash Wednesdays?
I have no problem with the ashes, but I do have a question....has Biden ever done this in the past or is this just an attempt to kiss up to Catholic voters?
Excellent question Alice :)
Just Joe wanting to make sure we all know he is a good Catholic.
Sad thing is he isn’t a good anything.
I wasn’t impressed.
Paint the target.
Yes, according to several commenters in a thread at Inside Catholic (if I remember correctly), he goes out of his way every year to be photographed in his ashes. Pelosi did the same thing this year.
Great minds think alike!
So long as it was a smudged cross and not a smudged pentagram, I’m not offended.
I see no problem with mocking Biden for wearing the ash in public. It isn’t like he’s a real Catholic anyway.
Some Protestant churches also observe Ash Wednesday. The comment questioning his decision to wear the ashes was inappropriate and, IMHO, as politically incorrect as using a derogatory term to refer to the race, creed or color of another human being.
IMO, a Catholic Pro-choice (isn’t that an oxymoron) Dem, wearing ashes in public, must certainly be akin to what was spoken of in this verse:
When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
Well, then it isn’t up to me to judge his intentions, the LORD will do that.
Wearing ash on your head in public is ok if you mean it as as a sign of penitence - as a way of saying “I am a sinner”.
It is not ok if you mean it as a way of saying “I am fasting, look at me!”. Much better in that case to avoid the risk of Phariseeism and wash it off.
As always it is not the sign, but what is going on in the interior that matters.
I hope Biden meant it as a sign of inward humility and repentance. For all his faults it is at least plausible. Whereas - imagine Clinton or Obama with the ash on their face.
Beckel the continuing absence of class and character. Just another tasteless remark.
“Catholic League president Bill Donohue wasn’t amused:
Bob Beckel’s admonishing remark, “I’m not sure I would wear that ash on the air,” makes us wonder whether it is the public display of ashes he finds risible, or the religion that sports them.
In any event, there is no record of Beckel ever lecturing a Jew about wearing a yarmulke on TV or a Muslim wearing a turban. Must be something about Catholicism that bothers this guy. We’d love to know what it is. At the very least, a clarification about what he meant is in order.”
*****************************
Donahue makes a good point.
I never understood how you can be catholic and pro abortion.
Here’s the thing - the photo I saw, the smudge was even bigger and darker. The make up folks had to have worked around it. Keeping it to show off is pride. Rubbing it off intentionally is not a good thing either though since we shouldn’t be ashamed of our faith. Mine sort of disappears during the day. It’s ash, not grease paint. By evening, even a big smudge has fallen off. So as it says, its for sinners and repentance but I doubt whether Joe has repentance for his pro abortion stance and other issues. Who knows.
Do Catholic doctors wear ashes while performing abortions? Even partial-birth abortions?
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