Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Save us from the pope

I'd like to make a general comment on this:


The attitude of Pope Francis is why many men hold Christianity in contempt. They think Christianity is for pansies and sissies. Statements like those of Francis, or the USCCB, reinforce the stereotype that Christian ethics is effeminate and limp-wristed. You're not allowed to protect your life or livelihood. You're not allowed to defend yourself or your dependents.

It's a very damaging stereotype. For many of the unchurched, who have no direct or detailed knowledge of Christianity, their impression of what Christianity stands for is fostered by the pope or Catholic bishops, because they get the most media buzz. For many of the unchurched, Catholicism symbolizes Christianity. You can see that in the news, as well as movies and TV dramas where Catholic clergy are the default representatives of Christianity.

In addition, take statements like:

“We see, for example, how quickly those among us with the status of a stranger, an immigrant or a refugee become a threat, take on the status of an enemy. An enemy because they come from a distant country or have different customs. An enemy because of the color of their skin, their language or their social class. An enemy because they think differently or even have a different faith.” 

i) To begin with, that's just defamatory. It imputes the worst possible motives to any and all people who don't share the pope's outlook. The pope is blind to his own malicious animosity towards outsiders. The difference is that he has a different set of villains. For him, the outsiders are his critics. 

ii) In addition, his statement is simpleminded. He makes no effort to draw the most elementary and necessary distinctions. He resorts to euphemisms like "stranger" or "refugee," as if there aren't real enemies who exploit asylum policies. 

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