Homosexuality, Evolution, and Maureen Dowd

Here's the latest update on the things that matter from Brian Saint-Paul and the good folks at CRISIS Magazine.


Homosexuality, Evolution, and Maureen Dowd

Crisis Magazine e-Letter
November 18, 2005

Dear Friend,
I've got a bunch of items I need to bring to your attention, so this letter is going to be a bit of a potpourri. As a masculine man of the manly persuasion, I don't really like using terms like "potpourri"... that's only a little bit better than describing this email as a lively bouquet of brightly colored stories.

Which I'm not going to do.

So potpourri it is.

First up, it looks like the Vatican's statement on homosexuals and seminary admission will be released on November 29. According to those who have seen it -- including Italian newspaper, Il Giornale -- the document will prohibit those who are actively homosexual, participate in the homosexual culture, or demonstrate strong homosexual tendencies from admission. It will, it is reported, leave open the possibility of ordination for those who have same-sex tendencies, but have overcome them for three years.

Predictably, dissenting Catholics and gay rights advocates have gone nuts over this. And some in the media have jumped on board. Take Rachel Zoll of Associated Press, for example. In her story, "On eve of new Vatican rules, gay priests struggle with serving a church that considers them 'disordered,'" she manages to get through an entire article without ever quoting an orthodox Catholic. Indeed, it doesn't look like she even spoke with anyone who supports the Church's position.

But she does take the opportunity to get in a few editorial shots of her own:

"Researchers have estimated that thousands of homosexual clergy across the United States have dedicated their lives to a church that considers them 'intrinsically disordered' and prone to 'evil tendencies.'"

I'm sorry, but is that reporting?

Happily, other journalists have taken the time to get both sides of the story, and I've seen some balanced coverage of the issue in other outlets. A faithful Catholic, after all, doesn't demand media favoritism... just media fairness.

As for the policy itself, it would actually represent a liberalization of the official stance. In 1961, John XXIII clearly barred men with same-sex tendencies from the seminary. This new policy, on the other hand, would open the door for those who support the Church's teachings and have succeeded in living chastely. The key difference, of course, is that Benedict XVI will expect his guidelines to be followed.

Exactly!


* * *The next time you hear people say that the government of China is softening its stance on Catholicism, feel free to roll your eyes.

According to the Vatican, Chinese authorities arrested the Rev. Yang Jianwei and 10 seminarians last Saturday. The priest and four of the young men remain in custody.

This follows the arrest of 70-year old Bishop Jia Zhigou (his eighth arrest in the last year and a half) and Fathers Li Suchuan and Yang Ermeng.

The Chinese government, like so many others throughout history, has failed to learn that when you persecute the Catholic Church, it grows. In the second century, Tertullian noted that, "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.

"Let us pray for our brothers and sisters in China. They are bearing a terrible burden.

And be on the lookout for the December issue of Crisis. We have an inside look at the persecution of the Chinese Church through the eyes of one priest who experienced it.


* * *George Coyne, S.J., the director of the Vatican Observatory, has lobbed another cannonball in the direction of the Intelligent Design movement. For my part, I've stayed out of this debate, since I don't frankly know enough about the specific issues to comment comfortably. However, it appears that Rev. Coyne has veered away from the historic Catholic understanding of God.

Take a look at this, from his June article in The Tablet, entitled, "God's Chance Creation":

"The universe is not God and it cannot exist independently of God. Neither pantheism nor naturalism is true. But, if we confront what we know of our origins scientifically with religious faith in God the Creator - if, that is, we take the results of modern science seriously - it is difficult to believe that God is omnipotent and omniscient in the sense of many of the scholastic philosophers." (Emphasis mine. - F.G.)

See how the neo-darwinist theology has infiltrated The Church. This pathetic pinhead of a priest dares to insult the Scholastics? Shame on you, Father.

You can find the entire piece here:
http://www.thetablet.co.uk/cgi-bin/register.cgi/tablet-01063

After reading through it, I can't help but be reminded of Open Theism. I wrote about that (and predicted its eventual entry into the Church) in my July Crisis column:
http://www.crisismagazine.com/julaug2005/editorsview.htm

It looks like this devastating error has come even sooner than I expected.


* * *Maureen Dowd, the New York Times columnist, has released another book, "Are Men Necessary? When Sexes Collide." In it, she covers several vital issues, like the fact that she can't find a man willing to date her. (Seriously.)

Heehee. See my take here.

Chances are, you've been successfully ignoring Miss Dowd for some years now.

Carry on.


* * *A final note...

The Apostolic Visitation of the Seminaries is continuing, and I've had the opportunity to speak to a few people involved. Their impression is that this is the real thing. No song and dance this time around.

Amen to that, Brother.

Consider last Friday's sudden resignation of Monsignor Francis Schneider, the rector of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York. Interestingly enough, the Apostolic Visitation conducted their inspection just a few weeks before his unexpected departure. A spokesman for the bishop told Newsday that, "The inspection did occur a few weeks ago. But Msgr. Schneider's resignation has nothing to do with that."

Right.

From what I've been told, the inspectors seem to have a pretty good idea of which seminaries are in need of closer scrutiny. One seminary with a strong reputation was visited recently, and things went quite smoothly. But another less impressive institution was subjected to a much more rigorous examination.

Very good news, if you ask me.

Amen to all that, Brother.

On that note, have a great weekend,

Brian



**** WHY WON'T THE SELF-HELP GURUS TELL YOU THE TRUTH? ****

What if everything you've been told about happiness is wrong? The self-help movement has turned the subject into a billion-dollar industry.

And yet, those who follow the advice of the feel-good gurus will actually be farther from real happiness than they were before.

Get the facts here:http://www.crisismagazine.com/truth.htm