20 April 05
God’s Rottweiler
“Insofar as Vorbis got any pleasure in life, at least in any way that could be recognized by a normal human being, it was in seeing the faces of humble members of the clergy as they rounded a corner and found themselves face-to-chin with Deacon Vorbis of the Quisition. There was always that little intake of breath that indicated a guilty conscience. Vorbis liked to see properly guilty consciences. That was what consciences were for. Guilt was the grease in which the wheels of authority turned.”—Terry Pratchett, Small Gods“It’s Ratzinger. Be Jewish.”—My Friend Barbara, minutes after the Habemus Papam announcement
Here we go. Why do I feel like I’m back in the sixteenth century?
Here comes a guy who declares relativism the greatest threat to the Catholic Church (and, by extension, to the World As We Know It). No compromises, everyone. No compromises on the role of women in the church, no compromises on married priests, no compromises of course on homosexuality or abortion or contraception (including condoms, in an age when AIDS is pandemic), no compromises on anything, especially not on any kind of silly Marxist preoccupation with poverty. Vatican II was an embarrassing aberration, a blip, an Error. We are in the land of No Compromise. This sounds awfully like last November. When people are so certain they’re right, compromise is unnecessary. (They don’t care that history has shown these people to be tyrants.)
John Paul II was a skilled communicator, a politically savvy actor (and, I believe, a profoundly devout man) who was able to navigate turbulent waters with finesse and diplomacy.
He left the details of dogma to his buddy Ratzinger, is why.
This is why I’m especially grateful for a welcome to a friend’s Seder this Saturday. We are all invited to bring a visual representation of freedom from something that enslaves us. Since I seem to be unable to wrench myself entirely from the clutches of the Catholic Church, I might ponder something along those lines.
Does God really need a rottweiler?
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Lovely to hear from you. Yes, he’s old. Yes, it won’t last long.
I’ve wondered about the Episcopalians here. It just feels so white, so elite, so much of an upper-class, traditional version of unitarianism (with, however, better music!). But I can’t have my cake and eat it too. I know this.
Most of me wonders why I still care at all…
The injustices and criminal acts that have been perpetrated in the name of this institution have been condemned, and changed, by the people of this community. We have to follow the example of Jesus over the teachings of a pope. Education and health care are two of the legacies of Catholicism – not the hierarchy. Condoms are being distributed for HIV protection. The pope can’t stop that. So do we give up the good because of the bad, or do we continue to work to change things, and keep going with what is good? Don’t count on an early death. I might have to stay because nothing else works as well for me. But it won’t be easy. Our local Franciscan community is a haven and hope for many. Maybe our survival is our best answer to the cardinals.
Sorry, I’m ranting. But it’s to myself. Really.