John Boehner, Speaker of the House, sheds tears for the poor for whom his party intends to shower with more 'blessings'. |
I'm going to give a 'shout out' to a new blog that I find hysterical. It's name is OMNIBUS CRAZYBUS. The following post--- posted in it's entirety--- deals with the John Boehner graduation speaking engagement at Catholic University of America. I haven't had the energy to deal with the Boehner issue because my snide cynical self says CUA was paid to bring in Boehner by a certain type of American Catholic overly fond of Dick Cheney. In any event here's another take on the whole issue of Speaker Boehner and his problems with Catholic social justice types who might be overly fond of NY's Congressman Anthony Weiner.
Boehner, Champion of Social Justice Teaching
Posted at OMNIBUS CRAZYBUS 5-12-2011
It is such a relief to have a true Catholic Speaker of the House now serving our country and in the spotlight. But that does not mean that controversy has been completely quelled. As Mr. Boehner prepares for his commencement address and reception of the honorary doctorate from the Catholic University of America some Catholics are not as chipper as you would expect them to be. This is due to the simple fact that they do not truly understand the hierarchy in Catholic social teaching. Lemme explain.
Abortion is at the top of the list. In fact it is at the top, separated from the list completely in an all important list of one. It is the issue that trumps all other issues. It is like a giant tintinnabulum that overshadows all other teachings rendering them obsolete. All ordinances, encyclicals, bulls, catechisms, promulgations and Gospel exhortations bow down before the might of the issue of abortion. Pope Benedict himself said something similar to this before he was pope, though I do not have the exact quote at hand.
The Church, you see, is hierarchical. The Pope is head of the Church, Latin is the head of all languages, the man is the head of the woman and abortion is the head of morality. The body of Catholic moral teaching is a conglomerate of minor issues that are not essential to the true Catholic identity. A Catholic can, in good conscience, pry an illegal Mexican immigrant from his family and waterboard him in order to gather reconnaissance to bring down unions and end health care for the poor as long as he does not support abortion. Boehner understands this and implements it into his political life. He knows that Christ’s desire was for the poor to always be with us and that they are blessed who do not have access to health care. He realizes that taxes are stealing. He realizes that it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven and that they need all of the help that they can get.
Some say that this is “cafeteria Catholicism”… well, maybe it is. But who can possibly choose everything the cafeteria has to offer anyways? If Catholicism is a cafeteria I prefer to chow down on the steak and potatoes of abortion rather than piddle around with the ketchup packets of social justice any day of the week, except Fridays of course.
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I'm not sure there's much I can add to the above, so I'm off to the cafeteria to steal some ketchup packets.
Well done, as usual, Colleen. Thanks for bringing us this other column. I loved it.
ReplyDeletegraphoOh my gosh, if only I had know that I just had to be anti-abortion to get to heaven. I would not have gone through years and years of prayer and soul searching. I would have just gone and picketed an abortion clinic (which I did by the way many, many, years ago)
ReplyDeleteI concur with the shout out to Rep. Weiner, every time I've seen him in something I've found something else to love about the guy.
ReplyDeleteKallisti
Jo, you're saved. I think if you picket an abortion clinic once you get the platinum get of hell free card.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great column.
ReplyDeleteOn a serious note, I have noticed that as IVF becomes more popular and as the Church leaders continue to call it abortion and murder, fewer and fewer Catholics are agreeing with them. This is especially true in the case of those who have inherited a serious genetic condition. In that case, implantation of an embryo that does not carry the condition becomes possible and gives hope for a healthy child.
Great piece, Colleen. Whoever's writing that blog is wonderfully clever. Thanks for introducing folks to it. And it's wonderful to learn I'm blessed because I don't have health care coverage! :-)
ReplyDeleteBill, I feel so blessed I might just run out and heal somebody. Maybe Michelle Bachman.
ReplyDeleteMary H I think it's so much easier to just say no than to actually think through the implications of what you're saying no about.
I'm doing some research on the historical theology of the soul, and even up to the 1700's the official teaching was ensoulment occured at quickening and before this time no full human person was possible. Sure puts a different light on the 'head moral issue'.
Hey!
ReplyDeleteIm stoked that you like my musings! Check out the latest:
Young, Black, Catholic Women with PhDs equals Abortion
http://omnibuscrazybus.blogspot.com/2011/05/young-black-catholic-women-with-phds.html
I like your musings enough to link to my side bar. They are truly hysterical....and unfortunately sometime too true.
ReplyDelete