ARE CATHOLIC APOLOGISTS FAIR GAME?
NOT GETTING FOOLED AGAIN
OPERATION ELEVATOR
Dear Friend of Catholic Answers:
Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, in terms of daylight. This has nothing to do with the length of the workday, unfortunately. For many of us it will be a longer-than-usual day at the office, as will be the remaining days of the month, as we try to wrap things up for year's end.
Today also is the Tuesday before December 25, so let me take this opportunity to wish you--not "happy holidays," since I don't celebrate ambiguous "holidays." No, I celebrate Christmas, which commemorates the birth of the Savior of all mankind, so, whether you are a Catholic, Protestant, Jew, Muslim, agnostic, or undecided, I wish you and yours a merry and blessed Christmas.
COMPLAINING ABOUT FRIENDS
Subscriber Chris Witham asks:
"How should faithful Catholics react when apologists who have been role models to them are taken to task by other faithful Catholics? Three recent examples:
"1. The situation with Deal Hudson regarding an extra-marital affair that led to his departure from 'Crisis' magazine and from his role as Catholic liaison to the Bush White House.
"2. Scott Hahn's writings about the Holy Spirit's 'feminine' and 'maternal' attributes. He has been charged with leading believers astray on the identity of the Holy Spirit and on other issues, such as what happened at the Fall.
"3. Mark Shea's famous (perhaps infamous?) blog, where he opens up 'friendly fire' on fellow apologists.
"Although public debate can be a healthy thing, these kinds of incidents and issues may cause some to lose their faith. How should they cope?"
I have not heard of anyone losing his faith over such things. If a third party's personal scandal or theological error or blunderbuss writing results in the loss of one's faith, there probably was not much faith to begin with--at least not much faith in the usual theological sense.
But the word "faith" has other connotations. I can understand how certain incidents might result in someone deciding to pare his list of heroes, his "faith" in them having been shattered or, at least, diminished. Just look at what makes the headlines regarding entertainers, sports figures, and politicians. People on a pedestal one day are in the gutter the next.
Is it "fair" to talk about or write about such people? I don't see why not. They are public figures, after all. If it is "fair" to discuss them, in non-gossipy ways, it is "fair" to discuss public figures in the relatively circumscribed Catholic world. The awkwardness comes from the way that some sensitive people may react to seeing criticism, however mild, of their religious heroes.
It would be wonderful if everyone engaging in Catholic apologetics were as self-controlled, rational, and judicious as St. Michael the Archangel, but he is otherwise occupied, and apologetics is left to creatures who operate under moral, logical, and temperamental limitations that archangels do not have to worry about.
Some people fear the dirty laundry syndrome: Better to keep certain things to ourselves and off web pages and out of opinion journals. I sympathize with the motive but shy away from the recommendation. I say this as someone who not infrequently is complained about in public.
Most public complaints about me come from people whose opposition I consider a badge of honor, but sometimes I am taken to task by respectable people. Usually I think they are wrong in their criticism, but sometimes they are right. I try to learn from what they have to say--even when I wish they had said it less sharply. I operate in public and so ought not to object to being criticized in public, especially when I deserve the criticism.
Like Chris Witham, I think "public debate can be a good thing." So long as the debate is gentlemanly, I do not worry about onlookers being put off. The few who might be should consider developing a thicker skin and a more arm's-length view of the human condition.
SPEAKING OF COMPLAINTS ...
A year or two ago I was interviewed, in writing, by a columnist for a Traditionalist newspaper. He repeatedly tried to put his own spin on my words, and I repeatedly had to tell him, "No, that is not what I mean--this is what I mean."
When his story appeared, it attributed to me opinions I did not hold and misconstrued what I had taken great pains to make clear to him. He had an agenda and would not let the actual interview trump the interview he wished I had given him.
Ever since then I have been wary of writers in his camp, which brings me to Michael Forrest.
A few days ago I received a voice mail and then an e-mail message from him. He works with Robert Sungenis at the latter's Catholic Apologetics International, which is a Traditionalist organization. He said he was giving me a heads up about an article that will appear on the group's web site. The article will complain about one of the answers in the Ask an Apologist section of Catholic Answers' discussion forums.
This was the first time I had heard from Forrest. In the past, articles critical of Catholic Answers were posted at the CAI web site without advance notice to us. Maybe this time he and Sungenis were hoping that by engaging in an exchange I would give them extra fodder. I sent Forrest a one-line reply and let it go at that.
As I said above, I have no problem with public figures being complained about publicly. But some people just like to provoke fights, whether in newspapers or on web sites. I have no interest in facilitating their hobby.
THANKS FROM CROATIA
A few issues ago I mentioned that St. Theresa's orphanage in Croatia was raising funds to purchase a much-needed elevator. Our subscribers came through, and the final portion of the $50,000 needed was raised. Don Wolf, the American go-between for the orphanage, conveys the sisters' thanks.
p.s., If you have a comment about anything appearing in this E-Letter, please do not hit your Reply button. Instead, go to Catholic Answers' new discussion forums at:
http://forums.catholic.com
where you may post your comment in the forum dedicated to the E-Letter. You will find a thread devoted to this issue of the E-Letter. Feel free to add your comment in the form of a reply to that thread.
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