Wednesday, June 18, 2003

 
FISKING THE STAR TRIBUNE
Mark Shea links to this article in the Minnesota Star Tribune about St. Joan's Catholic Church, which in a nutshell is the poster child of liberal Christian heterodoxy. The Archbishop has been slowly trying to reign in the ultra-leftist parish lately, though the Star Tribune doesn't seem to think that would be a good thing (what liberal media bias?). Quotes from the article are in italics; my comments follow.

Both sides -- the relatively free-wheeling parish and the CEO in a Roman collar.... Second paragraph in, the article is already picking "sides." The heterodox, grossly un-Catholic parish is "free-wheeling," a fun, open place to be. The archbishop insisting that a Catholic parish act, well, Catholic is the old, stodgy, controlling CEO.

differences between the archdiocese and the reform-minded parish in south Minneapolis have surfaced publicly. There we go again. Nothing wrong with the parish teaching contrary to the Catholic Church. They're not heterodox, they're "reform-minded." So far there is no indication of WHY the archdiocese might have a problem with the parish; all we know from the article is that St. Joan's is "free-wheeling" and "reform-minded," and apparently the archdiocese thinks this is a bad thing....

Addressing them has become a priority for Flynn as rumors persist that he could replace Cardinal Bernard Law in Boston. ... and the only reason that Abp. Flynn is picking on poor St. Joan's is so that he can score some points with the Vatican in the hopes of landing a cushy job in Boston.

Raymond Spack, said, "He [Flynn] listened. The archdiocese has set the process in motion of listening and dialoguing and clarifying." As one of Mark's commenters said, it should have been the parish that did the listening, not the Abp. Of course in St. Joan's eyes (and the eyes of the Star Tribune), it's the archdiocese that's in the wrong. They want to think that they will learn from their more enlightened brethren at St. Joan's. They seem to honestly think that the backward archdiocese has nothing to teach them.

The Rev. Harvey Egan, a retired priest who in 18 years put St. Joan's in the forefront of peace and justice movements, called the meeting itself "extraordinary." Of course, peace and justice. And jobs and mamma and apple pie. Who could possibly be against these? The article mentions that the parish supports homosexuality as a lifestyle, but tries to downplay that aspect. Rev. Egan is for peace and justice (which the Church is also for), and the archbishop is against Rev. Egan. It's clear who the bad guy is in this report.

In March, Flynn demanded that St. Joan's retract its invitation to Mel White -- a national figure in urging Christian churches to be hospitable toward gays -- to deliver the Sunday homily. So not only is Abp. Flynn against peace and justice, but he's also against being hospitable to gays! But White's stances go way beyond mere "hospitality," advocating homosexuality as normal, healthy, and a perfectly moral act and lifestyle. All of these are against Church teachings, and have been since its inception. But no mention of that. After all, it's harder to get angry about a Catholic diocese insisting that Catholic teachings be taught. But to make it sound like the Abp. opposes even hospitable treatment to gays, on the other hand, is perfectly in keeping with the perception that anyone who thinks homosexual acts to be sinful must be a vengeful bigot. I should also point out that NO lay person is allowed to give a homily regardless of their message, though I don't expect the Star Tribune to dig too deeply for facts that might contradict their message.

Last month, the archdiocese withdrew an award for Kathy Itzin, St. Joan's religious education coordinator, after an organization called Catholic Parents Online pointed out that she is lesbian. Again, no mention of the fact that not only is she a lesbian, but she's an open advocate for acceptance of homosexuality in her teachings to children. No, the author goes out of his way to again paint the archdiocese as bigoted. Would anybody really have a problem with a Catholic archdiocese withdrawing a Catholic education award from somebody who educates contrary to Catholicism? Anybody other than the Star Tribune, that is.

It was a low-key event, with peaceful dialogue and listening stressed -- and no biting criticism leveled at the archdiocese. See how much more civilized the good guys are? They managed not to lash out at the neanderthal archbishop, even though they clearly have a legitimate complaint.

"George has taken St. Joan's another mile, or two, or three,"... away from Catholicism.

"No way will there be any squashing of the peace and love and service [aspects] of the church. Yeah, the bad guys are against peace and love and service. Jerks!

St. Joan's is unique Thank God!
posted by Stephen. 11:43 AM