On the Contrary

Submitted by LDC (United States), Jul 12, 2006 at 19:35

"It is a mystery to me that such non-Catholics expect the representatives of a belief to which they do not subscribe to follow a higher moral code that that of themselves or their own leaders! " Ah, but I don't ,sir. I find no victors in the moral code contest.

"God forbid that other amateur historians should retrospectively place the bulk of their emphasis on Abu Graib and Guantanamo Bay at the expense of the brave US & British Forces fighting on all our behalfs." Yes, I agree, God forbid. (I am no fan of the NYT.)

"If only the Episcopalian President had exercised some influence but then he was probably waiting for an example to be set by the Vatican that he could follow; if LDC's logic is anything to go by." I naively expect more from the leader of Roman Catholics (the elephant), than from one of the more prominent church mice.

"By definition, it implies an inferiority complex which perhaps goes some way towards explaining this paradox." Alas, you default to an ad hominem argument.

"Presumably, this indignation can only stem from the fact that the leaders of his own denomination DID make such an act of substitution!" Wrong again. You beat a straw man, sir. Even had they been available to commit such an act, and they were not, I doubt they would have behaved any differently. My point , sir, was made by Keneth Latourette, in his widely read book, A History of Christianity, wher e he writes that "...it is a question whether any viable institution, especially if it becomes large, can avoid falling victim in part to trends in the direction of the power which cricified Jesus." (p.262). Once upon a time I was somewhat more than an "amateur historian." sir.

"However, my hackles rise as soon as I see the same propaganda that adorns the websites of neo-Nazi groups regurgitated by those who ought to know better." Clearly your "hackles" have risen if you now equate me with "neo-Nazis" -- the ultimate ad hominem argument.

So let me close with this summary. Here's what I think I know Sword of Islam & The Babes of Beslan:

We are at another globally seminal moment in the interaction between world religions. I don't pretend to understand Islam. I consult Dr. Pipes' writing for help. I do think that a small precentage of Muslims are, for many of us in the West, defining the contemporary image of Muslims. And, that that is not good for anyone.

I also believe that ,at this moment in Christian history, we needed a Roman Catholic Church that could speak with full and complete moral authoity, and with its undevided attention, preferably with a Papal voice from S. America or Africa. It sadden me that it cannot. Too many old, white European Popes, sir.

Unfortunately, most of the news about the RCC over the last few years in the US has profiled it as a haven for ordained child molesters. And ,it has not been the Western media (for whom my respect declines daily) that has paid, the last time I heard a number a couple of years ago, over one half billion dollars in out-of-court settlements to the victims.

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