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Dr Strangelove
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quote:
Originally posted by MrFun
Um, Catholicism is one of the more conservative Christian religions, yeah, there are definitely Catholic fundies out there.
Not all Catholics are fundies, of course. |
Yuh, but on this forum you won't find any recognition of that fact.
Sorry, I still remember back a few years ago when a large portion of this forum community had the knee jerk beliefs: Protestant=Fundamentalist, Catholic=Liberal. Of course that was when CivNation still roamed the boards.
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Jon Miller
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ah
was CivNation great
I wonder what he is doing now
Jon Miller
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Ben Kenobi
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McGregornobi!
Oct 2002
time: 21:31
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Update.
The controversy continues.
Apparently blacks can boycott organisations that oppress blacks, but Catholics cannot do the same.
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/van...0A-2CCFD8773322
Intolerance marks furore over church, credit union
It's time to chill the passion sparked by same-sex debate
Vancouver Sun
Thursday, October 02, 2003
If there were ever a time for cooler heads, this is it. The Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver's decision to sever its partnership with the VanCity credit union has produced an almost unbelievable amount of controversy and, from a few hotheads, an appalling threat of violence.
The Sun has received hundreds of letters on the subject, and the archdiocese reports receiving an equal number of telephone calls and e-mails, including ones linking Archbishop Adam Exner with fascism and Nazism.
That's bad enough, but Vancouver police are now investigating complaints that the archbishop was threatened by an angry crowd of protesters outside his window late at night. Police are also investigating eight bomb threats made last week against VanCity. Although it's not clear the bomb threats were made as a result of the controversy, police are suspicious because they occurred just after The Sun reported the church's decision.
The threats against the archbishop and VanCity are appalling, though it's likely they were made by the lunatic fringe who just can't accept anyone who disputes their views.
We encourage the police to rigorously pursue the culprits and hold them to account for their attempts to silence by force those with whom they disagree.
Aside from the actions of the lunatic fringe, the vitriol expressed by many more reasonable people is also troubling. Certainly, people have the right to express their dissatisfaction -- though not to make threats -- with the church or with VanCity. But both the church and VanCity also have the right to decide with whom they want to deal.
In a four-page letter published by The Sun, the archbishop explained that the archdiocese severed ties with VanCity because the credit union's support of gay causes conflicted with the church's mission.
In so doing, the church was fully within its rights. In a democracy, the right to boycott companies you object to is as fundamental as the right to free expression. In fact, boycotting is an element of free expression.
And boycotting is a two-way street: The Catholic church is a voluntary organization, and people who object to the church's teachings can choose to leave it or refuse to patronize it in any way.
So VanCity has every right to support gay causes or to market to any group it wishes. Groups that, like the church, object to VanCity's politics have the right to boycott the credit union; those who agree with VanCity may make an extra effort to offer their support or open an account there.
That should, and in most cases would, be the end of it. But the overly emotional response to the church's decision suggests that it isn't really about that decision at all.
Rather, the passions of people have been inflamed by the acrimonious debate about same-sex marriage.
Since marriage is an ancient legal and religious institution, any discussion about same-sex marriage is met with heated, passionate debate. One side believes a group of people is being denied a fundamental human right, while the other believes precious institutions are being systematically dismantled.
The church waded into the debate when a Calgary bishop suggested that Prime Minister Jean Chretien was at risk of imperilling his immortal soul if he supports same-sex marriage. The bishop's words raised the ire of many, who argued he and the church should mind their own business.
But the Vancouver archdiocese's decision about who it will partner with is fundamentally different. It's the church's business. The archdiocese, and only the archdiocese, has the right to make that decision for itself.
People who support gay rights often characterize those on the other side as intolerant. But the response to the church's decision shows there's plenty of intolerance to go around.
It's time for both sides to show their opponents the tolerance and respect that everyone deserves in a democratic and civil society.
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Dr Strangelove
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quote:
Originally posted by Ben Kenobi
Update.
The controversy continues.
Apparently blacks can boycott organisations that oppress blacks, but Catholics cannot do the same.
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In what way is this bishop boycotting an organization that oppresses Catholics?
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25-09-2003 19:36
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