This is good. Chrisopher Patrick, in a comment here, says to me …
” … so much of your career is dependent upon Church sponsorship (do you think you’d have a gig on EWTN if you engaged in regular criticism of bishops who deserve to be criticized?) No one appears on EWTN TV or radio who is critical of bishops who fail to defend or teach the Faith. … Try removing your USCCB-issue rose colored glasses and see if the condition of the Church isn’t a good bit more dire than you are allowed to say (and keep your job).”
So now I understand a bit why people like Michael Voris’ video that I parodied here. They actually believe what he says, and they think that people like Mark Shea and I really somehow are “professional Catholics” on Church payrolls who are afraid to criticize bishops.
Well, I can’t convince people like Christopher Patrick that I’m not on some Church payroll somewhere, but I can do this:
Christopher, listen up!
MOST BISHOPS ARE FAILURES. Most bishops have abrogated their teaching authority and have allowed apostacy to run rampant in their dioceses. With few exceptions, Cardinal Burke being foremost among them, the bishops are more like lame administrators than they are heirs to the apostles.
THE CHURCH IN AMERICA IS A REAL MESS. I agree with Michael Voris’ general take on things – the liberals in particular have really messed things up. It is indeed “dire”, as you phrase it.
“THE USCCB IS AS USEFUL AS TEATS ON A BULL.” I’m quoting something a priest friend of mine once told me, and I agree completely.
THE PREACHING OF FR. CORAPI AND MUCH OF THE TEACHING OF MICHAEL VORIS IS SPOT ON, BOLD, FEARLESS, AND VERY MUCH NEEDED. This is why I am criticizing them both. They are too important to let them slip into the error of factionalism and disobedience without being called out for it.
Hope that helps.
We’re on the same team. Let us pray for one another.
Kevin, I like your post here, though I didn’t care much for the video. (I like dogs.)
I have a friend who’s a good man. He lives up to his own ideals–which are very high and to which he holds everyone accountable, not just himself. He never takes off his shining armor, never lays down his sword and shield–and he never ceases judging.
If you don’t like this man, you’d say he’s self-centered, but you’d be wrong: He’s not the center of his own attention just because he’s the center of yours. He doesn’t care about himself; he cares only for what he believes in. It’s all he lives for, and what he’d die for in a New York minute.
He’s a hero. Born that way, I think, and truly oblivious toward his own safety, his own suffering–toward himself. As a hero, unconscious of himself, he’s unconscious of his perpetual judgment of others, so if that’s a sin (it is), it’s committed without his knowledge or even his awareness. There are times I almost point it out to him, but he’d take it straight to his heroic heart and it would crush him. Unlike non-heroic folks, he trusts.
He willingly endures the ridicule, contempt, ostracism and mockery of others without complaint. Nor does he complain about the suffocating loneliness he endures–ideals are notoriously poor bedfellows. I will not add to the slings and arrows directed against him by telling him he’s judgmental, becoming judgmental myself–and against one whom I love.
In fact, there’s nothing to do with him except to love him. Somebody has to. Besides, unlike him, I am self-protective. And I suspect heaven has a special wrath reserved for those who, in their own false righteousness, despise and hurt him.
I tread cautiously among heroes. Sometimes they’re real.
p.s. I understand you’re providing the entertainment at HAWC later this month. That’s one of the reasons I’m going!
Dena … you’re talking about me, right? Judgmental, idealist, lonely, no friends. You can be honest! You’re talking about me!!!
I’m not sure how your story applies to this post. I’ve been knocking heroes-behaving-badly while at the same time admitting that they’re fellow Catholics nonetheless and that I am certainly no better than they are. As a commenter on the End of the Modern World blog said about me today, “You are an embarrassment to Catholics everywhere,” and he’s actually right – but most of us are exactly that.
Christopher Patrick, here, apparently expects me to “judge not” when it comes to Fr. Corapi and Michael Voris but to “judge like hell” when it comes to the bishops. News flash: the bishops are sinners, Fr. Corapi is a sinner, Michael Voris is a sinner, Christopher Patrick and Kevin O’Brien are sinners – and at least one of us is “an embarrassment to Catholics everywhere”.
So then what are we to do? Sit quietly while bishops, priests and internet TV hosts create scandal and mislead their followers? Or speak up, not against them personally, but against their mistakes.
Now, then, what is HAWC? I’d better know if I’m performing there.
Egad, Kevin–sorry for the confusion. I would explain how the connections were made if I knew. But I read your post, followed your links to your accuser and the responses, and watched your video, and somehow connections were made.
No, the man I talked about is a real person, but not you. I mean–you’re a real person but not the man I was talking about. (At least, not as far as I know. Are you a hero?)
Harriet Austin Writers Conference. You didn’t know you’re giving a talk there? And performing at a dinner theater? Wow. I hope I’m not confused about that too.
Oh, yeah, that! I didn’t know it was called HAWC. I’m looking forward to it.