Although we’re not Catholic, we’ve attended many a mass over the years, with friends and our better half, who is Catholic. We’ve also attended a number of events where Catholic clerics spoke.
A few priests were boring speakers, frankly, while others were lively, engaging, thought provoking and even inspiring. A few others were hard to follow because of a thick foreign accent.
But absolutely all of them were dignified and modeled propriety in every way — in sharp contrast to Rev. Michael Pfleger, whose sarcastic vaudeville routine bashing Sen. Hillary Clinton landed him in trouble with his bishop. Pfleger subsequently apologized, for whatever that’s worth.
Around this time, Pfleger’s bishop issued a statement asserting that Catholic clerics are not to become involved in political campaigns, including praising or bashing candidates.
Pfleger’s unseemly bloviating as a guest speaker at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago was the final straw for Sen. Barack Obama. He wisely ended his membership.
Pfleger apologized last Thursday. That same evening, at a New York State Republican Party dinner, Monsignor Jim Lisante said this:
“One more thing, Lord. Please tell Senator Obama that maybe change is a good thing and maybe he should think about changing his favorite preacher,” he said, to applause.“I know a lot more of us would be comfortable with his judgment skills if he hadn’t sat for 20 years through those words offered by his preacher of division, bigotry, and – honestly – half truths without a word of objection from senator until the media brought it up, and now he doesn’t want any part of the guy,” he said.
“I’m willing to be his new preacher.”
Gee, Lisante, that’s mighty white of you. But you’d do better to minister to those in need of spiritual guidance at the White House, where bearing false witness is standard operating procedure and anyone who speaks unwelcome truths can expect to be crucified.
We’ve opposed mixing politics and religion for as far back as we can remember. History shows many outcomes when the two become entangled, all of them bad.
What of any value to anyone have clerics John Hagee, Rod Parsley, Jeremiah Wright, Pfleger, Lisante and others like them contributed to our presidential election?
They’re egotistical loudmouths seeking 15 minutes of undeserved fame in ways and places where they have no legitimate business.
Better they should spend the rest of the year lying in green pastures, being comforted by the Lord’s rod and staff — and keeping their big, fat mouths shut.
A. Freakin’. Men.
Update: Pfleger reportedly did it again.
My new theory is that they, the wacko, loud-mouthed preachers, are all working overtime to train the American public to pay no attention whatsoever to them; overall, that sounds like a good thing to me. Over-the-top verbiage seems just the thing to wean pundits & some reporters from the all-too-easy guilt by barest association game. If the public stops paying attention, tactics will necessarily change. Unfortunately, they’ll probably be replaced by things equally silly.
Your theory has plausibility going for it, Jeff. The way things are going, primary season could turn into one long “American Idol” experience.
Was I writing aloud when I suggested that presidential elections be turned into a “reality TV” program? I might have just thought it. I had had another idea for a series of the same ilk to be called “American Idiot”–maybe the concepts could be combined.