The Virginian-Pilot
©
God save us from parlor popes, kitchen-table cardinals and backyard bishops.
Every time a few of these pious finger-pointers appear in public, I'm reminded of the loudmouthed hypocrites that Jesus encountered regularly in Bible stories. You know, the sticklers for the rules who yapped when he healed the sick on the Sabbath and the cranks who sneered when he dined with sinners.
These sanctimonious types seem to love this time of year: election season.
Although it makes no sense in a country that has enshrined religious liberty in its Constitution, these 21st-century stone-throwers are often eager to jump into the political arena right before Election Day to accuse fellow Catholics of not being Catholic enough.
Take the tone-deaf crowd that decided it would be a great idea to wave dead-fetus posters outside St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Newport News on Sunday morning.
Please.
They were there for one reason: to blindside and embarrass a parishioner, state Sen. Mamie Locke, because of her stand on abortion.
Locke supports abortion rights. They don't.
This holier-than-thou crowd decided that Locke's position justified a tasteless attempt to score political points outside a place of worship. Even more outrageous, they dared question whether she is fit to receive communion.
As a Catholic, I find this unspeakably repugnant. The decision to receive communion is a highly personal one. It's not the business of nosy zealots to decide who's worthy and who isn't.
I hesitate to point this out, but last time I checked, the Catholic church was pretty clear on the sanctity of life. The Vatican says all life is sacred. From the womb to the tomb, which means from conception to natural death.
Fact is, I support the death penalty. So do lots of Catholics. Does that mean these fanatics are going to be waving pictures of Old Sparky when we exit our churches next Sunday?
Not a chance. The only liturgical litmus test they administer concerns abortion.
According to Locke, there was no politicking going on inside St. Vincent's last weekend. This historic church, which has only one service on Sunday mornings, was just another Catholic congregation celebrating the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time. Until the extremists showed up, that is.
Locke, who's been active in her parish for more than 20 years, emerged from the building around 11 and came face-to-face with demonstrators holding signs and passing out literature. Locke said she didn't touch the handouts and she didn't see anyone else take one, either.
"I was horrified," she told me Tuesday. "It's just so inappropriate. At our church we don't mix politics and religion."
Her opponent, ThomasHarmon of Hampton, told The Pilot that he had no connection to the demonstration, adding that he doesn't "do politics on Sunday."
That may be, but these over-the-top shenanigans have a way of backfiring. He ought to roundly condemn such behavior.
Look, if you feel strongly that abortion should be outlawed, work to elect like-minded candidates. Donate money, volunteer your time.
But for the sake of common decency, would you please stay away from candidates' homes and churches and refrain from commenting on their state of grace?
Unless, of course, you real-ly like being compared to the obnoxious know-it-alls who harassed Jesus and his followers in biblical times.
Kerry Dougherty, (757) 446-2306, kerry.dougherty@cox.net
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Meh
"At our church we don't mix politics and religion."
Really?If politics and religion did not mix, politicians would keep their religious preferences to themselves. Prayers would be absent from speeches and thousands of Americans would be forced to vote for candidates based on the substance of their rhetoric, not religious affiliation (or lack thereof).
Freedom of speech means the KKK can protest on the steps of the Lyceum. It also means that religious nuts can protest outside churches. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Censor religious nuts and you open yourself to censorship.
That being said, THIS IS THE BEST COLUMN EVER!!!11! I read every one. I also hear you are a very cool person whose small dogs are not annoying at all!
what church do the protesters attend?
Would they appreciate the same dead fetus posters outside their church to show support??
Time and Place for killing???
It is clear by your comments you understand neither your Catholic religion nor your Christian faith. You pontificate about ideas of when and where to challenge evil but clearly have not thought through the logic of your argument.
Do you today find it acceptable that Catholics, i.e. churches and individuals, in Nazi Germany were shamefully silent while their government hauled away their neighbors to the “death camps”? Would you now find it laudable if Catholics had shown up at the steps of the churches where these Nazi murderers of the innocents worshipped on Sunday and risked their livelihoods to speak up for all the humanity that was being obliterated by “Christians” who ignored the obvious because to do otherwise would make people uncom
Next-the Ballots
BTW: Why do (mostly) black churches have ballots inside the church, showing party affiliation, even during nonpartisan races?
Least us remember
Although the behavior and choices that some make may be offensive and seem down-right ridiculous, it doesn't negate the fact that WE all have been giving "free will." But when confronted with bad behaviors by others, I just remember the passage "forgive them father, for they know not what they do." After which, I turn it over to my higher power!
Stay classy
I find it very disturbing that there are people out there who do not realize that it is wrong to protest outside a church. I hope they realize how much they help the pro-choice argument. People look at these obnoxious protesters and lose a bit of respect for their movement.
Similar protests occurred at George Mason University while I was attending (no students where involved in these protests). These groups displayed posters of dead fetuses in the center of campus. They did not help their cause at all. They only made pro-lifers look bad as group (even though most pro-lifers would never be so obnoxious). Fair or not, they associated the entire anti-choice movement with this type of lunacy.
Sen Locke
I agree with your statement, "Look, if you feel strongly that abortion should be outlawed, work to elect like-minded candidates. Donate money, volunteer your time." By spreading Sen.Locke's voting record we hope to get her out of office. Abortion is the procedure but a dead baby is the outcome. How can anyone defend that position?
abortion isn't the only issue
We are in two un-winnable wars, the economy is in the shambles, unemployment rate is hovering around 9%, and the middle class is disappearing.
Don't you think there are more important issues than abortion?
This begs the question: how can you put so much weight on something that doesn't actually effect you? How about voting for your own self interest instead of micromanaging the lives of complete strangers?
Just a thought.
"but a dead baby is the outcome"
Tell us how much effort the supposed pro-lifers put forth to protect the life of living baby Sun Hudson who was deliberately killed against his mother's wishes because he was an inconvenience to the state.
Comparing The Cross to a Protest Sign?
You are a wonderful writer but comparing the pressures of elected office to the life of Christ is way out of bounds. Jesus took up the Cross and suffered greatly for the benefit of those with no hope. Senator Locke’s “uncomfortable moments” due to her views of those who have no voice hardly compares.