AmericanPapist Comments
FYI Since it matters one way or another to a lot of people, you should know that the CFD in Bethesda is Regnum Christi/Legion of Christ affiliated. (Unfortunately, there's often a problem with forthrightness in advertising in the LC/RC.)
Cool!
For clarification, the campaign is being organized by JoEllen Murphy, a stay-at-home mom from Falls Church who got fed up and decided not to idle around. She enlisted the support of the CFD in order to ensure that the donations were tax-deductible. But, bottom-line is that this is her puppy. And, we are so grateful that she took the stand that she did!
This must have been what it was like during the early years of our Church, when dock workers would sing Arian hymns while unloading ships, and others would sing orthodoc chants louder to drone them out.
Sorry, I think this is stupid. Take the money for the ads and spend it on the ill, homeless, and those in prison.
So far $4700 has been raised to write ads saying basically "God loves you." I'm sure the many tired and financially strapped people who see the ads while riding the bus will appreciate the sentiment. I'm equally sure that they would rather be shown the sentiment.
Or spend the money on some beautiful, permanent art that will uplift the spirits of those who see it far longer than the month or whatever of an ad campaign.
I have to disagree with you, joye. We have to stand up to the atheists in this venue.
Yes, stand up to atheists, I agree. But a sign that attempts to impersonate God speaking to the reader? Weak. See-through. Unconvincing. The problem with the atheists' advert is that it thinks you can have goodness without a non-relativist reason. I advocate the "atheist-humanists are, by definition, selfish. So how's that being good for goodness' sake?" campaign. I dunno, maybe too much name calling and lack of charity there? Probably. Doesn't mean it's not true.
I think it might very well backfire, if the Christians are seen to be protesting an ad that encourages people to do good. "No! Don't do good because atheists suggest it; you need to do good because God says so!" or it might be suggested that the Christians don't want the atheists to do good because we're supposed to be the only good ones? You get the picture. I think it will be very difficult to come up with a good way to protest this.
BTW, yesterday's DC Examiner reported that of the few complaints they received, all were email, and several admitted that they don't even live close enough to be a rider.
I gently suggest that your money might be better spent feeding the hungry this season.
The comment I've heard most often is "why not spend the money [fill in the cause]". I think it's fair to say that those contributing to the campaigns (on both sides) continue to be charitable in many other ways.
I also don't see this as a protest (at least from the I Believe Too side, speaking for myself). It is dialogue. It is testimony. For those of us who are who have received the sacrament of Confirmation, are we not "as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed"?
I don't think the sign attempts to impersonate God. It repeats what God has already revealed to us.
Jeannette, I will make sure that my family does not skip out on additional acts of charity or penance this Advent.
Thanks, Juan. Again, I'm only pointing out how I think it will be interpreted by a hostile media.
And your Advent penances are best kept private; they're not any of my business, thanks.
Juan,
"The comment I've heard most often is "why not spend the money [fill in the cause]". I think it's fair to say that those contributing to the campaigns (on both sides) continue to be charitable in many other ways."
The Gospel passages I use to decide where to donate are: Matthew 25:31-40 and 26:6-13 (although John 12:1-8 gives more detail on the latter, and I think Mt 25 is more applicable here anyway). God bless.
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