AmericanPapist Comments
This is all fine. But you reminded me of something: When is Rod Dreher going to get over his kniption fit about finding out there are sinners in the Church (ok, lots of sinners, grave sinners, it doesn't change my point), and come back home?
But let's not buy into their premise . . .
These Justices are following their understanding of the Constitution, they are not basing their votes on Catholic doctrine.
Is there some relationship between their training in the Catholic faith and the way that they reason to conclusions in the area of Constitutional law? I don't know, but I doubt it.
I doubt it, as well, Tom D. Scalia and Thomas are strict constructionists, and Roberts and Alito are emerging to be that way as well. If these four justices were stooges of the Church, then they wouldn't consistently vote for the death penalty. Scalia and Thomas are also reluctant to back social justice issues the Church promotes. No outside commentators want to consider that kind of stuff when they attack Catholics in power. I've always been curious as to how Scalia and his son the priest interact when he doesn't follow Church doctrine in his rulings.
I agree with your post, especially how liberals are very selective when they criticize Catholics. As soon as the Vatican says anything about the Iraq War or Global Warming, then liberals are suddenly gungho advocates of papal infallibility and dogma.
Father Paul Scalia is a great priest, and almost every young priest here in the Diocese of Arlington is rock solid orthodox. However, I don't think opposition to the death penalty is Church doctrine and this opposition to free market capitalism that we hear from the Vatican seems more European cultural opinions than Church doctrine. So I doubt that Father Scalia would differ much from his father on opinions.
By the way, here is a terrific article by Father Scalia. How right he is!
http://www.adoremus.org/399Scalia.html
This is all fine. But you reminded me of something: When is Rod Dreher going to get over his kniption fit about finding out there are sinners in the Church (ok, lots of sinners, grave sinners, it doesn't change my point), and come back home?
When Hell freezes over, Ed! If their is one thing I know about Journalists like Mr. Dreher is that they view themselves as being as infalliable as any Pope. Anyone who criticizes him or does not belong to his clique is ostracized and treated like the kids he beat up in school.
Neat article, Gabe. Thanks for that.
JC: I hope you're wrong. But.
Say, your post reminded me of the old Hans Kung joke: During a papal conclave, the cardinals sent secret word to Fr. Kung telling him he had been elected pope, and asking did he accept. He thought for a while, then declined. Apparently, he did want to give up being infallible.
No, I don't think that Rod will ever return to the Catholic church. He yearns for that which is impeccable. He will never find a church of human beings that can be that on this earth, but I hope that he finds some peace within the Orthodox. Of course, I'm still praying for complete communion with the Orthodox--don't know what he would do it his small Orthodox group came into full communion with the Catholic church? Not that that is likely in my lifetime; but it doesn't hurt to pray that we can truly find common ground with our Eastern Orthodox brethren.
Well. Maybe. But people have strayed further than Rod, and come back. We'll see.
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