Since you are neither hot nor cold, but only lukewarm, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
– Revelation 3:16
I. For the last four decades or so there has been a report floating around that, at Fatima, Portugal in 1917, Our Lady had voiced "poor Canada" to the three sheppard children – Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco [1]. Whether or not the Blessed Virgin made this statement has yet to be formally acknowledged by the Vatican. It is a well–guarded secret of the Holy See. However, after reading a recent article by the Canadian priest Fr. Thomas Rosica, the phrase "poor Canada" is nevertheless an appropriate characterization of the state of Catholicism in my beloved country.
II. This is what Fr. Rosica said with respect to Catholics who were appalled by the Kennedy funeral fiasco:
Leading up to the Kennedy funeral last weekend, and in its aftermath, many so–called lovers of life and activists in the pro–life movement, as well as well–known colleagues in Catholic television broadcasting and media in North America, have revealed themselves to be not agents of life, but of division, destruction, hatred, vitriol, judgment and violence… Civility, charity, mercy and politeness seem to have dropped out of the pro–life lexicon… Through vicious attacks launched on blogs, a new form of self–righteousness, condemnation and gnosticism reveals authors who behave as little children bullying one another around in schoolyards casting stones, calling names, and wreaking havoc in the Church today! What such people fail to realize is that their messages are ultimately screamed into a vacuum. No one but their own loud crowd is really listening. We will never change laws and bring about conversion of minds and hearts with such behavior. We make the Church and our efforts for life look ridiculous and terribly anti–Christian. Sowing seeds of hatred and division are not the work of those who wish to build a culture of life.[2]
III. Here we see the standard tactic used to vilify pro–lifers and, by implication, indirectly sanctify the pro–abortionists. Rosica accuses pro–lifers of committing ad hominem attacks, of being uncharitable, but at the same time castigates them as “agents… of division, destruction, hatred, vitriol, judgment and violence.” Not only this, these “so–called lovers of life” are also gnostics, bullies and stone throwers who are “wreaking havoc in the Church today!”
IV. But what is the real intention behind Fr. Thomas’ emotionally–charged, condescending, moralistic outburst? Well, of course, to enforce silence. He wants pro–lifers to shut up, hold it in, grit your teeth and bear it. Indeed, had he lived during their times, Fr. Rosica would have condemned the holy and justified vehemence of SS. Paul, Irenaeus and Athanasius. Oh, yes, Fr. Rosica is pro–life, and has done some good work in the past. But when it comes to the crunch, when it comes down to the most important battle in the Church today – namely the sanctity of life – his so–called mode of approach is “civility, charity, mercy and politeness”. What Father Rosica does not realize – or more so refuses to admit – is that pro–lifers are, have always been, and will continue to be, civil, charitable, merciful and polite. They have been as such for the four or so decades since abortion was legalized.
V. Have not the peaceful protests outside of abortion clinics been enough evidence? What about programs such as Rachel’s Vineyard, which compassionately assist post–abortive mothers? What about the quiet suffering pro–lifers undergo whilst continually being damnified by the media, the judiciary, politicians, feminist activists and celebrity tools? But why should pro–lifers be precluded from expressing anger at the obvious liturgical fiasco that was the funeral of an unrepentant enabler of abortion who, at the same time, deviously proclaimed to be faithful to the Magisterium? Are not Catholics told to admonish the sinner? Did not Our Lord also say that he came to bring a sword? Yes, there must be mercy. But should not it be balanced with justice? Did not Chesterton say that the Roman Catholic Church "gets every kind of man to fight for it"?[3] But why should all Catholics have the pacifist disposition of a Father Rosica?
VI. What Fr. Rosica really means by the phrase "civility, charity, mercy and politeness" is a kind of pantywaist political correctness, void of testicular fortitude, that is so afraid to identify and call out blatant evil in the public square. Why? Because he wants to be held in respect, to be loved by his peers, he wants to be everything for everyone. He does not want to be labelled as “one of them”, as one of those “religious fanatics”. For you see Fr. Rosica has become quite the celebrity in recent years. He is head honcho at Canada’s Salt + Life television network, a copycat version of EWTN, started by the excellent Mother Angelica. But excellent Salt + Light is not, and this is best explained because Fr. Rosica is on it alot. Salt + Light broadcasts a wishy–washy, easy–listening, borderline–dwelling Catholicism. But make no mistake: enemies of the Catholic Church have been positively portrayed on this network. One example would be David Suzuki, a fanatical environmentalist, nature worshipper and known rabid anti–Catholic.[4]
VII. The battles lines in the culture war have been drawn. Sides are selected and true colors are coming into full bloom. This is especially true in the fight for the protection of human life. All the evidence has been afforded in the court that is the public square – theological, philosophical, social, moral and medical. All of it, without exception, shows that abortion is the killing of a human being. Plain and simple. And the pro–abortionists understand this all too well. But it does not matter to them. Facts will not assuage them. Reason and logic does not work with them. To them it is all emotional and political. It is a combinatorial attitude of paganism and nihilism. The berserkers are now running the show – and if Fr. Rosica does not understand this, then I strongly suggest that he remove his head out of his ass. The “spirit” of post–Vatican II playtime is over and Fr. Rosica, like a spoiled little child, refuses to come back inside the house, and is oblivious to ever increasing assaults being directed against the Catholic Church in the modern era.
VIII. But, of course, admitting his error is unlikely. So, then, what is the consequence? Well, Catholic peoples, that is an easy one. Fr. Rosica then becomes the classic "useful idiot". Proof occurred just eight days after he posted his article. In the National Catholic Reporter – that bastion of hilarity and heresy – an article was written on Fr. Rosica’s response to Kennedy affair, stating that, if one thinks that he is an enemy of the faith, “it’s time for a reality check”.[5] And what a surprise! Guess who wrote that statement? That’s correct, Catholic peoples… it was John L. Allen, Junior. You know – that “middle of the road” guy that “everybody likes”. However, in the final analysis, the fact that Allen writes for NCR shows where his true loyalty resides. Let’s not pretend anymore.
IX. For American and international readers, it must be emphasized that the viewpoint of Fr. Thomas on this issue is not an anomaly. Rosica only made the news because he is a celebrity. This “neither hot nor cold” attitude, this vile lukewarm approach, is common amongst the Canadian clergy, including many bishops, who, ultimately, are the most responsible for letting Rosica spew his irrationalism against faithful Catholics without due punishment. And this pathetic state of affairs is rooted in the notorious Winnipeg Statement, issued by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) on September 27, 1968. It was a response, rejection and revolt against Pope Paul VI’s Encyclical Humanae Vitae. It effectively told His Holiness to “get lost”. Its issuance is unprecedented in the history of the Church, and perhaps this is why Our Lady said "poor Canada" to the three sheppard children at Fatima. To this day, the Winnipeg Statement has not been formally retracted, and neither is it to be found on the CCCB website.
X. Some may think that TH2 was unnecessarily mean to Fr. Rosica in the preceding. In defense to this accusation, I quote Aquinas: Fraternal correction is a work of mercy. Therefore even prelates ought to be corrected… if the faith were endangered, a subject ought to rebuke his prelate even publicly… he offers his help to one who, being in the higher position among you, is therefore in greater danger.[6]
You said it, Tommy.
XI. If, God willing, Fr. Rosica has a change of heart and realizes the grievous affront he has committed against those in the pro–life movement; if by some miracle he would finally understand the damaging effects to the Holy Faith by advocating a lukewarm Catholicism; and thereafter experience the vilification by heretics and other enemies of the Catholic Church – I would expect that, soonafter, Rosica would be in for one hell of an existential tailspin. If this occurred, my response would be this: Welcome to the party, pal.NOTES / REFERENCES
1. J. Godbout, "Five civilizations are already taking shape on Canadian soil", The Toronto Star, December 30, 1972, p. 19. See also J.R. Colombo, Colombo's Canadian Quotes (Edmonton: Hurtig Publishers, 1974).
2. T. Rosica, "Senator Edward Kennedy’s funeral: On mercy and misery", Salt + Light Television (online), September 3, 2009. LINK
3. G.K. Chesterton, The Everlasting Man (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1993), pp. 183–184.
4. One example of Suzuki’s anti–Catholicism: "...the pope’s pronouncements to the impoverished masses of people in large parts of the Third World will cruelly worsen and condemn them to a life of squalor that will only worsen while hastening us all on a path of planetary ecocide. We must condemn the reprehensible and suicidal policy of the Roman Catholic Church’s opposition to birth control. That is what I call an eco–sin".
5. J.L. Allen, Jr., "Incivility hurts the pro–life cause", National Catholic Reporter, September 11, 2009. LINK
6. Sum. theol., ii–ii, q. 33, art. 4.
USEFUL IDIOT: THE OPRAHESQUE RAMBLINGS OF A CANADIAN CLERIC
