RANT - COUNTER RANT: THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE

This one is a little late getting to you – about a week late in response and also very late in the day today. Today is my day away but there were many meetings at the parish and so no time to play.

So anyway, last week in a letter to the editor of the Akron Beacon Journal, Patricia Tallon Hanson writes, “Is it any wonder that Catholics are leaving the fold and are disheartened by their faith? For the Vatican to waste time, effort and probably our hard-earned money to research what religion Bart and Homer Simpson practice is absurd (‘Vatican declares Simpsons Catholic,’ Oct. 20)

“With local parishes closing and the number of practicing Catholics dwindling, I would think the Vatican could use its time and money in better ways.”

Imagine the scene: Deep in the heart of the Vatican in a secret basement room not unlike the office shared by Mulder and Skully in the X-files, there are pale faced, bug-eyed clerics spending hours doped up on caffeine carefully researching each and every episode of The Simpsons, taking notes, reviewing each scene, looking for any little gesture, any remote hint that might tie these characters to the Catholic Faith. Though the Church could use these priests in closing parishes or send them out to mission territory, they sit in the glow of a monitory, stacks of Simpson DVDs on the shelves, notes posted on the walls, and sign on the door, “Simpsons Research Center – Saint Jude Pray for us.”

In reality, the Vatican had no connection to any study except that the paper picked up the storyy and printed it. The true author admits that the L’Osservatore Romano (the Vatican paper that carried the story) exaggerated the story. Others noted that the paper probably ran the story in (a failed?) effort to connect with modern culture. The blogosphere has been all abuzz with opinions on the matter from unmerited triumphalism to accusations that Catholics are just being greedy.

According to the Catholic News Service, “The Vatican newspaper column, titled "Homer and Bart are Catholic," referred to a nine-page scholarly analysis of the cartoon in the Oct. 16 issue of the Italian Jesuit weekly La Civilta Cattolica. That article, titled "'The Simpsons' and Religion," asserted that the series "is one of the few television shows for kids in which the Christian faith, religion and questions about God are recurring themes."

The idea of a Vatican Research Team on the matter then is on the level of Urban Legend. The Vatican wasted no time, no talent, and not a wooden nickle of anybody’s hard earned money save for the effort of putting the article in its newspaper as a human interest story of sorts.

I can’t imagine (though neither can I prove it either way) that the Jesuits spent too much time or resources on it. But is it “absurd” for someone to look at modern culture on behalf of the Church and make comment on it? We’ve been in that business for over 2,000 years.

Finally on the comment that, “With local parishes closing and the number of practicing Catholics dwindling, I would think the Vatican could use its time and money in better ways,” it is important to remember that the whole Church is not experiencing what we are by way of Church closings. In parts of Florida for example they can’t build churches or schools quickly enough. Because we are experiencing difficult times does that mean the whole Church must go into mourning? That may sound harsh but life goes on.

Lessons to be learned here: First: Stay humble. Don’t go about bragging about anything that isn’t true. Everyone knows that Simpsons are not Catholic and that fact is easily disputed and the claimant is by it brought to task as the L’Osservatore was.

Second: Check your facts before deciding to be angry or developing a hard opinion which you give publically.

The better question: The whole upset over the Simpsons turns out to be a red herring. The truly absurd notion is that anybody could leave the Eucharist over such a thing. But the truth of the matter is some people feel so hurt in the Church now that they are blind to the glorious gift of the Eucharist entrusted to a fallible institution. What better things could we be doing to help them remain close to Christ as the Eucharist? (But that wouldn’t get printed would it?)

WHY WASTE YOUR TIME AMONG THE WEEDS?

C. S. Lewis Once wrote, “A young man who wishes to remain an atheist cannot be too careful of his reading,” meaning, of course, if engaged too heavily with God and His truth he risked being converted. I would suppose the opposite to be equally as valid. “The person who wishes to remain a true son or daughter of God cannot be too careful of his entertainment.” This would explain the recent brouhaha in blog posts and forwarded Emails and the like over Philip Pullman’s book made movie, “The Golden Compass.”

Apparently the dark warnings of the intent of the movie are entirely well based and for this reason I intend on not seeing this film. But the usual argument for seeing the movie from Christians of all stripes is already being heard as regularly as the Salvation Army donation bells, “But how can I know and make up my own mind that it is bad unless I see the movie?” I do not think I have heard this argument from anyone who has ever walked out on a movie.

I grant you that it looks very attractive. If there were no such background information on the movie it would be on the top of my list of things to go see. That is a temptation too much to bear for many Christians especially when, “But Daddy, I really want to see it!” is thrown into the mix.

Forget all the arguments. In the end it comes down to love. We are to be in a true and loving relationship with God. If this were a make believe story about a parallel universe in which your spouse, or mother, or sister were villainized and defeated as the source of evil in the world would you still go see it? Would you allow your kids to? “But they are going to see it anyway.” Perhaps. But not by your hand.

But enough of that. That trash is already occupying too much of our valuable life.

OTHER THINGS:

On the more positive note here are a few recommendations for your entertainment:

Of course the movie Bella is still out. Make a statement with your entertainment dollars. Let the powers that be know how you wish to be entertained and how you will spend your entertainment dollars!

“Swimming with Scapulars: True Confessions of a Young Catholic” is a great read. My cousin bought it for me and though a good read for any thoughtful Catholic, it might be of particular note to young men who are or who are contemplating the life of a Catholic husband, father, son of God. Mathew Lickona shares his thoughts about the struggles of balancing what the world demands of us and what we owe to God. Poignant, humorous, honest, and orthodox, it is a nice bolster in the faith. Though an easy read it remains thought provoking and a book with which the average Joe can relate and find inspiration. Fr. Benedict Groeschel said, “Swimming with Scapulars shatters many stereotypes. If you have been wondering about the emergence of an informed and sophisticated group of orthodox young Catholics who take the spiritual life seriously, this book reveals this fascinating group.” Loyola Press 2005.

Finally, do you have a long commute? Tired of the banal offerings on the radio? Consider ordering a course from “The Teaching Company.” Finding some of the topics tantalizing (and on sale) several courses were ordered. There were the usual fear that the classes would be like so many I have had at “Catholic” institutions, that is, presenting what the Church teaches with a some obligatory passivity and then moving on to that which challenges the Church at every turn singing the praises of some supposed higher human endeavor. I can only take so much of that. As it turns out, though this is not a Catholic Company, whenever they deal with the Catholic Church it is done fairly and to an extent that is much more true to Church teaching than many Catholic courses I have taken.

The classes reviewed thus far have been on Saint Augustine, C. S. Lewis, and a history of the popes and the papacy. They are well presented, interesting, informative, and at times intriguing enough to cause the need to drive around the block once more. (The last third of the C.S. Lewis series would perhaps work much better as a review immediately after reading the works mentioned in the course however.) Perhaps the biggest drawback is the cost, but there are always classes on sale and several hours of courses can be purchased for about $20.