Torture & Evangelization | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: The poll is interesting, because it seems that the non-religious are more humane on torture than Catholics. This does not reflect ethics v.faith but the group dynamics of a Church with a hierarchist leadership and followers who have in their Catholic DNA a willingness to treat non-group members (Muslims and Protestants) with justifiable malice (at least in their eyes). This has nothing to do with the New Evangalization (although not hating the Protestants might help) or Humanae Vitae (which is an ethical issue - one that the Mitered Ones get very very wrong on the biology and relationship sides - although they are correct on the Eugenics).
What the empty tomb points to is not just salvation for individuals - but JUSTICE! That is the place where we must go on birth control (starting with who talks about it) and torture. Jesus did not come as a law giver, he came to preach justice. He sides with the gay married for that reason, not with the prudes who think their moral world will collapse if they must hire a gay married -or even perform the ceremony. Natural law is about human reason, not the empty tomb, and it is time for the Mitered Ones to cede the fact that every person, especially those with Confirmation, have all they need for natural law reason. Of course, that voids the religious liberty argument as anything but organizational politicking - which should be for an after-Mass meeting, not a homily (if this inane thing is continued at all). This applies as equally to gay marriage and ENDA issues which are linked to the GOP backed National Right to Life Committee - it seems that some of the bishops have a group favorite, which also interferes with their stand on immigration.
As for Torture, there is a great deal of natural law experience - not the Catholic body, but the real stuff. It is entirely for intimidation of an enemy or peasant - it does nothing to prevent future operations (unless you think you can break the instigator and send him back a broken man to do your bidding - since we want to kill Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the torture had no value at all. As individuals, we must forgive, but as a nation, KSM should have been done in long ago. That may have made him a martyr, but gong free keeps his danger value at unacceptable levels.
Going back to the Church, will personal style and humility make the people more compassionate about torture? Probably not, nor should we expect it to. Actually having the natural law conversation on torture - using standard natural law, the Curial variety, might help. Of course, public opinion does not make torture right or not right, nor legal or illegal. I don't care how many people love or despise Dick Cheney, we do not prosecute war criminals based on how much they are loved or how much compassion they deserve. I would give the average heart transplant patient lots of compassion - but that does not mean that Citizen Cheney should be allowed to escape justice.
No comments:
Post a Comment