Jimmy Akin Sez: P.Z. Myers Must Be Fired

Catholic and Enjoying It ^ | July 25, 2008 | Mark Shea

[NYer]

Jimmy Akin Sez: P.Z. Myers Must Be Fired

I agree. The man was free to say whatever demented stuff he liked on his blog. Solicitation for readers to steal and desecrate the Eucharist has crossed the line.

Jimmy writes:

Although he carried out his action. in his words, to support the idea that "Nothing must be held sacred" (also trashing a few pages of The God Delusion, a book with which he is in sympathy), he did not merely tell people that nothing must be held sacred. Nor did he argue for it. Claiming that nothing must be held sacred or proposing arguments for this proposition are a subject that can be discussed in a civil, respectful manner.

Instead, P. Z. Myers surreptitiously obtained and then desecrated something that is held most sacred by numerous individuals. He went out of his way to offend, to provoke the most deeply held sentiments of others, and he did so in full knowledge of what he was doing, as witnessed by the fact that he complains repeatedly on his blog about all of the outraged complaints he has been receiving from Catholics via e-mail.

In desecrating what Catholics hold most sacred--and what Muslims hold sacred as well--P. Z. Myers has fundamentally compromised himself as an educator.

He has made himself unsuitable for employment as an educator.

In particular, he has made himself unsuitable for employment as an educator at a state-run school, such as the University of Minnesota Morris.

It would be one thing if an employee of a private school--say, Bob Jones University--had desecrated the Eucharist. But state schools have a special responsibility to the citizens of the state to employ educators who will be respectful in their conduct towards the students, parents, alumni, and citizens of the state--including the Catholic and Muslim ones.

P. Z. Myers has demonstrated that he will go out of his way to offend the sensibilities of anybody who holds anything sacred, to treat whatever they hold sacred with public contempt. The problem thus is not limited to Catholics and Muslims. Since, in Myers own words, "Nothing must be held sacred," and since he is willing to desecrate anything that others do hold sacred, the university must conclude that Myers is willing not only to outrage Catholic and Muslim students, parents, alumni, and citizens but members of any other group as well.

Myers is thus incapable of effectively carrying out his mission as an educator and his position must be terminated.

He also is in violation of the University of Minnesota Code of Conduct, which holds that faculty members "must be committed to the highest ethical standards of conduct" (II:2) and that "Ethical conduct is a fundamental expectation for every community member. In practicing and modeling ethical conduct, community members are expected to: act according to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct [and] be personally accountable for individual actions" (III:1).

It also stresses that faculty members must "Be Fair and Respectful to Others. The University is committed to tolerance, diversity, and respect for differences. When dealing with others, community members are expected to: be respectful, fair, and civil . . . avoid all forms of harassment . . . [and] threats . . . [and] promote conflict resolution."

P. Z. Myers has done none of these things. He is in fundamental breach of the University of Minnesota's Code of Conduct and must be discharged.

To voice your opinion on this subject, contact the offices of the president and the chancellor:

President Robert H. Bruininks
202 Morrill Hall
100 Church Street S.E.
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Via phone: 612-626-1616
Via fax: 612-625-3875
Via e-mail: upres@umn.edu

Chancellor Jacqueline Johnson
309 Behmler Hall
600 East 4th Street
Morris, MN 56267

320-589-6020
E-mail: grussing@morris.umn.edu

This will undoubtedly be portrayed as a free speech matter. That's a lie. Myers has been speaking blasphemously about the Eucharist forever and if he'd kept his views verbal all he'd get back is an argument. When he starts sending minion to invade our sanctuaries and stealing the Holy Eucharist, he crosses the line.

I have no idea if the UMM will respond. But Catholics have free speech rights too and we have every right to demand action. Write *respectfully* and ask that the University no longer provide sanction and sanctuary for this man.

Labels: Doings on Other Blogs, PSA

[NYer]

On Pearls and Swine

Various folk from Pharygula have been making their way here to display the fact that not a few atheists suffer from some sort of personality disorder that bars them from the normal intuitive empathy that ordinary human beings have. They protest that they want to have a serious conversation, and then immediately proceed to try to justify Myers' attack on all we hold most sacred. That is the behavior of an emotional defective.

A *normal* person would, in a serious conversation, begin by saying something like, "I'd sincerely like to distance myself from the appallingly crude and stupid behavior of PZ Myers. I can see that what he has done was deeply hurtful to Catholics and, though I don't share your faith, there are some things I'd like to try to understand." This is called "elementary courtesy". The Pharyngulans have, as is customary for that crowd, shown none, so it is manifest that they are insincere.

Therefore, since they have no real interest in a conversation or in finding something out, but merely in playing games of the "Ah Ha! So you'd save a human being from a burning building before the Eucharist!" variety, I shall not bother with them and readers should be forewarned that their posts will vanish. When they demonstrate some elementary common courtesy, their questions will be treated with some respect.

To my normal readers: The basic attempt at obfuscation being made is simple.

1. Let the few idiots who responded to Myers with threats stand for all Christians everywhere.

2. Posit an either/or false dilemma like "So you are saying the Eucharist is more important than Myer's life?"

3. Ignore the fact that both Catholic teaching and everybody on this blog condemns the threats made against Myers' person.

4. Waste everybody's time with dumb attempts to justify the theft and vandalism of the Host as a free speech issue and not as theft, vandalism and incitement.

Our Lord was quite plain with such wilful refusal to acknowledge the obvious: do not give what is holy to dogs. These people haven't the slightest interest in treating either Christ or you with respect. They have lost the good of the intellect. Jesus' counsel is to not waste time with people who have rendered themselve incapable of a discussion in good faith.

[NYer]

Various folk from Pharygula have been making their way here ...

and posting some truly ignorant comments on Akin's blog, as well.

[NTHockey]

If “Nothing is to be held sacred”, then his freedom of speech is forfeit. For just as easily and glibly offend everyone, someone else may deem it freedom of speech to incite harm to him.

Can’t have it both ways, P.Z.

[Manfred the Wonder Dawg]

Seems to me that a person who so antagonistic to anything religious is a PERFECT employee at any government university. While most professor are not as profane or egregious as this one, they mostly all have the same contempt for religion and work more subtly to destroy whatever religious foundation a young person may bring with him to the “institute of higher learning”.

Parents must nurture their kids in the fear and admonition of the Lord. The world is against the Christian - and his family.

[notaliberal]

To Manfred:

The pot calling the kettle black! Your remarks are hilarious!!

[netmilsmom]

How about if we put down the swords and just concentrate on being fellow Christians, notaliberal?

A fellow Christian came in to state that this was horrible. Let’s be Christlike and give a thank you for Christlike behavior.

[notaliberal]

Pontificators!!! I love ‘em

[netmilsmom]

Are you speaking of me?

[notaliberal]

Johnny Cochran once said, “If the glove fits....”

[netmilsmom]

We are bigger than that.
And we can point it out if we don’t cross the line.

Let others take the low road...

[notaliberal]

I’ve noticed that you are excellent at finger wagging. Ya know that quote from the bible about a log and something about the eye. Geeez, I don’t remember exactily how it goes, but you probably get my drift!

[netmilsmom]

Never said I was perfect. Just an Anti-Catholic Troll Hunter and want to make it easier to hunt.

When they can point it out to us, and we don’t have the advantage, the job gets difficult.

[Waco]

sounds like a real pisant.

[notaliberal]

We Catholics have the advantage! We have the Holy Euchrist, Celebration of the Mass, Reconciliation, the Blessed Mother, the Rosary, and the communion of saints.

"They"--no matter what "they" post will shake my belief stated in the above!!!

[netmilsmom]

And of course, that is the most important thing!

However, we DO have the advantage on FR in that most times (almost all of the time) Catholics do not post to inflame. The few times this happens, it is thrown back in the faces of those who are trying to defend The Church. It’s just easier on those who are always in the fight (and trust me, that’s just me), to show our best side to those who hate us. Lest we be accused of what they do.

[notaliberal]

Jesus did it in the temple to the money changers. I do not care about “their” feelings. When “they” show no respect for the Euchrist and our Lord’s Mother—Sorry, I don’t pander to that!

[netmilsmom]

>> I do not care about “their” feelings. <<

Care about your fellow Catholics. Please, pretty please.
With whipped creme and a cherry on top. *smile*

[notaliberal]

Oh! Please! No more

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"the University of Minnesota Code of Conduct, which holds that faculty members "must be committed to the highest ethical standards of conduct" (II:2) and that "Ethical conduct is a fundamental expectation for every community member. In practicing and modeling ethical conduct, community members are expected to: act according to the highest ethical and professional standards of conduct [and] be personally accountable for individual actions" (III:1). It also stresses that faculty members must "Be Fair and Respectful to Others. The University is committed to tolerance, diversity, and respect for differences. When dealing with others, community members are expected to: be respectful, fair, and civil . . . avoid all forms of harassment . . . [and] threats . . . [and] promote conflict resolution."

Leaving aside the question of Christian and Catholic beliefs, the code of ethical conduct might be a more interesting issue. To be "respectful, fair and civil," etc. It is unlawful to treat students prejudicially based on gender,race, religion, or sexual orientation.

But it is also just common sense for someone not to wander way beyond the subject matter of their discipline for hateful and vitriolic comments.