Alert to Developing World Catholics: chasm between orthodox believers and radicals in western power

C-FAM ^ | Tuesday, May 27, 2003 | Austin Ruse

[Polycarp]

Dear Colleague,

This is not a UN item. Still, I believe that everyone, especially those in the developing world, most especially those in Africa must be alerted to an abomination that just occured at Jesuit-run Georgetown University in Washington DC.

Francis Carindal Arinze of Nigeria, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, was invited to address the Georgetown graduation commencement ceremony a few days ago. The article below explains what happened to him for speaking the truths of the faith.

I urge everyone in the developing world to get this news report below to as many high level churchmen as possible, especially Cardinals. They should know what orthodox faith faces in the seats of western power. The people that insulted Cardinal Arinze are very powerful within academia, certainly, but also within American and western society. And they are also a large power within the Church.

I can think of no better example of how far apart are orthodox believers and the radicals in western power centers than what is told in this story.

Spread the word.

Yours sincerely,

Austin Ruse President Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute

Action item:

First, spread the story below far and wide, and especially among the Episcopate. Every Bishop and Cardinal in Africa, Latin America, and the Far East must read this.

Second, email John DeGioia, President of Georgetown University at president@georgetown.edu, and tell him you are angry at how Cardinal Arinze was insulted by Georgetown and that Georgetown owes Cardinal Arinze and all Catholics an apology.

____________________________________________________________________________

Cardinal's anti-gay comment sparks protest

By CARLOS CAMPOS

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- A Roman Catholic cardinal seen as a top contender to succeed Pope John Paul II has sparked student and faculty protests at Georgetown University with a remark he made about homosexuals in a commencement speech.

A letter protesting the speech by Cardinal Francis Arinze was signed by about 70 faculty members at the Jesuit university and delivered Wednesday to Jane McAuliffe, dean of the university's school of arts and sciences.

McAuliffe, a specialist in Islamic studies, invited Arinze -- president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue -- to speak on Christian-Muslim relations at the school's graduation ceremonies last Saturday.

Instead, the Nigerian prelate told the graduates that happiness is found not in the pursuit of material wealth or pleasures of the flesh, but by fervently adhering to religious beliefs.

Arinze then spoke of the importance of family to the Roman Catholic Church.

"In many parts of the world, the family is under siege," Arinze said, according to a transcript of his remarks provided by the university. "It is opposed by an anti-life mentality as is seen in contraception, abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. It is scorned and banalized by pornography, desecrated by fornication and adultery, mocked by homosexuality, sabotaged by irregular unions and cut in two by divorce."

Theresa Sanders, a professor of theology at the university, protested by leaving the stage where Arinze was speaking. Other students upset with the comments also reportedly left, according to e-mails on a subscription list used by many of the university's gay and lesbian students.

Sanders did not return a phone call to her office.

Ed Ingebretsen, a professor of English at Georgetown and a priest in the American Catholic Church, said Wednesday that Arinze's remarks are in line with Roman Catholic doctrine, but nonetheless seemed out of place at the commencement ceremony.

"These things are exactly what he's paid to say," Ingebretsen said. "(But) it's a graduation; why he decided to do the pro-family thing no one seems to know."

Ingebretsen said he was compelled, as a writer, to post a short apology on the e-mail subscription list "on behalf of Catholics" for Arinze's "insensitive remarks." Ingebretsen said the remarks were "un-Christian."

Tommaso Astarita, a professor of history at Georgetown, called the message by Arinze "wildly inappropriate" for a commencement ceremony. Astarita said the comments may have been more palatable had they been made in a different setting, such as an invited lecture.

"I personally was rather offended by it," said Astarita, one of the professors circulating the protest letter forwarded to McAuliffe. "I thought it was divisive and inappropriate."

In an e-mail to college's faculty members, the dean said she was "very surprised" by the content of Arinze's speech.

"I am deeply concerned that students, parents and faculty found parts of the commencement address upsetting to them," McAuliffe wrote. "I'm sure that Cardinal Arinze did not intend to hurt any of his audience, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen."

McAuliffe has set aside at least two hours in her office Friday to talk to any faculty members or students about the cardinal's remarks.

On Wednesday, she issued a two-sentence statement acknowledging that she had been contacted by several students and faculty "to express their reaction, both negative and positive" to the cardinal's address. "As an academic community, vigorous and open discussion lies at the heart of what we do, and there are many different voices in the conversation."

Arinze, 70, is widely mentioned as one of the candidates to succeed John Paul II, which would make him the first African pope in the history of the Roman Catholic Church.

Arinze ascended through the ranks of the church's hierarchy in Africa, where Catholicism is flourishing. He was called by John Paul II in 1984 to work in the Vatican.

Arinze is known for his strict conservative adherence to Catholic law, while many Catholics in the United States and Europe push for more contemporary policies.

Susan Gibbs, spokeswoman for the Catholic archdiocese of Washington, said Arinze has a "deep perspective" through his longtime work in the church with many cultures.

"His message was certainly consistent with Catholic teaching, which seems appropriate since this is a Catholic university," "Gibbs said. "Hopefully new graduates will be inspired by his reminder that happiness does come through God."

[Polycarp]

Do you have a ping list?

If so I'd like to be on it.

OK, you're both added.

[Polycarp]

Yes, quite often an older Pope is elected on the heels of a Pope such as JPII, whose pontificate has lasted so long precisely because he was young. If the Cardinals feel its another time of impending transition, they may elect an older rather than younger Pope.

But everything is purely conjecture when it comes to predicting such things.

[Man_of_Reason]

This is a very good argument for increased immigration from strong Catholic countries to the US. I would urge others to write their political representatives and request raising the immigration limits on Catholic countries with incentives to settle in the problem areas of the US. A rising tide raises all ships.

[saradippity]

I would say for an African,Catholic Cardinal with English not his primary language,speaking to an American about American politicians,he made a judicious decision.Sometimes discretion is truly the better part of valor.I think your case might have been one of those cases.

I also liked his remark several days ago that the days of the "do it yourself masses" were coming to an end.

Cardinal Arrinze made a trip to a highly infested,infected diocese out west and within a few months a "coadjutor" bishop was sent in to "transition" the diocese. I look at Carcinal Arrinze and say "long live Cardinal Arrinze and God keep him close".

[Gaelic]

The Society of Jesus doesn't answer to the Pope like other orders do.The head of the order is almost a pope himself and he alone confers with the pope. I don't believe that St Ignatius Loyola would approve of his society today.

[GluteusMax]

The clash between people who desire to adhere to what God says and those who swallow the original lie told to Eve in the garden happens every generation.

"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4-5 NIV

Or if you prefer King James English:

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

The affluent West believes that it can ignore the commands of God and "be like God." The struggle apparent here in Catholicism is not unique. The Methodists, Baptists and may others are fighting the same divisive forces intent on imposing the will of people who want to be their own "god" over those who are trying to listen to the will of the genuine God. The Baptists recently fought to regain control of their universities from the liberals who disregarded the orthodox teachings. (I understand the conservatives won. Perhaps a Baptist can confirm?) This is a model for success. Either you adhere to recognized doctrine or get out. When the rebels leave they rarely remain cohesive anyway, too much seeking after their own selfish desires to sacrifice I suppose.

Cardinal Francis Arinze should be applauded, he's exactly right. Hopefully leaders like him will have the courage to speak the truth without compromise. Appeasing and compromising only weakens the Church. Whenever the truth is proclaimed without shame She grows stronger.

[NYer]

Alright ...... an African freeper!! Someone spread the word to Austin Ruse President Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, of our existence.

[victim soul]

please add my name when you post

[victim soul]

I think it is very likely because many may regret they elected a young pope John Paul II and don't want to have another long lived papal reign.

However, in the end the Holy Spirit will triumph.

[narses]

"Do you really think that a 70-year old Cardinal would be selected as Pope?"

Oh yeah. If a non-Italian is chosen, he is likely to be an older prelate, so as to "limit" his power. The Church is a huge, cumbersome institution, change comes slowly. My bet is on an Italian, but Card. Arinze is making great points with the "conservatives" in the College. (Labels inside the College of Cardinals are about useless, but I use "conservative" and "orthodox" as interchangeable. Some, like the odius Card. Kasper are AT BEST heretics, others like Card. Arinze are quite orthodox, but the office makes the man, so to speak. Even Card. Kasper (Heaven forbid his election!) would likely be "orthodox" in many ways as Pope. Ugh, what a thought though.)

[miele man]

Likewise, I would like to be added to your ping list.
Thank you.

[Flora McDonald]

I, too, received the Catholic Virginian today. It was all wet! Both literally & figuratively. And how about those typos? LOL

I'm really irritated that the paper is so wet, though. Now there's nothing to line the cat's litter box with.

[broadsword]

... in the end the Holy Spirit will triumph.

Very true. Despite how hard it is to see our beautiful faith trampled on by those who should be defending it we must keep this in mind at all times.

[Salvation]

Stand up and be counted!

[DPB101]

In the last century, however, there has been a Christian explosion Africa has never seen. Over 370 million African Christians now. The real Christian/Islam conflict will be (is already) in the developing world. Many of the Christians in the Philippines and Indonesia are overseas Chinese. Someday, China is going to tell the Muslims who are constantly attacking them to stop.

[Polycarp]

Done!

[Kenny Bunk]

Do you really think that a 70-year old Cardinal would be selected as Pope?

Sure. In troubled times, the RCs very often select an older man, precisely because of his age and putative at least, shorter reign.

[Kenny Bunk]

The Christian faith of the developing world is more traditional, more conservative than the Christian faith of the west. This is true of Protestants and Catholics alike.

Yes and no. Cardinal Arinze may be a conservative, but other African Bishops of the RC and Anglican persuasions are way out there in animist, polygamous, socialist radical land. Also, Third World Christianity often tends to blend Christian tenets with native religions.

Your left-wingers love this. So colorful! And it proves for them that all religions are the same and equal.

[american colleen]

Bump!

God Bless Cardinal Arinze!