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The McCarthyism of Liberal Catholic Elites ["Catholic" Academics Complain to NY Times Over Douthat]
The American Conservative ^ | 10/26/15 | Rod Dreher

Posted on 10/28/2015 5:08:46 AM PDT by marshmallow

This letter was drafted by Massimo Faggioli and John O’Malley, SJ, and is now being signed by a bunch of liberal Catholic academics. Here’s how it stands as I post this; names are being added to the signatory list constantly:

To the editor of the New York Times

On Sunday, October 18, the Times published Ross Douthat’s piece “The Plot to Change Catholicism.” Aside from the fact that Mr. Douthat has no professional qualifications for writing on the subject, the problem with his article and other recent statements is his view of Catholicism as unapologetically subject to a politically partisan narrative that has very little to do with what Catholicism really is. Moreover, accusing other members of the Catholic church of heresy, sometimes subtly, sometimes openly, is serious business that can have serious consequences for those so accused. This is not what we expect of the New York Times.

October 26, 2015

John O’Malley, SJ (Georgetown University)
Massimo Faggioli (University of St. Thomas, Minnesota)
Nicholas P. Cafardi (Duquesne University)
Gerard Mannion (Georgetown University)
Stephen Schloesser, SJ (Loyola University Chicago)
Katarina Schutch OSF (University of St. Thomas, Minnesota)
Leslie Tentler (Catholic University of America, emerita)
John Slattery (University of Notre Dame)
Andrew Staron (Wheeling Jesuit University)
Megan McCabe (Boston College)
Thomas M. Bolin (St. Norbert College)
Kevin Brown (Boston College)
Alan C. Mitchell (Georgetown University)
Elizabeth Antus (John Carroll University)
Kathleen Grimes (Villanova University)
Fran Rossi Szpylczyn
Christopher Bellitto (Kean University)
Katharine Mahon (University of Notre Dame)
Tobias Winright (Saint Louis University)
Corey Harris (Alvernia University)

(Excerpt) Read more at theamericanconservative.com ...


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Current Events; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS:
HERE is Douthat's original article which caused the outcry.
1 posted on 10/28/2015 5:08:46 AM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow
Want to enrage a conservative? Tell him a lie.

Want to enrage a liberal, like these signatories to this letter? Tell them the truth.

2 posted on 10/28/2015 5:16:57 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: marshmallow
Cacxxxxpture
3 posted on 10/28/2015 5:19:15 AM PDT by smartyaz
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To: marshmallow
Si the NY Slimes lies lies lies but there push polls are to be believed and celebrated by our DC establishment trolls and Fox Leftist News
4 posted on 10/28/2015 5:36:02 AM PDT by ncalburt ( Amnesty-media out in full force)
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To: marshmallow

Note here that they aren’t so much attacking Douthat for what he says in his article, but challenging his credentials in a “shoot the messenger” fashion.

But more importantly they’re using the shaming tactic on the NY Times for even running the article.

I remember the Jesuits as being the types that loved good arguments that stuck strictly to substance. These sort of political attacks reveal this O’Malley person as waging a political war, and diminish the order that he’s a member of.


5 posted on 10/28/2015 5:37:52 AM PDT by tanknetter
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To: marshmallow

what I DON’T see are signatories from legitimately Catholic universities like Christendom, Fransciscan, University of Dallas, etc. — schools which are authentically Catholic.


6 posted on 10/28/2015 5:39:55 AM PDT by xsmommy
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To: marshmallow

I’m reminded of something Bishop Sheen said years ago—”I you want your son or daughter to lost the faith, send them to a Catholic university.”


7 posted on 10/28/2015 6:56:25 AM PDT by Oratam
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To: Oratam

Oh, for cryin’ out loud, “If, IF you want your son or daughter . . .”


8 posted on 10/28/2015 6:58:55 AM PDT by Oratam
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To: marshmallow

They all want to get Douthat fired from the NYT. They have a chance, given that Douthat is the most conservative journalist writing for the Times, and cries of McCarthyism are probably easy for his employer to accept.


9 posted on 10/28/2015 8:39:48 AM PDT by LovedSinner
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To: marshmallow

Two more columns on the same subject...

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/view-from-catholic-schools-jesuit-francis/

and...

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/thin-skinned-theologians-douthat/


10 posted on 10/28/2015 12:08:19 PM PDT by NRx (An unrepentant champion of the old order and determined foe of damnable Whiggery in all its forms.)
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