[irish_links]

I am an admirer of Colm Toibin’s writing, but I can assure you that he is no friend of the Catholic church. Indeed, he is a homosexual and so far as I can tell an agnostic at least.

Anyway, when vacationing in San Francisco at Christmas time I wondered into the bookstore at Old Saint Mary's church, the parish in Chinatown. This book was prominently displayed near the entrance among the medals and missals. I thought about telling the employees that it was likely to be a blasphemous work and had no place in a church dedicated to the Virgin. I thought better of it — knowing S.F. they may have known and not cared — but now I kind of regret that I didn't.

[faucetman]

You should have said something anyway. I'm glad you realize it now and likely will say something at the next opportunity.

WE MUST SPEAK OUT! Otherwise we are like the silent, “good” Muslims who by their silence condone what they don't condemn.

Martin Niemöller, a prominent Protestant pastor who opposed the Nazi regime. He spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. Germany, 1937.

Martin Niemöller (1892-1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps.

Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Our Diocesan bookstore had a pile of books on display right before the election, right by the checkout, written by a bunch of actual, documented, google-the-names Obama activists. A Catholic election guide. I wrote a short --- couple of paragraphs --- analysis of the book, had it published in the comments section at amazon.com, sent one copy to the comments section at Paulist Press (the publisher) and anaother to the manager of the bookstore.

The Diocesan store removed the in-store books and the website link immediately.

Folks, they don't read everything they carry. They read the blurbs, look at the cover, note the publisher and assume it's OK. In other words, they act in ignorance, not in malice.

Most of the time.

(I am NOT referring to Paulist, because they knew EXACTLY what they were doing. They need the CDF to whip their sorry asterisks.)

Speak up. People respond.

Most of the time.