Although usually a reference to the specific branch of Christianity, the word "catholic" has historically meant "universal" or "found everywhere". See google for the list. How ironic then that Catholic is not really catholic; not universal, not found everywhere--not even within what we call the Catholic Church.
Now that we in Canada have taken a step towards embracing gays as lesbians as people (just as God always intended), there is some discussion that Pope Benedict may refuse communion to our elected leader, perhaps even excommunicate him. Now kudos to Paul Martin, who is able to differentiate between church and state, and notes that he is a practicing Catholic. Although, one does have to ask how effective the Catholic Church is when one who identifies himself as 'practicing' can hold a simultaneously opposing view, but since I'm on the side of the angels here, I won't ask.
My bias here, in case you haven't alreday figured it out: I'm a recovering Catholic. I no longer consider myself Catholic.
But how fair is it for the Pope to target Paul Martin on this when he clearly didn't really have the balls to make the decision anyway and is following the lead of the Supreme Court. And how fair is it that the Supreme Court made it's decision, not only in light of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but also with clear indications of support, or at least indifference, from the people that make up this nation?
Excommunicate us all (or at least those of us who still care). It's hard enough to get good people interested in public office (and I'm by no means suggesting the current company falls into this catefgory), and now they must risk being forced into a crisis of faith? Do you have to be an agnostic to be a leader? Hmmm, wonder how this would play out for Muslims and Jews....
No comments:
Post a Comment