Legal moves are underway to stop Governor Paterson’s attempt to grant civil rights to gays. Joseph Illuzzi of NYPolitics.net asserts that “LIKE ABORTION GAY MARRIAGE IS AN ASSAULT ON THE INTEGRITY OF OUR CIVILIZATION NOT TO MENTION THE INFALLIBLE WORD OF GOD…” Yes, in capital letters none the less. Illuzzi accuses Paterson of secretively abusing the rule of law in this matter. Apparently Illuzzi says he intends to mobilize various forces including the Catholic Conference to halt this “executive directive.”
At this point in his memorandum, Illuzzi confuses reason with rhetoric and includes the gay directive with the attempt to issue drivers licenses to illegal immigrants as both assaults on the integrity of civilization. While both these examples may be instances of legally bypassing the legislative process (and I’m assuming they are legal moves on Paterson’s part even though challengeable in court), surely the attempt to ameliorate the negative effects of millions of undocumented immigrants with the licensing is not an example of “an assault on the integrity of our civilization not to mention the infallible word of God.”
Even though I disagreed with the licensing initiative, the intent was construable as an attempt to possibly help save our civilization and conceivably even live up to the word of God. While Illuzzi will also be calling upon "New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms," whoever they are, to fight his discriminatory cause, he should be consulting with "Americans for Constitutional Obligations." Now I don’t know that there is such an organization as the latter, but there should be. After all what about the obligation of our “civilization” to guarantee “civil rights” for all and equal protection under the law? Why should a medieval theology trump the legal guarantee of conceivably they geatest constitution in the history of the West?
It is considerably more disturbing, if not frightening, when the political integrity of the great American idea of Freedom is reduced to the regressive dark-ages ethic of the Catholic Church. If there ever was an institution that has forestalled and at times turned back the progress of civilization, it is the Catholic Church. If there ever was an ideology that perverted the modern idea of the right to the subjective self-assertion of one's own individuality, the idea at the very heart of Modernity, it was the shock troops of Catholicism whose inhumanity stems the spectrum of historical incidents of such repression from the trial of Meister Eckhart in the 14th century to the present subterranean psychological genocide against countless innocent children at the hands of the “pederasty priests” who unforgiveably abused the power of priestly authority to serve pure carnal interests.
It’s very easy to invoke the infallible word of God. It just depends upon how arrogant and self-righteous you are. Of course it makes it much easier to invoke the infallible word of God when you can change you mind radically as to what that means and still always be correct. Witness the latest Papal Edict which even if in disagreement with a prior edict still gets to be correct and, guess what? INFALLIBLE. Isn’t it great to always have the winning card up your theological sleeve. This is obviously nothing but superstitious fear-mongering.
So as Paterson attempts to extend civil liberties to one of the most heinously repressed minority groups in America, the “infallibility insurgents” seek to selectively apply American liberties to "elect" groups in the name of recreating all culture unilaterally in the image of Catholic and lunatic-fringe Christianist fear and guilt.
The greatest victim in this is the very “people” who could be united on a neo-populist basis in the name of a participatory democracy. If the “the people” could be left alone to reconstitute their communities multi-culturally as will be inevitable in the future, they could restore power to the “forgotten man” in the face of the bureaucratic class whose increasingly centralized administrative apparatus seeks to expropriate culture and instrumentalize it at the service of the neo-imperialist globalist ideologists of transnational capital. Instead these self-appointed but misguided master of monolithic culture continue to pit the people one against the other in the name of bureaucratically conceived conflicts that has nothing to do with the real and true political antagonism that is destroying our country today.
Like a mirror image of the bureaucratic centralists, the cultural Christianists want to make culture and community over in their own image and in their own interests. Somehow both these theocrats and technocrats seem to forget our history of origination in the clash of immigrants, religions, ideologies, modes of existence and radically differing philosophies--all in the context of an agonistic participatory democracy. The only thing that holds this kaleidoscope of differences together without repressive homongenization and one-dimensionalization is a Constitution that guarantees from a neutral standpoint the right of individuals and communities to constitute their lives as they see fit. Such cultural and communal freedom is not intended to be exploited by any one religion or any political/economic ideology.
However the regressively reactionary aristocratic tyranny of autocratic minds such as the Catholic/Christianist theocrats and the Neo-Conservative/Neo-Liberal technocrats insist on further homogenizing autonomous American cultures and individualities in the interest and in the name of metaphysical mumbo-jumbo that does immeasureable injustice to spirituality, constitutionality and the kind of neo-populist federalist political reconfiguration of America that could return sovereignty to the people on a communal and participatory basis.
7 comments:
Let's consider the dark ages as you call them (even though historians have long since abandoned such term for it neglects the obvious value which sprung from this time period) Catholic Church and science. This should be a shocker to you Larry, please read it all.
Priests such as Fr. Giambattista Riccoli was the first person tp measure the rate of acceleration of a freely falling body. The father of Egyptology Fr. Athanasius Kircher also known as "the man of a hundred arts". Fr. Roger Boscovich also known as the father of the modern atomic theory.
The jesuits in particular were known at the time for their study of the moon as 35 craters have been named after them, also they created during this time pendulum clocks, pantographs, barometers, reflecting telescopes, microscopes, and contributed vast knowledge to fields as diverse as magnetism, optics, electricity as well. They also observed first the colored bands of Jupiter's surface, Andromeda nebula and Saturn's rings. They theorized the circulation of blood in the human body, theoretical possibility of flight, moon's effect on the ocean's waves, wave like nature of light, star maps of the southern hemisphere, aymbolic logic, flood control measures on the Po and Adige rivers, introduction of + and - signs in Italian mathematics.
Newton, Leibniz, Fermat and Huygens all counted Jesuits as some of their main inspiration and correspondents as well. Seismology the study of earthquakes is known to this day as the science of Jesuits. They were the first to introduce Western science to China and India also.
They studied extensively field such as Eluclidean geometry(planetary motion analysis), astronomy opening observatories, weather forecasts, earthquake risk assessments, meteorology, and seismology.
Economics were also a key interest of the Catholic Church, as was THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSITY LARRY! To sum it up quite nicely with a quote from Scholars in the Middle Ages created a broad intellectual tradition, in the absence of which subsequent progress in natural philosophy would have been inconcievable."
Larry please consult Catholic answers.com with any questions of the church's history, apostolic authority of teaching and instruction. It is filled with christian historical references, quotations of the apostles and early chrsitan writers apart from the Bible. Please do not reduce yourself to such regimented defamation of this great traditional church.
Larry read a book entitled How the Catholic Church built Western Civilization by Thomas E. Woods Jr. it will enlighten you to your obvious foolishness and ignorance of this subject.
Your hate filled diatribes are disturbing given your position of influence in a university system but not at all suprising given my experience with this wonderfully "progressive" state and county.
I do appreciate this information. However, I don’t think there is any logically necessary relation between the scientific work of these figures and the fact that they happened to be Catholics/Jesuits. It seems to me some of these great thinkers/scientists were successful despite the church and surely not because of it. I seriously doubt that such “Jesuit inspiration” was an inspiration that was spiritual in nature but was one that was scientific and theoretical in nature. I don’t know that we need the Catholic God nor the Catholic bureaucracy to provide such inspiration. If it weren’t for Martin Luther chances are we would still have to consult the Pope for interpretations of the Bible.
I’m not surprised that economics was a key area of study. They have been quite good at massing a fortune. I don’t know however that their theoretical contributions to economics has done much to alleviate the immeasurably disproportionate distribution of wealth that transnational capital continues to propagate. Their complicity in the present world economy is not exonerated by contributions to the poor and downtrodden. If the Catholic economists were making some contribution to transforming the very system that is responsible for third-worldization as a condition of capitalist success, then you would have a point.
Furthermore, I think I was quite kind given the main target of my piece: namely, the arrogant invocation of “the word of God” by Joseph Illuzzi to rationalize the repression of man by man and the equally arrogant attempt to ram down the throats of a multi-cultural country the theologically grounded ethics of one religion. I don’t care how big that religion is.
Lastly, I think you quite selectively cherry-pick your information but don’t seem to want to weigh the overall effect and standing of the Catholic Church in light of its entire history and especially in light of the recent “revelation” regarding the “pederasty priests.” How such a travesty on justice and religious sanctity is even possible given the Catholic Church has had over 2000 years to get it right amongst their ranks is inconceivable. Yet the authorities of the Church stonewalled, bought people off and basically did what they could to hush it all up as quickly as possibly. Please let the Priests marry for God’s sake. There will be a lot fewer little boys leaving Church with sore butts.
Going to Mass tonight? Leave me out, thank you.
Anon #2:
The Catholic Churches having built Western Civilization explains the problems we’re having possibly? … I have no hatred for Catholics. I do have a little pity and a lot of anger when I see the absolute lack of compassion they have for their victims which are legion. …. And I’m quite sure you’re disturbed with my “influence in a university system” because anyone who opens peoples’ eyes to the ideological distortion of religious, economic and political powers disturbs those who are comfortable to have priests, politicians, specialist and bureaucrats do their thinking for them. Of course you are disturbed by anyone such as myself who places the educational freedom, self-inquiry and capacity for social critique of the individual ahead of indoctrination by pre-modern institutions of social control and political/democratic suppression.
Lastly, if the 2 Anon’s above have such faith in their religion, why don’t you have the courage to use your own names. Surely your God will protect you. Or are you so lacking in real faith in the truth that you are even too cowardly to come forward publicly and stand openly for what you claim is the truth. This smells implicitly of hypocrisy and cowardice. Typical religious hypocrisy! …“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free!” The Catholic Church, on the other hand, will not set you free.
From one Larry to another I am tiring of making you look foolish. Can I ask you one question? Do you believe in a women's right to choose?
If so can you reconcile that with your views that it is immoral to discriminate upon someone due to their race but not the fact of their untimely or maybe inconvenient conception? Think about it, neither chose to be what they are at conception. Am I right? But to kill one out of convenience is morally superior to discriminating against another? Yes, it's all very possible to hold this line of thought in protestant land where truth can be strategically and conveniently compartmentalized and regurgitated without really ever considering it's value beyond personal power and upward mobility.
The myriad racial references were in fact an easy way to set you up and publicly display your subjective reality. It's not very difficult. Your a man whom dispises the power and influence of say the Catholic Church due to what you think is historical tyranny yet have absolutely no problem with sustaining tyranny that you see fit such as forcing me to hire certain people, not fire certain people, force me to wed certain people, how much tax money I must pay, ect. It's really surrepticiously a circular argument over power in the end. Everyone but me wants it over other people I am beginning to believe.
I only showed a small example of the scientific accomplishments funded and furthered by the Catholic Church, the very educational institution you critisize the Church with was in fact an example of their accomplishments. Do you ever once even consider that concept that you may in fact be wrong?
Pick either scripture, tradition, early church fathers, and I will defeat any argument that you can throw. It's very easy when you have the very church and that Jesus Christ himself founded.
Oh yes I hate to burst your bubble but in fact several studies have come to the conclusion that the Catholic Church has actually a lower rate/equal of child abuse than virtually every denomination. Imagine that Larry, your wrong again. These were studies conducted by non Catholic organizations I might add.
This all seems to really upset you...it is fun to me. I will speak to you further regarding the protestant reformation later.
Anon,
You are caught up in a dualistic metaphysics based on the historical fact that the Catholic Church has never been able to reconcile faith with knowledge. So you continue to argue for the moral/spiritual respectability of the church on the basis of accomplishmnents in science that did in fact occur in universities created by the church. But so what. They still maintain a metaphysics of first principles which for a couple centuries at least prevented real progress in the unity of science. So if any experience in/or the world contradicts their jealously held first principles and its corrolaries, then they forget about the love of Christ and quickly invoke the violence of the wrathful God who gets to kick ass according to usually what dogmatic clerics and their "flock" see fit to kill. Such as those nasty homosexuals. If you could only try to understand the prohibition against homosexuality socio-historically, then you will see that God is not against it absolutely, just when the tribes of Israel have to keep up the population given the onslaught from all directions by those people we today call "terrorists."
So you need to take a good course in epistemology and critical thinking. Don't worry. God will forgive you.
Larry can you point to any recent attacks upon "gays" by Catholic "flocks" recently or at all? In if so can you reconcile that with the raw number of self described Catholics? That's over a billion Larry.
Actually Larry I have taken several philosophy courses and recieved A's in all of them. As a matter of fact I was just yesterday listening to "Eternal questions, timeless approaches" and "The birth of Western philosophy".
Once again Larry, historically Jesus founded one church, not spiritual, gave authority to his apostles to propagate the message, with Peter as the head of governing authority, and in fact he immediately began acting in such a position. Apostolic succession was established and Peter overseen several of the first Popes in which he considered himself the first although not in name.
Your views of Martin Luther and his authority to interpret the Bible were never in fact apparent. His views such as sole fide, sola scriptura, diversity of churcch and church proliferation, not to mention holy inspiration beyond anything other than the Pope was never found until 1,500 yrs after the death of Christ! You cannot find one single early church father, early christian, scripture which when taken into historical, contextural, language of the day ect that accurately reflects your position.
A few things of which would have to be the case in this were true.
Either:
1. Jesus established one church.
2. There is one church, abstract, invisible spiritual church where all Christians belong regardless of their denominations. Importantly, therefore there are either no essential truth nor doctrine or it acceptable to have contradicting doctrine or truthful.
3. Jesus established one visible church, with authority, where doctrine matters, without contradicting or conflicting acceptance of doctrine, this church would have to infact contain the fullness of faith and truth.
Did Jesus establish more than one church? See Mat 16:18, 1 Tim 3:15, 1 Cor 12:28, 2 Pet 3:16, 2 Pet 1:20, Acts 8:27-31, 1 Cor 12:28, John 10:16, Esp 1:22-23, Col 1:18, Esp 2:15-16, Esp 4:4.
Yes Larry when someone disagrees with your position that you in fact have no need to limit to "yourself" yet wish to eveince or better yet force by way of physical force through coercian of the governmental apparatus yet I am in need of a course or two. Larry you have no omniscience nor have you exceeded my knowledge at all my friend. I used to be a protestant and then I began to actually read the history of Christianity. There is truth beyond the confines and limitations of your creativity and intellect. You might in fact disagree.
You wrongly stated that the Church stifled or has stifled science without prefacing it with actual references or also the accompanying science in which they did promote of which I gave you a very small sample. I proved you wrong and your response was that of outright delusion in which a conspiracy develops they these Jesuits and other Catholic scientists had to fight against in which is not historically true.
If you speaking of bioethics, yes the Church does stand firmly against these intrusions into the realm of humanity. It was only a short time ago in some euroean nations that abortion was adopted and now they are questioning whether killing a child up until approximately 1 year should be legal as the child has no sense of "self importance or self conscience" also the non feeding of severly mentally retarded child is being advocated, along with involuntary non resusitation of elderly due to low birth rates, lack of funding due to socialist policies, lack of funding due to socialist policies. China is an excellent example just recently the state wanted to force a woman to give up her not yet born son(funny how it's a person if we decide it's convenient enough to consider it a person) so when she fled they jailed her family, friend, and bulldozed her home. She returned and they took her child, and leveled a fee oF which she could never afford. Was this always the case? No.
Do you understand continuity? What once was pohibited becomes normalized and likewise the bar of acceptability moves further, a good example is films, while laws may flucuate or change, the moral compass of societal evolution is what actually determines consumption. I cannot sell what someone will not purchase. Our devolution runs contiguous to not as a result of. Laws are of little importance to me, I seek not to stymie anyone's rights although we can argue against either positive or negative rights.
I do in fact draw the line in physically denying someone's rights. Whether it be a fetus(which after 6 weeks does in fact have a heartbeat) or laws governing discrimination, borders are almost worthless to me, or capital punishment, and anything other than self defense.
Contrary to your mistaken belief the Catholic Church's typical position in recent decades regarding economics is not the advocacy of capitalism. the Church's preferred route but a vision of distributism, a third rail between socialism and capitalism. There is a book entitled "Beyond capitalism and socialism" You would probably enjoy it immensely.
Funny though you mention the history of the chuch and it's suppression of others. That is very interesting considering that the Church condemned slavery, oppression of Mexicans in the early years of this country, and has in fact done a far bettern job distributing financial, nutritional, and spiritual support to "third world" countries than any goverment or governmental agency you or I can name. Who in fact was enslaving people officially? Which churches and why? Because of protestantism these abominations such as importation of slaves occurred and prospered.
The disconnection of faith and social life has led to this condemnable situation. Sola fide led many to believe that they could dualistically enslave and be faithful. They're faith is not inherently determined by grace working through love through faith.
If you would like a DVD series as what Catholics have always believed display your e-mail and I will send a VHS copy of it to you. I hear you make many incorrect statements regarding the history, sacred tradition and scripture.
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