Defending Your Good Reputation

How many of you have heard of  the girl who is "easy" in high school. Many people talk about that girl, and spread that reputation despite the truth.  This also applies to adults.

This was the case of Ray Donovan, the former Secretary of Labor who was charged with larceny and fraud in connection with a Government Contract case.  After acquitted, Donovan famously said:

"Which office do I go to get my reputation back?"

 A person's reputation includes his word, character and bond. A person with a good reputation has a right to sustain it under conditions of justice. Yet, within our legal framework, a public figure does not have a right to defend his reputation in the popular mind. We can say anything about a public figure, according to some people's behavior, because there is little such a figure can do when someone says something negative about him. This is not the Catholic standard.  St. Francis de Sales, bishop, doctor of the Church said this about a person's reputation:

 Humility might make us indifferent even to a good reputation, were it not for charity’s sake; but seeing that it is a groundwork of society, and without it we are not merely useless but positively harmful to the world, because of the scandal given by such a deficiency, therefore charity requires, and humility allows, us to desire and to maintain a good reputation with care.

 Recently, with the cases of Father Corapi and Father Pavone, certain bloggers have used the St. Pio standard and tried to apply it to all such cases. This advice, of course, runs counter to the "Doctor of the Laity and Secular Priests" St. Francis de Sales. Francis de Sales urges people, in view of the virtue of charity, to defend their good names.

Francis de Sales words go unheeded. He also states:

Of course certain crimes, so grievous that no one who can justify himself should remain silent, must be excepted; as, too, certain persons whose reputation closely affects the edification of others. In this case all theologians say that it is right quietly to seek reparation.

So he calls even for reparations. This chapter, Part III, Chapter VII is worth a read. Keep in mind, this applies to secular (diocesan) priests and the laity. Religious priests and contemplatives (like St. Pio) are held to a different standard, as this great doctor of the Church states in other chapters.

Be not too quick to counsel silence. It may work for a contemplative, but an active priest, or person in the public eye, requires a different discipline all together. Like St. Francis de Sales, we need to recognize a person's reputation counts for something. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

Respect for the reputation and honor of persons forbids all detraction and calumny in word or attitude (2507).

 Detraction and calumny destroy the reputation and honor of one's neighbor. Honor is the social witness given to human dignity, and everyone enjoys a natural right to the honor of his name and reputation and to respect. Thus, detraction and calumny offend against the virtues of justice and charity (2479).

...detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's faults and failings to persons who did not know them (2479b).

calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them (2479c).

Perhaps, especially on the Internet, people should buy or dust off this book. There is timeless wisdom there.

Catholics in Political Life

One of the thorniest discussion topics among Catholics is politics. Politics is hands-off by many Catholics, especially around Cafeteria Catholics, who pick and choose their doctrine.

Catholics and Politics
This is strange to me, because the bishops of the United States are hands-on when it comes to political policy. In fact, the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us we have a responsibility (read "sin not to exercise") our duties as citizens:

The Church, because of her commission and competence, is not to be confused in any way with the political community. She is both the sign and the safeguard of the transcendent character of the human person. "The Church respects and encourages the political freedom and responsibility of the citizen"(Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2245).

While it is generally a venial sin not to exercise our duty to vote, it can become a mortal sin when, with sufficient knowledge and full consent of the will, a person becomes a deciding vote in an election that has a moral issue at the center of it:

"Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1859).

 Despite many bishops speaking out about abortion being the most important issue in the 2008 elections, 53% of Catholics voted for Obama. Disregarding the informed opinion of a bishop is a lack of faith in Catholicism. We must give it due consideration.

Should We Discuss Politics Among Catholics?
It is our duty to inform and educate. Of course, we must do such according to our competencies (Christefidelis Laici, 62). Politics is often avoided. When I was studying Speech Communications, one of the key rules they said was "Do not discuss religion and politics at work or a Social."  We, however, have a different calling.

We must educate our fellow Catholics on doctrine, and how our faith should inform our voting habits. We should put Catholicism at the head of our list when choosing a candidate. In my opinion, no issue is more important in the upcoming election, except maybe the economy and possible bankruptcy of our Country.

Is Islam Peaceful?

It was often said that Islam is peaceful.  Indeed George W. Bush said "Islam means peace."

For Catholics, this is another issue. Does Islam mean peace? A search of the Vatican website shows no such quotation by the Holy Fathers.

Should Catholics Believe Islam Means Peace?
Obviously, given that the Holy Father did not say such a thing, we should not consent to it. Indeed, some muslim translators have said that Islam means submission, not peace. So, based on their analysis, we should not be quick to concede that Islam means peace.

Islam is the Source of 80% of Conflicts in the World?
This is a stretch to say. This often-cited statement, which comes from various websites. The Journal Jewish Political Review says that Islam has an 80% higher violence rate than other religions. Some sources say they are involved in 80% of wars and conflicts. Indeed, in 2010, 100% of terrorism against Americans was committed by muslims according to the Department of Justice. These are not pleasant numbers.

Should We Believe that Islam is Peaceful?
Just because members of an organization are violent, does not mean a religion condones violence. However, in the case of Islam, the Koran and another muslim holy text does condone violence:

“They [Christians and Jews] desire that you should disbelieve as they have disbelieved… but if they turn back, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them, and take not from among them a friend or a helper” (The Koran, Surah 4:89).

“[Believers] [i]f you do not go to war, he [God] will punish you sternly, and will replace you by other men” (The Koran, Surah 9:39).

“…according to the statement of Allah's Apostle, ‘Whoever changed his Islamic religion, then kill him’” (Sahih Bukhari. 9:84:57).

While muslims say that Surah 4:89 only applies to the time the Koran was written, muslims throughout history have not taken it as such. Indeed, in a statement about the invasion of Spain, a muslim historian writes:

“Musa Ibn Nosseyr sent his son Merwan to Tangiers, to wage a holy war upon [Spains] coast…” (Ibn Abd-el-Hakem: The Islamic Conquest of Spain).

It seems that muslims throughout history have interpreted certain Koranic texts as advocating religious violence against non-muslims.

Is Islam Peaceful?
While certain muslims advocate peace, they might not be following Koranic doctrine. Indeed a group called the Sufis were strongly influenced by Catholic monasticism. Although they have their own violence.

I would say that Islamic doctrine is not peaceful. It is rather warlike, like the Norse Religion of Thor and Odin. However, certain muslims may be peaceful. However, that does not change the doctrine. The deeper you get into Islam, the more war-like you may become, as Daveed Gartenstein-Ross suggests.

The Persecution of Priests?

It is very difficult to discern what is exactly going on within American Catholicism today. We see many cases of popular priests within media having difficulties with their bishops. Fr. John Corapi, Fr. Frank Pravone, and outspoken priests within various dioceses such as Corpus Christi have been transferred, recalled or probably informally disciplined within their dioceses.  Either way these events have been very public contentions.

Are Priests Persecuted?
Foremost in my mind is the case of St. Padre Pio, whose was silenced for decades for alleged affair with a woman. It turned out that the bishop was actually the one who was having the affair. This was a grave injustice. I do not want to see a case like St. Pio happen again.

St. Pio's case shows that injustice against priests is not a new dynamic. If you look back into history even further, even St. Jerome was excommunicated, then later canonized. Abuse of power is not a new thing within Catholicism. It is ongoing today, especially by the hierarchy within Christ's Church.

The Case of Fr. Pavone
Fr. Frank Pavone, whose case is still ongoing, has been exonerated by his diocese, although the bishop is currently away. He was accused of not informing his bishop of the finances of Priests For Life, of which Pavone is the President. Even though Priests for Life is a Private Association of the Faithful, which has no accountability to Pavone's Bishop (Canon 321-326). While there are other restrictions on him, the important note to make is that bishops oversee Priests for Life, just not Pavone's ordinary.

Is Persecution of Priests on the Rise in the United States?
Diocesan priests take a vow of obedience to their bishop, while religious priests take a vow of obedience to their religious order superiors (Canon 573, §2). Therefore a religious priest does not need to obey a local bishop. This, however, does not prevent abuse by religious orders as has been the case with some Saints.

While some very public priests seem to have been persecuted, recently, I cannot say persecution of priests is on the rise. However, research should be conducted to examine if such is the case.

Perception Schmerception
We have an obligation to check our perceptions and discern the objective truth. I know from Psychology that perception is a tricky thing. A person cannot hear everything, yet many people think they can. This is why in law there is a process called due diligence: you have to give time and effort to research any undertaking in which you endeavor, before you take action.

Winging it does not cut it. Personal attacks do not cut it. Here is a case in point:

"I would venture to say that the supreme importance that he has attributed to his PFL ministry and the reductionist attitude toward the diocesan priesthood has inflated his ego with a sense of self-importance and self-determination." (Bishop Patrick Zurek).

Here is a thought for the bishop. Father Pavone is important. Priests for Life is one of the most successful ministries in the American Church today. His ministry with Priests for Life is becoming international in scope. Those are just the facts. Accept it and move on.

Humility is the virtue of accepting the truth about yourself, including the good. Father Pavone is important. Humility should tell him he is, although this does not call for braggery. It should also drive home his grave duty to finances and his other duties. He should also keep in mind that Christ is the source of all good works.

Yes, There is Persecution
The personal attack leveled by Bishop Zurek, constitutes persecution. Why do Catholics feel the need to engage in them, and not just stick to the facts? Father Pavone's spiritual state is between him, his spiritual director and his confessor. Unless Bishop Zurek is his spiritual director or confessor, he should be silent on this aspect of the case and remember the words of Saint Paul:

"It is the Lord who judges me” (1 Cor 4:3).

I think persecution could be tamped down if certain bishops would stop the personal attacks. Father Pavone has a right to defend his good name.  Stop attacking his good name, and things might go more smoothly.  Stop the persecution and personal attacks!  Just stick to the facts.