Coarse talk.
And detraction and calumny.
While reading an article defending the chastity and reputation of the Servant of God Cardinal Newman, the author referred to the accusations by contemporary gay activist, Peter Tatchill, as “coarse talk”. Indeed such coarse talk is very common today, and as I mentioned in an earlier post, any talk about homosexuality in Newman’s day would rarely be mentioned in polite society, or outside a confessional. It was a vice widely regarded with revulsion, in fact the term homosexual was invented in the mid 19th century, when medical science initially began to investigate its causes and courts were convicting people because of anti-sodomy laws.
Regarding Newman.
… the sense of a brutish 21st-century mentality being violently thrust upon a 19th-century individual of a very different cast of mind, the posthumous rape of a particularly delicate sensibility by a particularly coarse one…
Obviously the term “partner” he wouldn’t have understood at all - but then the words “gay” and indeed “homosexual” didn’t mean anything at the time. Homosexual acts were familiar to even the most sheltered soul in Oxford and Newman would have rejected the suggestion that he engaged in them with revulsion. - Timesonline
Now onto political mud-slinging.
As everyone in the United States knows, coarse talk is no longer restricted to the lower classes - it has become mainstream. It is everywhere in media and entertainment, and never more obviously employed than in an election year, when opposing candidates are liberally defamed and calumniated by one another and their respective supporters - and us.
The Obamanations.
The Obamas are perfect examples. No, not what the mainstream media is doing, or what the Republicans are doing - but what we are doing - average Americans. Because they are an affluent, professionally successful, black couple - albeit recast as the “black Kennedy’s” - they are prime targets for racial stereo-typical humor. If you surf the net, work in an office, or are on someones joke email circuit - you have seen the jokes and the photo-shopped images. And yes - some are hysterical, simply because they are so opposite of who and what the Obama’s are and what they have achieved - and yet something deep down in white people still won’t let them get by with that without putting them in their place. That said, it is akin to coarse talk, detraction, and calumny - somehow justified because the killing of unborn infants is an atrocity beneath contempt…
Pelosi-tics.
Then there is Nancy. It is one thing to offer fraternal correction - especially when it is judiciously provided by the USCCB - yet it is quite another to rip her to shreds like the old hags of Paris (Les tricoteuses) did during the French Revolution, as the victims were goaded on their way to the guillotine. The same with Sen. Biden - perhaps out of fear of death he once asked the doctors if he could keep his rosary under his pillow before going into surgery. And now he is mocked for such a personal act of piety - by Catholics who should know better.
Mea culpa.
I’m as guilty of coarse talk as the next blogger - and yes indeed - I laugh too. But as Catholics we still need to respect the dignity of the human person and their faith - no matter how disordered, distorted or convoluted. And yes - we need to point out errors when we see them, especially when those promoting error claim to speak for the Church, or when the proper authorities (bishops) do not defend the faith - but we should leave the mocking and sneering and coarse talk to the devil who inspires such antagonism.
August 28th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
“But doing the truth in charity, we may in all things grow up in him who is the head, even Christ:” - Ephesians 4:15
To love without doing / speaking the truth is, I have to be convinced, is not love but self-love. To do truth without charity is fail to make the truth convincing.
August 28th, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I love reading your blog. It is very inspirational. I’d like to add that we should also pray for the conversion of heart of people like Pelosi and Biden.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I love homosexuals in a christian sort of way. God bless them all.
I love women that have had abortions I pray that they can obtain Gods mercy ,and find peace.
I love sinners, liars, cheaters, and people of all races,and of all shapes ,and sizes. I am one of them ,we hang together in the confession line on Saturdays.
I dislike the Obamas as much as I dislike the Clintons. Only the Clintons are way funnier, and Michelle looks a lot sweeter than Hillary.
I can not find enough charity within myself to keep my mouth shut when a person , whether great or small is for abortion. I don’t care if I hurt feelings or produce pangs of guilt. I don’t care if I come off sounding unloving or unkind. I am so very angry about abortion. If more people including Catholics would have stood up ,and said ,and done the right things back in 1972-73′, we wouldn’t be looking at 49 million aborted babies today. Frankly I am real pissed about it, and if I come off as being unkind ,and lacking compassion, so be it.
,.,.,.,.,.,..,.,.,..,.,.,.,.,.,.
You understand that I am only mad about these issues, and that I mean no animosity or hatefulness towards our blogosphere leader, and his followers. I am just up for a little course talk that’s all.
August 28th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
I also agree with Anonymous, and I will add some penance ,and fasting too.
August 28th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Terry:
You are so correct that we should not tear apart our fellow Catholics–just because they are choosing their own truths, over the truths of our Holy Church. But, when they out-right lie, as did Pelosi–on National television, saying our church is not clear on abortion–and twisting truth into a lie, using the name of Saint Augustine–the lies need to be called what they are–lies!
Here’s my prayer:
Dear Saint Augustine, Pelosi has used you–twisting your words, as a justification for her own evil–to continue to encourage the killing of babies, please pray for our Lord to “enlighten” her to see the truth that she is killing innocent life, in the place where children should be the safest–in their own mother’s womb. Amen!
August 29th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I did love a woman who was pro abortion once. She was a brilliant Surgeon who was dressing the wounds of one of my twin daughters. My two pound 14 oz ,two month premature infant. Who had just lost her entire large intestines, some of her small intestines, part of a piece that joins the small intestine to the stomach. Her appendix ,and her gallbladder.(The eye disease was a few weeks later,even later I realized about the brain issues)
Knowing that the Dr. was adopted, I asked her if she still believed in abortion especially when it cost our insurance providers $237,000 dollars to save our baby just because we wanted her.
I said “If your mother would have aborted you ,then who would be standing here saving my baby?” I saw the seed of truth planted in her brain ,while again I quietly sobbed.
After my baby’s 5 surgeries I couldn’t cry anymore, because my eyes were puffing shut.
Now this same baby is 15 years old ,and I tried to kiss her on her cheek last evening ,and she said to me , “I DONT LIKE IT WHEN YOU TOUCH ME” again I sobbed. I wanted to tell her how very much I love her again. That’s how she punishes me for not letting her do the things that she wants to. She rejects me.
Strange how one of the people that I love most can’t stand me.
I don’t mind too much carrying my cross, it’s just that I get tired of all the painful splinters.
Personally I think that The moral of Terrys story is that maybe if we love people who are for abortion more ,then maybe we could convert more of them. I do agree ,and I should be a better christian towards them.
Or,
Maybe we could all be like Jesus ,and storm the abortion temples ,and turn over the tables?
Seriously no violence out there people! Like your friends are even violent. Ha!
Today I will pray for that great Doctor, and 10 of her smallest patients.
August 30th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Hey Leo is up for some course talk too! Oh we must conspire, um, I mean pray together. :)Terry will never have to know.
God WOULD tell Terry though ,and then we would get yelled at,or worse yet DELETED. Oh the tongue lashing, and the guilt, and I being of small mind ,and high anxiety ,would just fold. Unlike you Mr. Leo, GRRRR
I told my children that if they behaved badly that the Holy Spirit would tell me ,and ruin their plans ,and then they would be punished.
I tell them that they can’t get by with anything, and that their noses wiggle when they lie, so now when they lie they cover their noses.
August 31st, 2008 at 9:59 am
Thanks Mr.Leo!, I am on face book go over there ,and be my friend. Belinda Willy