Carl's (Seven) Cuts for (a Snowy) Friday

Carl's (Seven) Cuts for (a Snowy) Friday | Carl E. Olson | CWR Blog

Converts, the U.N. and the Vatican, Abp. Aguilar under attack, Hoffman's funeral, Gioia's award, Glass's empty hatred, and the Rolling Stoned article

Seven cuts for a cold and snowy Friday:

• Did you know that most, if not all, of the troubles in the Catholic Church can be traced back to one group of people? Yep. The offenders are commonly called “converts”, but they are really the pawns (and spawn?) of Satan:

The Protestant invasion (Hahn, Ray, Shea et al) has made Catholics sceptical of their own tradition. … Until the Protestant invasion, “the first seven years were the ones that count”. Every Catholic possessed the short pithy responses of the Baltimore Catechism as their lifelong possession. Newman in the Idea of a University tells the story of three Anglican ministers traveling in Ireland. They were guided by a 13 year old youth who surpassed them in his knowledge of the Catechism.

As one commenter noted, “Here's a pointer: to maintain the least modicum of internal consistency, avoid citing Newman in polemics against converts.” I suspect that St. Paul would agree.

• You've likely read about the January 31st report, “Concluding observations on the second periodic report of the Holy See” (PDF) issued by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. Many have described as an attempt to bully the Catholic Church about her teachings on sexuality, abortion, and contraception, and, after having read the document, I think that is an accurate and fair description. Although the text is bureaucratic in tone, the hubristic condescension and arrogance is quite thick. For example:

56. The Committee is seriously concerned about the negative consequences of the Holy See’s position and practices of denying adolescents’ access to contraception, as well as to sexual and reproductive health and information.

57. With reference to its general comments No. 15 (2013) on the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, No. 4 (2003) on adolescent health and No.3 (2003) on HIV/AIDS and the rights of the child, the Committee reminds the Holy See of the dangers of early and unwanted pregnancies and clandestine abortion which result notably in high maternal morbidity and mortality in adolescent girls, as well as the particular risk for adolescents girls and boys to be infected with and affected by STD s, including HIV/AIDs. The Committee recommends that the Holy See :

(a) Assess the serious implications of its position on adolescents’ enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and overcome all the barriers and taboos surrounding adolescent sexuality that hinder their access to sexual and reproductive information, including on family planning and contraceptives, the dangers of early pregnancy, the prevention of HIV/AIDS and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)...

And then, having issued that amoral-laden lecture, the committee has the temerity to state:

(f) Take measures to raise awareness of and foster responsible parenthood and sexual behaviour, with particular attention to boys and men

Yeah, right. The United Nations has, for quite some time, been promoting or aiding irresponsible sexual activity, contraception, and abortion throughout the world. Mary Jo Anderson, writing fifteen years ago, reported on how the United Nations Hague Forum was attacking “parental rights, national sovereignty, and religious freedom while it thrusts forward universal access to abortion under the cover of 'reproductive health and rights.'” That February 1999 meeting was hosted by the government of the Netherlands and the United Nations Population Fund (unfpa), “courtesy of the Bill Gates and Ted Turner foundations.” Anderson wrote:

Continue reading on the CWR blog.