www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Cardinal Arinze revisited

Dear Prof. Dan:

Your point is well taken, but, to borrow a phrase from our American political experience:

The Popes in the 15th and 16th Centuries didn't have to be Pope on TV.

In other words, 400-500 years ago, the Vatican was able to get away with a lot and the corrpution spread becasue one did not have lightining-quick information.

Had the excesses of the Popes leading up to the Reformation happended recently, they would have been quickly stopped once the media got on the scent.

That having been said, I agree that the university setting is one of the BEST places to discuss such matters.

Unfortunately, a commencement address is not a discussion, nor is it the proper place to begin one.

Yours,

hal

Much of this disagreement reminds me of what I face everyday at the University of St. Francis. 1. When I began teaching there I asked the head of the department who was fairly orthodox herself if I could make worship attendance mandatory as part of my Theology 101. "No", came reply, "we get government money."

2. During each semester I am evaluated by the students. The faithful and knowledgeable grade me very highly in most areas. However, I always get coomments like, "We don't think it's appropriate to shove Catholic theology down our throats." Or "He's Orthodox. Why is he teaching here." Or, "I'm Protestant. Why did my teacher teach only Catholic theology?"

So far, I've not been repremanded and doubt that I will be. But I don't see why I should change anything in any of those areas. I'm teaching Catholic Theology in a Catholic University. That's what I'm supposed to do.

I got so frustrated once when a student claimed that I wasn't teaching Catholic ideas but Orthodox ones that I lifted the text we use, which is the Catechism of the Catholic Church and asked him to read the title.

His eminence spoke wonderfully well at precisely the right time and in the right place with gentleness but firmness. Axios to Cardinal Arinze!

Dan Lauffer

Hal,

While I'm not convinced about your argument I can sense that you are looking at the issue with a sensitive nature. I respect that.

I would suggest, however, that we do need a pope that is convinced of his faith and is not afraid to speak up when speaking up is so desparately needed.

There are several things I like about his eminence. He speaks gently but clearly and firmly. He is from a continent in which the Church is alive, vibrant, and growing. He seems positive about the future.

Dan L

I realize that Cardinal Arinze caused quite a stir with his comments, as shown by the numerous replies to this topic. Although some people questioned whether he said the right thing, or said it in the right way, we need to look back to the words of the New Testament.

I believe St. Paul instructs us not to express our ideas with eloquence, but to express them forcefully and clearly. Cardinal Arinze is not in some popularity contest, and he must never be ashamed of affirming Christian teachings.

The Bible clearly insists on the sanctity of marriage and the seriousness of marital obligations. The Bible also clearly condemns adultery and homosexuality. Moreover, a hedonistic lifestyle devoted to pleasure obviously disregards God's commandments.

Cardinal Arinze simply repeated what the Bible and Church teachings state. If he ruffled any feathers, then maybe those feathers needed ruffling.

The fact that he ruined someone's graduation day be damned, I guess.

The only people whose graduation day he ruined were those who reject the teaching of Christ and the Church (which Georgetown claims to follow).

If I went to a Hindu graduation I would not be upset to hear a speech that promoted Hinduism.

We should not be surprised when Catholic graduations involve Catholicism.

Or should we?

LatinTrad

There is a HUGE difference in "involving" Catholisism as part of your institutional life and using it to take a pot shot at people who might be of a different faith with different moral teachings.

Georgetown, from what I understand has tried to do practice the former and avoid the latter.

His Emminence (to use your Latin terminology) went against that. Hence, I suspect, the reason why University leaders were upset.

hal

Hal,

I'll try one last time and then I'll let it drop. I teach Catholic Theology at the University of St. Francis. Despite the fact that I have Muslims, Protestants, Eastern Orthodox, an occassional Wiccan, and who knows what else, I still teach Catholic Theology. I don't apologize for it no matter how much some may wail. I've even been known to give them copies of the "Syllabus of Errors" which is not kind to Protestants.

I trust that Cardinal Arinze will continue to teach Catholic truth to Catholic University students whenever and wherever he is asked to do so. Perhaps if more had in the past we wouldn't have so much sexual immorality in the Church.

Dan Lauffer

Two sentences. Out of the entire speech, it was only those two sentences that infuriated the liberals. That is being pushy? That is ruining the graduation?

The problem is that our society has been babied for far too long. People whine and scream when someone says something they don't like. We have become a society of whimps. I do admit that I myself am among the whimps but I do try to let the others have their say and I do try to examine it to see if I am the one being unreasonable. I don't try to punish others for their beliefs and opinions but I do try to dialog and debate with them while trying to also be civil.

I had avoided joining any church up until only recently because I didn't like the pushy Christians I encountered for so many years so I understand what you are trying to say, Hal. I respect you for caring about the feelings of others and that you don't want anyone lost by hard Truth and pushiness. However, I seriously believe that Cardinal Arinze did not attack or condemn the people in the audience directly by the words he used. Only two sentences contained what some would consider inflammatory words. If offense was taken (which it was), then that's most likely because it was burning too close to home. The Truth should NOT be watered down just to keep from offending people at a Catholic university. Did Jesus water down the Truth when he spoke to the crowds? It was surely a mixed crowd that listened. Some were practicing Jews. Some were not practicing Jews. Some were pagans. There were the righteous and the wicked. It didn't matter, Jesus taught the same Truth to them all. There were indeed some who walked away because they couldn't handle what He said. Should He have modified His statement or, better yet, not said anything? Sometimes the Truth will scare away people but the seeds will be planted and in due time ... in God's time ... those seeds will blossom in their hearts and they will understand the Truth.

You know one reason why I became a Catholic? Although many on-fire Christians I met through the years scared me away from churches, I admired the fact that the Catholic Church still bravely teaches ALL of Christ's Truths without ignoring some of the harder issues or watering them down (though I can't say the same about some bishops and priests). Many of the Protestant churches, however, have modified their teachings so much that it makes it SO easy to be christian. Yes, small "c". Because of this, our society is reflecting this watered-down morality. Being an orthodox Christian takes discipline and a complete surrender to the Will of God. That is exactly what our society rebels against. Discipline and God are society's foes and anyone who preaches discipline and God's Word are foes.

Cardinal Arinze's speech was given at a very fertile moment in the lives of the graduating class. They are about to embark on a new life where they will have the power to shape their lives and influence the lives of others. All of the graduations I have been to have had some sort of pep talk that lightly touched on ethical behaviour but just avoided moral issues. Being that a high-ranking Catholic Cardinal was invited to a Catholic university to give a speech, I do not know what the expectations were of the committee that invited him! I also don't see why the audience made such a stink when they knew that he is a high-ranking Catholic Cardinal.

Then again, perhaps they just aren't used to morality being preached from the pulpit anymore since so many priests, pastors, vicars, and ministers are so afraid of offending the whimps that they just basically stick to the milder topics.

Forgive me for my strong emotion in typing this response. It is not out of hatred but out of concern. I love humankind way too much to see it become a mass of lukewarm souls that Christ said He will vomit out. That, I believe, is why the good Cardinal said what he did, when he did. And that is how, I believe, all of us good Christians should feel.

In Christ, praying for His Mercy,
Michelle

Whose graduation was "ruined"?

But, Cardinal Arinze was not yelling and was not "in your face" when he gave the commencement address at Georgetown, after all (again) it does call itself a catholic institution.

The bottom line here is the truth of the Word brings conviction. God's Word can not go out and return void. It angers when truth is spoken because the world does not want truth, it wants comfort food. God's Word feeds in a mighty way, and Cardinal Arinze fed many people that day through them. Today they maybe angry, but you know what a year, five, ten years from now those seeds that he planted will take root, and lives will be changed because he was not afraid to stand up, speak out, and be counted for Jesus and His Church.

Anyone that is upset that a Catholic cardinal referenced a Catholic Teaching during a graduation at a Catholic university is going to find offense at anything that is said. I live locally to Georgetown and it is quite clear that the only people offended were those (mostly Catholic) professors and students who reject Catholic Teaching on this issue.

Pot shots? How can anyone accuse a Catholic cardinal making reference to the need for people to adhere to Catholic Teachings in order to build a better society be accused of taking pot shots? The very idea is ludicrous. The Church cannot hide its teachings because someone might be offended by it. What�s next? Should Catholic schools refrain from praying altogether because some of the Muslim, Jewish and Hindu students might be offended by our faith in Jesus Christ? Those who might be offended by a reference to a Catholic Teaching in a graduation speech should not have chosen to attend a Catholic university.

Pope John Paul II is known, admired and respected worldwide because he is never afraid to proclaim the truth. In each country he has visited he has spoken against the anti-life mentality of our modern society. He has spoken as a pastor of the world. And Halychayn is offended that a Catholic cardinal made a simple reference to Catholic Teaching at a Catholic university graduation?

Cardinal Arinze is to be admired and applauded for his witness to Jesus Christ. It is a shame that some now consider the occasion of a graduation ceremony at a Catholic university as an improper venue for a witness of Christ and His Teachings.

I understand the wisdom of proclaming the Gospel in times and ways in which the Word will have impact - and appropriateness of context is one of the factors.

Thus, e.g. in a Latin Church context, a family at the height of mourning the loss of a loved-one: this is not a "teaching moment" about the annointing of the Sick, not being the last rites.

Nevertheless St. Paul exhorts us "to preach the Gospel in season and out". And sometimes and with some issues - there will never be a "good time" to proclaim the Gospel. One cannot only proclaim Catholic Doctrine to a receptive audience. Indeed on some issues, the average audience, given our "tempora and mores" will never be receptive. That should not mean that the Gospel should not be preached. Indeed that MAY mean that the Gospel should precisely be preached - in all love, gentleness, and sensitivity, but at the same time boldly and comprehensively.

Praching to the converted is not really preaching...

It seems to me that a Graduation (when there is a valedictorial address etc.) is a GREAT time to preach the Gospel and challenge these students to go out and live and proclaim what they have learned in school.

If the school and its administration has not taught the Gospel and this is the first time the students have heard it, that says more about the school.

If the school objects to Catholic Teaching being taught at a Catholic institution, well....

If the school invites a Hierarch of the Latin Church to preach, well....

Seems to me that it would have been just as appropriate to challenge the students to go out and live self-sacrificing, enemy-forgiving love, or preferential option for the poor, or the sanctity of life from womb to tomb, or no-death-penalty, or availing oneself of the Holy Mysteries, etc.

....seems to me.

Herb

Dear Prof. Dan:

But here's the catch: when you teach Catholic theology, you do it to a group of students that have signed up for your class. The people attending the graduation (a) did not know what was coming; and (b) could not possibly have all agreed to listen to a sermon.

At this point, we have agreed to disagree IMHO and, also, I know where I'm outnumbered.
So, there it is.

Yours,

hal

Here you make a mistake hal.

After all, the people graduating from Georgetown did "sign up" to attend a Catholic College, so they should not be upset when a Catholic message is proclaimed.

If they are then they should not have attended a Catholic College.


David, the Byzantine Catholic