SOUTHERN PAPIST PERSPECTIVE
A Catholic Opinion Newsletter
334 Lakeshore Drive
Jackson, Mississippi 39213
May 1997
Issue 26
DIALOGUE AMERICAN STYLE: NON-DEBATE DEBATING
A priest friend of mine, who attended seminary in the northeast several years ago, recently shared
with me how he had been trained by a modernist instructor on the most effective way to debate
the traditionalist view of Catholicism.
Certain members of the class were to lay out strong orthodox theological positions, while others
were to represent the modernist view. The class would decide the winner. The first student would
strongly state his case using forceful traditional arguments. But the student who represented the
modernist viewpoint would not respond at all to the substance of the first student's arguments,
but rather would speak softly about how unfortunate the first student's negative attitude was.
How it was obvious he was struggling in his own spiritual life. That he should be careful to avoid
being mean spirited, as well as realizing these matters were far too complicated for pat answers.
Surely in his misguided zeal he was exaggerating matters and being judgmental.
The class agreed that the modernist position won.
Over the years, and in numerous confrontations and discussions about theology, I have often
encountered similar strategy. Last month's letter concerning Cardinal Bernardin, Holy Devil?
sparked several such responses. One person told me how they couldn't believe I had written such
things, but then turned away, ending any discussion. Another told me how disappointed in me
they were that I would denigrate the Cardinal, implying some malicious motive on my part. I
asked him to please point out one statement that I had made that was not true. He walked away.
Several years ago at a pro-life gathering I forcefully stated that the Catholic laity would never
mobilize against abortion until the clergy provided proper leadership, which at that point, and
even now is almost non existent. No one stepped forward to dispute me with evidence of clerical
leadership in the battle for the unborn. No, they simply accused me of "priest bashing." Bill
Clinton used the strategy against Bob Dole. Dole forcefully pointed out Clinton's habitual lying
and political opportunism. Clinton didn't (couldn't) even attempt a rebuttal, but piously said
"Criticism never fed a child."
We can also see an example of this methodology in the Jackson diocese. The Mississippi Today
continues to publish the modernist ranting of Fr. Richard McBrien. Almost weekly a faithful
reader will write the editor to take exception with McBrien's heretical neo-paganism. Yet we see
no response from the editor or the bishop to explain why McBrien's views are worthy of
promulgation, or in the alternative, pointing out the error of his critics. No we simply get silence.
This is Non-Debate debate. When one can't win a debate on the facts, there are several strategies.
The best strategy is to put on an air of civility and kindness and make your opponent appear mean
and insensitive. The second is to attack your opponent personally, questioning his motives for
pursuing his position. Lastly, one simply refuses to respond to any criticism.
In our ongoing struggle with modernists, we orthodox Catholics appeal to the Popes, Councils of
the Church, tradition and Sacred Scripture. Modernists mumble platitudes about our lack of
charity and unwillingness to "dialogue." They charge us with failing to live up to the "spirit of
Vatican II" and attack us as rigid extremists who lack compassion and understanding. They say
and do anything except debate us on the substance of our arguments. Why? Because they are
wrong. They know they cannot win an honest open exchange. Instead they will continue to ignore
our arguments and dismiss us as unenlightened tyrants because we won't buy into their nonsense.
In my last article I did not impugn Bernardin's motives. Only God knows what they were. But I
did say he undermined the pro-life movement and allowed heresy and liturgical abuses on a
massive scale. His diocese was a hot bed of dissident feminists and homosexual activists. He
called Saint John an anti-Semite. He "dialogued" with dissenters while ignoring traditionalists. All
of these things are true and documented (see below).
When the Amchurch crowd and modernists are willing to engage in honest debate I am more than
willing. But as long as they continue to engage in non-debate debate, ignoring traditional
Catholics, and dismissing us in a patronizing tone, I will continue to present Catholic orthodoxy in
a forceful manner. We must all pray for God's grace and forgiveness. And though we are called to
love and mercy, we are first called to truth. We must also remember that orthodox Catholic
theology teaches that it is true mercy to admonish sinners, instruct the uninformed, and counsel
the doubtful.
May God help us.
May the Peace of Our God the Lord Jesus Christ and the Prayers of Our dear Blessed Mother
Mary be with you always.
/s/
Jack Keene
For the curious, I have included below just a few examples of Bernardin's statements and actions.
1. In an infamous speech given at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Bernardin stated that anti-Semitism began with the Gospel of John, the early Christians, and the Fathers of the Church
"especially St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom." He also blamed the Church for the
Holocaust: "There is little doubt that classical Christian presentations of Jews and Judaism were a
central factor in generating popular support for the Nazi endeavor." May 23,1995.
2. When asked by Fr. Richard McBrien if he would deny communion to someone who is divorced
and remarried in accordance with the Vatican mandate he said, "Oh, no, that would be
inappropriate to embarrass someone like that." Essays in Theology Jan. 1995. In the same article he again blamed the Church for the Holocaust and said "I am not in awe of the Vatican, I have my own opinions."
3. In Feb.1994 Bernardin allowed Call to Action activist Fr. Michael Crosby (author of the Catholic bashing book Dysfunctional Church ) to speak in his diocese after Archbishop John Roach denied Crosby permission to speak in Minneapolis St. Paul because of his "vicious attacks
on Catholicism." Nearly all the modernist Call to Action leaders were affiliated in some way with Bernardin including former Director of Evangelization for Chicago Fr. Patrick Brennan. This group actively opposes the teachings of the
Holy Father.
4. In March 1995 the Cardinal pledged one million dollars of Chicago diocesan funds to the
socialist Alinsky organization without consulting members of his diocese. This group supports the
Democratic Party's social agenda, which includes radical feminism and forced redistribution of
wealth. This was done even as old Churches were being shut down due to "lack of funds."
Chicago Sun Times, March 1995.
5. In the Chicago daily Southtown Feb. 6,1994 Fr. Michael Place (Cardinal Bernardin's
theological consultant) stated that Cardinal Bernardin would soon implement a plan to replace
priests with "women parish coordinators'.
6. Pagan theologian Rosemary Reuther was a prominent fixture in Bernardin's diocese.
She stated
in her 1976 book Journeys: The Impact of Personal Experience on Religious Thought that she
believed Baal to be a real god, and that
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