I typically shy away from critiquing pieces written in college newspapers mainly because when I look back at the things I wrote in college I shudder at my own shallowness and pretension.
But this completely absurd piece which came from Saint John’s University newspaper The Record is, I think, indicative of a larger problem of the university. This writer picks up the Catholic Catechism and shockingly learns that we’re not supposed to hate gay people. Firstly, kudos to the theology staff there at SJU for really educating these children to what the church teaches. This kid “discovered” this nugget of info on his own.
Respect the Catechism, Respect homosexuals
By Cameron SchneiderAt first I couldn’t believe it. It just didn’t make sense! How could so many people be wrong?
Maybe a little background would help. A couple of weeks ago, I was browsing through my personal copy of The Catechism of the Catholic Church when I came across the section that deals with homosexuality.I almost didn’t read it, because I was positive that it was going to speak as unkindly about homosexuals as many Christians do. On a whim I read it anyway, and I was shocked. The Catechism, the holy guidebook to all that is Catholic, actually says that Catholics should treat homosexuals with kindness and respect.
I’ll save you the trouble of reading it yourself with a direct quote from the book: “[Homosexuals] must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”
From what I’ve seen, both on these campuses and across the nation, it would seem that many Catholics are not aware of this particular section of the Catechism.
I actually think it was just you who wasn’t aware of this. But thanks for saving us the “trouble” of reading the Catechism for ourselves. That book is really big and like there’s hardly any pictures.
The writer continues that Catholics shouldn’t hate homosexuals because the KKK doesn’t like Catholics or homosexuals. The logic of it all!
In fact, Catholics, more than any other denomination, should be especially compassionate to homosexuals. You may not know this little tidbit, but in early American history, Catholics were despised and discriminated against as well. (Proof of that little tidbit is available in the Bible which is even bigger than the Catechism so don’t read that either)
In fact, the only group that treated Catholics and homosexuals “equally” was the Ku Klux Klan – they hated Catholics and homosexuals with equal passion.
I’m not saying Catholics across the world should encourage homosexuality, but you don’t have to hate homosexuals. They deserve better than that, and if you are Catholic, just remember that your great-grandparents faced the same discrimination in America that homosexuals are now facing today.
Firstly, I would point out that Catholic discrimination is not a thing of the past. Every year thousands of people are killed, tortured, and starved because of their faith in Jesus Christ. (Kudos once again the SJU for broadening their student’s perspective)
How is this young man going through Catholic school without realizing that we’re not supposed to hate anyone. Is is because his professors are all posing as “liberators” of the Church and are only able to defeat straw men? So they teach students that the church hates women, homosexuals and communists and then establish themselves as the true conscience of a progressive and inevitable Church?
September 8, 2007 at 4:02 am
One fourth of the AIDS patients in the world are cared for in Catholic facilities. Imagine our piece of the action if we didn’t hate them so much.
September 8, 2007 at 3:01 pm
I get the feeling that this student writer equates “kindness” with “support gay marriage and homosexual relationships”… but maybe I’m just cranky this morning…
But part of the problem is that for many kids growing up to day, the concept of “Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin” is unheard of….
Because they feel the need to BECOME the sin… “Well, sure Bob and I are living together… but you can’t tell me not to! This is who I am!!!
Perhaps the problem is that, earlier in their lives, noone bothered to tell them who they really ARE….
sigh….
September 9, 2007 at 3:41 am
The one thing this guy doesn’t point out is that while we are called to love and respect homosexuals and actually all of God’s creation, we are not called to support and accept their lifestyle. You won’t see that reported on the news, because it might seem insensitive to them.
September 9, 2007 at 3:49 pm
How is this young man going through Catholic school without realizing that we’re not supposed to hate anyone. Is is because his professors are all posing as “liberators” of the Church and are only able to defeat straw men? So they teach students that the church hates women, homosexuals and communists and then establish themselves as the true conscience of a progressive and inevitable Church?
Yes. Yes. And Yes.
September 9, 2007 at 3:54 pm
I sometimes really worry about the state of catholic education in this country. I myself am Jesuit educated and it was their view of themselves as “breaking away” from the old stale Church that made me really investigate what that old stale church was. And I found it to be more beautiful and philosophically pure than the rantings of left leaning idealogues.
September 12, 2007 at 4:58 pm
This is the one area of the Catholic Catechism that troubles me. Particularly where it says that most homosexuals do not choose their condition. How can that statement be truly said with any authority? At any rate, it should be pointed out that it is not unjust discrimination to deny work with children to homosexuals, to deny parenthood by adoption to homosexuals, to deny positions of leadership in the Church to homosexuals, etc. The list of what is not unjust discrimination is long, I am sure. On the other hand, they are entitled to basic “rights” such as life, food, etc. I admire those who believe that they are “homosexual” who still desire and attempt to follow Church teaching on morality. God bless them.
September 13, 2007 at 9:05 pm
I go to school with this kid, and I’m a regular reader of The Record, and I think it’s safe to say that he doesn’t exactly speak for everyone here…truth is, he does a pretty poor job of representing the moderate and left-of-center counter to Kurt Sorensen, a regular (and conservative) contributer to the OpEd page. Honestly, I’m not sure why noone else is writing in. Maybe I will.
Cam is trying to be too sensationalist, trying to hard to be “daring,” if you will. I’d honestly bet that he DID learn this nugget of information in a classroom, maybe even before he started Catholic education, but then tried to be his usual sensationalist self and write something he could deem as bold and brave. The newspaper here is typically better about the content of what it publishes, at least from the couple of years I’ve been scanning it. Hopefully (and I hate to say this) Cam is writing too much longer.
It merits saying, at the same time, that students here only undergo one or two theologically-based classes (required, at least) during their whole four years. We had an openly gay chaplain who resigned a couple of years ago due to pressure (the hate wasn’t overt, but it was there) and the GLBT group gets a lot of hate mail (which they once made public…hilarious!), so if you’re naive enough, it seems, some of the most basic precept of Catholocism can go virtually unnoticed the whole time you’re here. Maybe you’re all right when you say we should be concerned about the state of Catholic education.
So long story short, he’s a crappy writer, and don’t let it bug you too much. Hopefully the paper will use more discretion. But you all make very valid points.
Thanks
February 1, 2008 at 7:43 am
Hi!
I’m actually the author of this piece you so ignorantly find humor in, and the truth of the matter is that I wrote in directly in response to some of the hateful things I’ve seen on campus here at CSB/SJU. I’m sorry if it offends you to think that some people would have the audacity to use religion as an excuse to hide their hatred for others, but it happens, and it was happening a lot here. My writing style tends to be sarcastic (hence I pretended as if I had made a discovery as big as discovering that the earth rotates around the Sun), and I do feel that I may have singled out Catholics unnecessarily, but my point was valid – people needed a reminder that religion does not endorse that sort of hatred. A lot of the monks on campus e-mailed me to tell me that they were glad that I wrote the article and that they shared my concerns, so I’m wondering how you feel that you all are in a better position to make judgment calls about the animosity here on campus, and why members of the monastic community at CSB/SJU seem to be glad that I wrote the article?
February 1, 2008 at 7:57 am
Hi, Cam is pretty much correct. It sucks being GLBTA at CSB-SJU.
Here’s a sample of some of the emails PRiSM gets (names not included)
Well this is absolutely ridiculous. Not only is it disturbing (the pictures) but why would you ever call it a BAR BE QUEER. I thought we were supposed to not say those naughty words, a little contradicting I think. STOP SENDING ME THIS FILTH, IT IS OFFENDING ME AND DOES NOT UPHOLD THE VALUES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
-This was in response to an email sent through a universal distribution list to every CSB/SJU student. It was promoting a BBQueer (trying to “take back the language” ie, it is okay for a gay person to call another gay fag, dyke, etc because it’s being used in an endearing way in the same way it’s okay for an african american to go up to another african american and say “what up nigga” but it is wrong for a white person to do the same.) Make sense?
Oh, and the pictures he refers to: one was a picture of ribs and hamburgers on a grill and the other was a picture of club members cross-dressed for “rocky horror picture show” on halloween. (Which some students responded well to).
Here are some more emails:
“please stop sending me gay shit”
“I would ask you to please stop sending me these emails. I am not interested and do not support what you are promoting.”
“What is wrong with feeling uncomfortable around gay people. If your group is so accepting then why don’t you accept the fact that homosexualness freaks some people out. You can love who ever you want you just can’t have sexual intercourse them. ”
“Prism you should stop emailing me because I have beliefs that oppose your entire organization and all things you support.”
“The next email my girlfriend receives promoting homosexuality I am going to start a group on your campus for hating fags.”
February 1, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Did you call them monks? hahahhhahahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!! You called them monks!!!!!!!!!!I won’t get over that one for a while.
February 1, 2008 at 10:17 pm
That’s what they’re called by just about everyone here on campus.
February 1, 2008 at 10:20 pm
yeah, what else are you supposed to call a monk?
By the way, here is the email prism sent out that was “hilarious” as one of the people who responded to this pointed out.
You’ve gotten the e-mails about PROUD week, but why should you care?
Because hate exists even at CSB and SJU.
Don’t believe us?
Well then here are a few of the many hate e-mails that PRiSM receives every year:
(Note: the name of the student has been removed to protect their ignorance)
Listen you les-bi gay faggots, this shit has no place on this campus, get it out!
Why would I come and watch this movie? Fuck off
You figure out a way to stop sending this crap to me and you figure it out soon!
PLEASE TAKE ME OFF OF YOUR LIST. I DO NOT WISH TO RECEIVE ANY OF YOUR E-MAILS. THANK YOU
(subject heading: I’m NOT GAY)
Disgusting. Do not not send me anymore of your emails. Personally take me off your mailing list.
Thanks but no thanks fags.
get a life
I am emailing in response to last weeks article in the record i was just thinking your slogan could be: SILLY FAGGOT DICKS ARE FOR CHICKS OR SOMETHING WHY DONT YOU EMAIL ME BACK WITH A RESPONSE
I don’t want any more stuff from you guys. I can only hope that you pray to God so you can change your messed up ways.
I would appreciate it if you drop me from your mailing list forever I dislike Gays emensouly
Please never send me another email for the rest of your existence.
DON’T EVER SEND ME ANY OF YOUR MAIL AGAIN. IF I WANTED TO RECIEVE YOUR MAIL I WOULD HAVE SIGNED UP TO BE GAY.
I find it hard to believe that you attend a Catholic school and yet choose this lifestyle. Truly, God does not want you to live this way.
LISTEN!! stop sending me all your stuff! I dont care nor do i condone gay sex. I dont hold any all straight meetings or have showing of all straight films, so stop it. i you want to hold it fine, but dont let me know about it.
I do not agree at all with what you are doing, it is totally against my morals and beliefs. Please do not send me any more mail what so ever. I think what you are doing is wrong.
I am not gay/lesbian and strongly request that no more mail is sent to this address
I don’t want to hear about queer butt humping get togethers, so stop sending them to me!
I told you for the eight time to stop sending me shit. For-real, take me off of the list. I do not send you shit about being straight do I. So stop sending me shit about being a Flamer.
Don’t send me shit from your club please. Thank you
You guys a sick and need help. If your so Goddamn proud of being a freak of nature the let us see who you are. Am I interested? HELL NO!!!
I would like the group or club to never to serve on the campus, or in my life!
I don’t request campus-wide e-mails and I find it very OFFENSIVE to be forced to face this at a christian school. FORCED, not asked but FORCED! It’s ridiculous that you feel the right to subject me to this!
don’t send me shit like this, ever.
Hell No! I am not damn interested and please don’t send me any more of this “stuff.” NOT INTERESTED!!
I don’t care. I don’t care about Prism. I think you people, gay, transgendered, etc., make me sick. I think it is a stupid idea, and last but certainly not least, don’t send me anymore of your crap e-mail.
So please attend an event, find out what we are about, and stop the hate at CSB/SJU!
February 1, 2008 at 10:30 pm
“it should be pointed out that it is not unjust discrimination to deny work with children to homosexuals, to deny parenthood by adoption to homosexuals, to deny positions of leadership in the Church to homosexuals, etc”
Ummm, exactly why again are those things not unjust? Gay people are perfectly normal and want to live monogamously with their one true love just as straight people do. They aren’t perverted and looking to have sex with little kids! Don’t use the Church’s scandal to stereotype an entire segment of the population!