"Give us a break"

[The following letter apparently came in response to the official statement on the decision to stop funding the SOA Watch]

In the Empire
18 August 2010

Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers:

"Given Father Bourgeois' central role as the founder and public face of the SOA Watch, Maryknoll Society leadership has determined that it cannot continue its financial support of that organization without giving the impression that it also supports the actions of its leader concerning the issue of women's ordination"

Who the hell are you guys kidding? Does anyone seriously believe this mealy mouth excuse to cut off funds to SOA Watch? The group writing this nonsense would have flunked Moral Theology 101 in my Franciscan classes. Ever hear of the distinction "remote and proximate cooperation"?

"Without giving the impression..." TO WHOM? This is a stretch that boggles the imagination and strains rationality. Why not acknowledge the real cause for this embarrassing statement? Come on, WHO pressured you? The troglodyte neocons in your order? A Chancery lackey? Maybe one of your donors threatening to cut you off? Or is it some Vatican miter trying to justify the recent outrage considering backing women's ordination to be a 'delicta graviora'?

How about a moment of truth instead of your lame excuse? I must say I will have to cut off funds to your Order lest I give the impression I believe your statement has any integrity.

By the way, what do you say to MANY Catholic activists who have demonstrated and have been jailed and fined over the years trying to indicate the Church opposes torture and Death Squads? What impression do you wish to avoid cutting them off from your support?

GIVE US A BREAK

(Rev) Tom Dunn
Laurel, NY


[Blogger's note: I must confess I didn't know what a "troglodyte" is, although I've seen it bandied about on Facebook. I went to Dictionary.com and found the following: trog·lo·dyte [trog-luh-dahyt]
-noun
1. a prehistoric cave dweller.
2. a person of degraded, primitive, or brutal character.
3. a person living in seclusion.
4. a person unacquainted with affairs of the world.
5. an animal living underground.
Origin: 1545–55; < L trōglodyta < Gk trōglodýtēs one who creeps into holes, cave dweller, equiv. to trōglo- (comb. form of trṓglē a gnawed hole; cf. trogon) + dý(ein) to creep into + -tēs agent suffix

I wonder if that makes me one????]