And Catholic Charities has shown itself to be especially adept at placing those difficult to place children. Yes, anyone who is willing to take in such children, any children without a home, are commendable for that. Even it is proven scientifically that children are negatively developmentally affected by being raised by same-sex parents, that does not change the fact that there are much worse situations that they could be in.
But I find it extremely difficult to accept the notion that Catholics should be expected to compromise their ideals in order to do good and the mentality that would demonzie them for not making that compromise. The freedom to hold our own ideals only exists when it corresponds to the ideals of the currently in power zietgiest? (Catholicism finding itself doubly screwed as it is incompatible with both of the competing zeitgeists that dominate our culture.) And I have a hard time accepting it as a pragmatic proposition, since the compromise of ideals espoused by Catholicism is what put most of those children in that situation in the first place.
But I find it extremely difficult to accept the notion that Catholics should be expected to compromise their ideals in order to do good and the mentality that would demonzie them for not making that compromise.
Well, it's nice to cherish moral principles, but sometimes the world is a very ugly place, and the best course of action is to compromise your ideals. It is not ultimately me or the state of Massachusetts making this demand of CCB, it is the fact that there are more children who need homes than there are good homes for them. These children are in crisis. It is this reality that is the real cause of this issue, not a political agenda on anyone's part.
I am not generating this demand, i am simply stating it. And long after you and i stop discussing it here, these children will go on needing homes.
So your blame should be on the state. The state created this situation. The state forced CCB to make this choice. Catholic charities has been doing this for a century, doing it when the state wasn't. The state stepped in and said, "the only way that we are going to allow you to continue helping the profound need of children is to compromise your ideals." You call on Catholicism to compromise on its ideals in this regard when you are utterly unwilling to do the same.
I for one hope that CCB finds a way to navigate this situation without making compromises. It should be possible, and the only thing that will really stand in its way is if the state refuses to help be part of the solution and insists instead on making the compromise of religion a prerequisite of charity. If the CCB doesn't strive to find a way .. well, just one more failure of Catholics in that part of the country.
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sophiaserpentia) wrote2006-03-11 01:24 pm
no subject
But I find it extremely difficult to accept the notion that Catholics should be expected to compromise their ideals in order to do good and the mentality that would demonzie them for not making that compromise. The freedom to hold our own ideals only exists when it corresponds to the ideals of the currently in power zietgiest? (Catholicism finding itself doubly screwed as it is incompatible with both of the competing zeitgeists that dominate our culture.) And I have a hard time accepting it as a pragmatic proposition, since the compromise of ideals espoused by Catholicism is what put most of those children in that situation in the first place.
no subject
Well, it's nice to cherish moral principles, but sometimes the world is a very ugly place, and the best course of action is to compromise your ideals. It is not ultimately me or the state of Massachusetts making this demand of CCB, it is the fact that there are more children who need homes than there are good homes for them. These children are in crisis. It is this reality that is the real cause of this issue, not a political agenda on anyone's part.
I am not generating this demand, i am simply stating it. And long after you and i stop discussing it here, these children will go on needing homes.
no subject
I for one hope that CCB finds a way to navigate this situation without making compromises. It should be possible, and the only thing that will really stand in its way is if the state refuses to help be part of the solution and insists instead on making the compromise of religion a prerequisite of charity. If the CCB doesn't strive to find a way .. well, just one more failure of Catholics in that part of the country.