Ethics, Morality

[dandydand]

See here. I actually said something intelligible! Whose morals are we talking about?... Catholics cannot have separate moral and ethical stances.
In response to James Welle's article, which states, My point is that morals cannot and should not ever be used to justify ethics... All I ask is that when you formulate you [sic] arguments, whatever side

Comments

[dandydand]

Absolutely -- I'm glad to let you rant about this.

Idiots... argh...

Yes, I was equally pissed off to see those replies. I know I'm just a CS major: I wish I could explain my Catholic beliefs, but it's personally very challenging for me to explain/express myself to others, even in writing. I'd write more but this is a public post; I don't want to say any more publicly about that.

When I read James' article, I was thinking, "What the hell?" Again, I'd say more but I don't want to make public statements against The Observer; not yet, anyway. Likewise for Amanda's and Daniel's articles.

And I said that the contraceptive mentality ALLOWS the removal of certain things from sex - not that it necessarily happens or that it is the sole explanatory mechanism for the things that have happened in our country.

You're correct and you're wise to express it this way.

I also did not say that contraception robs the human race of a stable, loving family structure (Daniel Savage). I talked about the MENTALITY that contraception creates and implies. I made NO definitive statements about such direct relationships.

Again, you're correct and you're wise to explain yourself exactly as you do.

I am so sick of people erecting strawmen and having the Observer choose to publish that crap in response to a well-thought-out, carefully-worded and succinct piece. More importantly, I am sobered by the knowledge that there are so many kids here at ND who are willing to go to great and insulting lengths to condemn our precious Church.

Might I add that James Welle is both a ND student (presumably of his own volition) and a Peace Studies major? We can't always change the students, but we can change ND.

God, do I wish that some intelligent person would write in and point out how they misread my argument.

I'll forward all five articles to Fr. Foster, my resident priest. If he can't answer this, I bet that Fr. Coughlin would know what to do.

In the meantime I hope that somebody has the nerve to misquote and/or publicly attack what I said about the Catholic Church; if such an attack doesn't evoke a reply from the public, well... I can't imagine that.

I would have replied directly to James' criticism of your letter except I don't have nearly the background you have on this issue. I know that what he said is very wrong.

I really wish they would just admit that it isn't me they hate, but the Church. All I did was articulate the Church's position. Who's scapegoating now?

You're right. The amazing thing... not once did I say I hated James, not even here. Proverbs probably has something to say about "fools".

And there's also the fact that contraception wasn't even my main point - it was about the "what's morally right may not be best for the country" idiocy. Nobody chose to focus on that, did they?

Hence my letter; I missed the point, but addressed another equally important (and perhaps underlying) issue.

Argh... Daniel... what a fool...

You're most welcome Eleanore! I have a hard time expressing myself (even in anger) but your opening up this issue made it much easier for me. I too pray that those who call themselves "Catholic" will have that courage. This is about far more than a single argument; it's about convincing those both inside and outside all churches (established religions) of the true way. John Paul II wrote interesting encyclicals; I just finished reading Salvifici Doloris and I really like how he calls the earthly church to action!