Another Illustration That Tolerance Does Not Extend to Faithful Catholics
By: Msgr. Charles Pope
In another show of selective tolerance from the cultural radicals, there comes the following story, as related in Crisis Magazine. Here are some excerpts from the article:
In their zeal to protect students from any comments or opinions that may hurt their feelings, many professors [in this case at Marquette University] have created “safe spaces” in their classrooms—controlling all conversations in an effort to ensure that no one is ever offended …[Professor Cheryl Abbate] made it clear that the classroom was not a [place for students doubting] the value of same-sex “marriage.” Such conversations had to be held in secret so as not to offend others … One student in the class decided to pursue this issue with Abbate after class … The student said: “I have to be completely honest with you, I don’t agree with gay marriage …” Professor Abbate replied: “Ok, there are some opinions that are not appropriate, that are harmful.”
When the student replied: “If I choose to challenge this, it’s my right as an American citizen,” Abbate responded: “Well, actually you don’t have a right in this class … to make homophobic comments, racist comments, sexist comments … I can tell you right now, in this class homophobic comments, racist comments and sexist comments will not be tolerated. If you don’t like that you are more than free to drop this class.”
In the “safe space” Abbate has created, homosexual students have the right not to be offended … But, where does that leave faithful Catholic students? Is there a safe space for them? … For Abbate, it is uncontroversial to have a safe-space policy that is only safe for those who agree with her about the value of same-sex “marriage.”
In December, Marquette relieved Professor John McAdams of his teaching and other faculty duties for blogging about the Abbate incident. According to McAdams, the student involved in the confrontation with Abbate talked with him about the incident, and McAdams took to his blog, Marquette Warrior, [N.B. Professor Abbate] had also written of the incident on her blog but was not disciplined for bringing the matter to light … [The full article is here: Crisis Magazine online: Catholicism is Considered Unsafe at Marquette]
Welcome to “tolerance” as defined by secular radicals. In their lexicon, “tolerance” is “your right, actually, your obligation to agree with me.” “Live and let live” means, “you have the right to live only where Isay and under the terms I set.” “Bigotry” applies only those speaking out against the classes they say are oppressed. “Phobes” (as in homophobes) are those who oppose their agenda. “Hate” only exists against the classes they say are “protected” and that they have defined as “oppressed.” Apparently, it is not possible for religious or social conservatives to be the object of hate, since hate only comes from social conservatives. Or so it would seem from their behavior and policies. And very few will question them on this due to the support of secular media and to the pressure to be politically correct.
Pope Benedict spoke frequently of the “tyranny of relativism.” Essentially, this means that when a culture decides there is no fundamental basis of truth (whether from Scripture or Natural Law), the result is that there is no real basis for discussion or resolution of issues. Thus, who “wins the day” is based not on reason but on who shouts the loudest and/or who has the most power, money, or political influence
Can they be anti-Islamic, or does that cross the line?
there are students who engage in honest discussion and there are those who just like to rattle their professors and classmates. If it was an honest discussion then the professor should help to guide but not squash the ideas. On another note:
In the real world people are not free to talk about the real problems in Ferguson or about the dangers of Islam. You are quickly called a racist and shamed into silence. Honest discussions are dangerous and it is best to avoid them.
Comedians are free to joke about the Catholic church and refer to all priests as pedophiles. For St Patrick’s day the media sells the image of drunk irish as a stereotype. As someone who is both Irish and Catholic I find these stereotypes insulting. I also realize that many times stereotypes are based on the negative activities of some in our ethnic group.
Thanks for posting this PJ. Today is the Lord’s day, as good as any for the Church Militant to snap out of its trance and perceive with open eyes and a clear mind that it is entering a social and cultural Winter of unknown duration. When Spring comes, heaven willing, we’ll fond we have saved Western Civilization once again. But, first things first–we must develop earthly strategies for preserving and propagating the miracle of our common faith. We are told that the one true faith, our Church, will survive through till the end of days, and that the and the very gates of hell will not prevail against it. In the meantime, let’s work to ensure that in this victory we do not need to be dragged by our Lord and Savior, his grace-filled Mother and her blessed spouse across the finish line.