Christians and savages, then and now
In the early 1700s, the great theologian John Wesley evangelized Native American Indians. He wrote in his journal in 1736:
I told [their head man], “If red men will learn the Good Book, they may know as much as white men. But neither we nor you can understand that Book unless we are taught by Him that is above: and He will not teach you unless you avoid what you already know is not good.”
He answered, “I believe that. He will not teach us while our hearts are not white. And our men do what they know is not good: they kill their own children. And our women do what they know is not good: they kill the child before it is born….”
Almost 300 years ago, with no Christian underpinning, supposed “savages” inherently knew abortion was wrong.
Flash forward….
On May 7, Hillary Clinton, who savagely supports even partial birth abortion, spoke to chagrin of faithful Catholics at a fundraiser for Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago.
Cardinal Francis George of the Chicago Archdiocese took major heat for this. Mary-Louise Kurey, Director of his Respect Life Office, explained in an email:
The Cardinal… judged that publicly contesting the Senator’s appearance just before the event would have created a national story that would have likely done more harm to the Church.
I found that comment strange. I’m curious. How would it harm the Catholic Church, or Christianity in general, to speak out against a pro-abort public official using its own venue as a pulpit?
In America, we’ve gone from a time nearly three centuries ago when supposedly savage nonchristians confessed the wrongness of abortion to fundamental Christians, to today when truly savage Christians tout the rightness of abortion with fundamental Christians afraid to say anything.
[Hat tip for Wesley info: GalatiansC4V16 via John H.]
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
I’m not inclined to assume that this woman’s email does, in fact, reflect the Cardinal’s thinking. My experience is that people, even employees of the Archdiocese, do not do a good job when they try to paraphrase what he has said or, even worse, what they think he thinks.
The Cardinal’s stance about the Church’s teaching and his fidelity to it have not changed one whit. Catholics of good will know this. He was placed in a situation where he could be only reactive, not proactive, and the problem then is being portrayed as reactionary. Will he be judged as a “good and faithful servant” if he acts in a way that drives more support to Clinton and those of her mindset and simultaneously closes more hearts and minds to the Good News?
I don’t think so.
Let’s take this one reasonable step further. Do you imagine that you actually think harder, better, and more acutely about what the Cardinal should do than he does?
I don’t.
Yeah because obviously anything or anyone who is not white is evil and everyone who is not white really wants to be.
Do you really believe everyone wants to be just like you? Cause I honestly don’t, I like being young.
John Wesley was an amazing man who had the supernatural forsight to develop the fundamental theologies of the Methodist Church. Im not partial or anything, but Methodists are uber awesome.
*gasp* You mean even the Natives thought abortions were immoral?
This must mean something!
… uhh …
It means that they weren’t Christian and since everyone seems to think that only Christians are idiotic enough to think there is something wrong with killing your children, even non Christians thought so!
And if you read more closely you’ll see that this wasn’t a “native american” bashing post, it was a “catholic bashing” post…
(Only kidding Jill, no offense was taken.)
“The Cardinal… judged that publicly contesting the Senator’s appearance just before the event would have created a national story that would have likely done more harm to the Church.”
thats the problem with the Catholic Church Jill. Many leaders in the church have turned into a bunch of spine-less wimps. ( Not Father Corapi though….. on at 10pm every saturday night EWTN), this guy calls an ace an ace and a spade a spade..
Jasper,
Did you know that he refused the tax exemption so that he could say whatever he wants…
I love ‘Corapi…Saw him here this March. Awesome!
Truthfully tho,
Cardinal George is pretty good. All of this happened recently and he is just getting over a bout with pancreatic cancer. Saw him speak a couple of months ago and he was really down. Totally pessimistic talk. Had me concerned. Probably wasn’t physically up to the Hillary fight. For the most part Chicago is coming along well. Not great, but after Bernardine there was an awful lot to clean up!
MK Im pretty much read up on Medjugorge…
Samantha,
Did you read Mirjanas latest message?
“Dear children! Also in this difficult time God’s love sends me to you. My children, do not be afraid, I am with you. With complete trust give me your hearts, that I may help you to recognize the signs of the time in which you live. I will help you to come to know the love of my Son. I will triumph through you. Thank you.”
Also this article by Father Peter…
http://www.spiritdaily.com/medjugorjepetar.htm
tick, tick, tick…ooooohhhh scaaaaryyyy!
MK,
Yes, I did know that (good for him, nobody’s going to tell him what to say). I saw him at the Boston Men’s Catholic conference last year.
Out of curiosity, what do you guys think of First Nations people demanding self-government?
(Last I recall, surveys conveyed it’s about a 50/50 split for those “for” or “against” the idea.
what is this about Kim? “First of Nations” ?
I mean, “Natives” or “Aboriginal.” “”First Nations” is the term we use most often in Canada.
I mean, “Natives” or “Aboriginal.” “”First Nations” is the term we use most often in Canada.
Sorry for the multi-posting!
Patricia Tryon –
“Will he be judged as a “good and faithful servant” if he acts in a way that drives more support to Clinton and those of her mindset and simultaneously closes more hearts and minds to the Good News?”
How could standing up to your faith be a way to drive more people to support Clinton? All it did was make him look hypocritical and it gives people a way out rather than standing up for the weakest in our society.
The Catholics teach that one should not stand idly by when a wrong is happening. A Cardinal is supposed to be, among other things, the peoples moral advisor. If he can stand idly by why should any Catholics stand up for what is right? He showed horrible judgment. Even if the statement given wasn’t 100% what he said, he still didn’t do anything. How are we supposed to have the courage to speak up when a Cardinal can’t do it?
This is a huge problem in the Catholic Church right now. The Cardinal showed himself as a coward who cannot even stand up for the Churches belief. Christians are supposed to spread “the word” – through their actions and words. He did neither of these.
(sorry MK – but if he wasn’t up for the fight, he should have appointed someone to fight for him. To be honest, when it comes to this stuff I begin to remember why I left the Church. I’m not saying I’m going to leave, just saying I’m reminded. This is why I have become a pain in the *** to the Pastor at my Church.)
;-)
This was a great post, Jill. I have read John Wesley’s diary before and it’s so interesting.
He went through so much suffering in his life.
Yet… even the Native American savages couldn’t bring themselves to make pregnancy compulsory. Point: moot.
The Cardinal sounds like a reasonable man… capable of accepting a a promotion for the Boys and Girls Home no matter the irrelevant politics of those involved.
As Christians we are called to stand in the gap, to be watchmen on the wall and to help people cross the gulf that exists between them and their Creator by following and preaching Christ. Christ’s teaching on children and warning against hurting the least of these are some of the most stern admonitions in the Bible.
The Bible also talks about how, even if a person doesn’t ever hear the Gospel. God judges them based on the intent of their heart, knowing what He planted there (Romans).
To be a Christian means that one must be willing to speak the truth no matter the cost that aborting a baby in the womb is against God’s intent and will and is therefore wrong. Same for immoral sex, homosexuality, murder, adultery, unbelief, etc.
My prayer is that that those who participate on this site realize that we Christians speak the truth in love in fulfillment of Christ’s commands. And frankly, if you claim to be a Christian and are pro-abortion and think homosexuality is OK, you are in grave error and need to seek repentance.
He loves each one of us and wants relationship, red, white, black, brown, yellow, doesn’t matter, however, while His love is unconditonal, His promises are conditional.
HisMan,
Come the rapture, can I have dibs on your car?
“…to today when Christians tout” the “rightness” of abortion with “truly savage” “fundamental Christians” “confessing” “the wrongness” of “opposing abortion.”
Gosh Jill, It’s like you’ve come full circle.
HISMAN: “To be a Christian means that one must be willing to speak the truth no matter the cost that aborting a baby in the womb is against God’s intent and will and is therefore wrong. Same for immoral sex, homosexuality, murder, adultery, unbelief, etc.”
being against abortion I can understand. being against “immoral sex” and homosexuality I don’t think I will ever understand.
some of the best sex I’ve ever had you would probably call “immoral.” (ok, scratch “probably”)