I’m more than willing to admit that I find much of the Catholic kitsch available today to be quite amusing, albeit completely unnecessary. (See plush Mass kit.) It seems many retailers know that, as global, diverse community, the church offers not only a huge network of spiritual support, but a large consumer market, as well. Apparently SGR Games, LLC, hopes to tap into that market with a new online game called Vatican Wars. According to the press release:
[Vatican Wars] is a revolutionary social game that exists at the intersection of religion, politics and social issues. Players are divided into two teams based on their opinions on topics including abortion, same sex marriage, the ordination of women and the use of birth control. [Married priests is another one.] Each team then works to ensure that a player from the other team is not elected Pope.
Perhaps, if the aim of this game was to unite the two sides of this virtual church, I could get on board. But it seems the only point is to defeat the other side and to elect a pope who believes in your personal interpretation of Jesus’ teachings. You are meant to use your “Self esteem,” “energy,” “brainpower,” and “experience” to defeat others. In this virtual church—fueled by statistics and status—prayer, compassion, and listening to others don’t seem to play a role. Not to mention the fact that the concept of choosing sides within the church runs contrary to the point of the Church and the unifying love of Christ. (Plus, the team names—the Templars (Conservative) and the Crusaders (Liberal)—make little sense.)
Yes, it’s just a game. But at a time when the real-life church sometimes seems divided beyond repair, this game hits just a bit too close to home for me to find it funny. The labels we, as Catholics, are willing to throw around or hide behind, and the sometimes vitriolic arguments that surround the most controversial issues in the Church are, to me, heartbreaking not humorous.
According to the SGR Games founder, the company did some sort of “extensive surveying” in which they discovered that “80 percent of Catholics surveyed supported creating a game where they could debate these topics.” But, as far as I can tell, the game creates a world in which Catholics with differing interpretations of church teachings should view each other as opponents to be persuaded rather than fellow believers with whom one might engage in dialogue. Perhaps this sort of manipulation leads to an eventual champion in the game’s virtual world, but in real life, when we reduce an ancient, beautiful, nuanced church to a series of endless arguments about a few hot-button issues, nobody wins.
Kerry Weber
You can watch the Vatican Wars "tutorial" below:
I find myself sighing. At this point I honestly think that we're going to have to abandon most of the trappings of Catholic "kitsch" as you call it - the pot is too poisoned - and head out into unknown territory - Church as we have not known it before.
Beth, The Lord Jesus is waiting impatiently for us there . Most of this garbage is of human origin and has nothing to do with what Jesus spoke of in the Gospel.
"Church as we have not known it before". I see kindling burning in the distance.....
As Albert Einstein said about Mahatma Gandhi:
''I believe that Gandhi's views were the most enlightened of all the political men in our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit: not to use violence in fighting for our cause, but by non-participation in anything you believe is evil.''
Nothing like buying this to prepare your female child for disappointment.
It was primarily a role-playing game, where you would debate other "priests" and would win or lose based on your chosen views (abortion, SSM, etc.), previous debating experience, and earned abilities. Like in "Mafia Wars" or "Vampire Wars" you'd recruit as many people as you can for your congregation (as opposed to your mob or coven). Same exact game with a different face.
I thought it was interesting at first...but wow, did this bring out the worst in both wings of the Church. Nasty, vile stuff; message board/blog debates x1000. Here the aim is not to change hearts and minds but to theolgicallly "kill" you opponents.
NOT for me.
Since John Paul II, the hierachy has been presiding over the beginning of the end of the Roman Catholic Church as we knew before them. History will not be kind to their clericalism and unfaithfullness to Vatican II, including concepts of collegiality and subsidiarity. Educated, thinking people are leaving the church. The youth treat the Catholic Church as an oddity and something to be viewed from the outside.
It may take another generation or so, but the Roman church will no longer be Catholic, in the sense of 'universal.' It will appeal to a minority of people in the world... the very poor and those who favor absolute monarchies.