While participating in the "Occupy Wall Street" protests in lower Manhattan, I have begun to wonder what would happen if Catholics took this model and applied it to their passion for and grievances with their own church.
Imagine a group of Catholics whose deep care for the future of their church is matched by their sense of responsibility to name, protest and change what is intolerable about that church today: in the form of nonviolent physical occupation of spaces, in the form -- necessarily imperfect and unruly -- of democratic organization, in the form of continued open-ended articulations of visions of a different Catholic Church, without prematurely forcing the movement to take on a specific agenda. And yes, in the form of consciousness-raising and of direct action. This would be the Catholic version of the Arab Spring, to combat the long Catholic Winter.
What would the compelling love be for you that would make you consider joining such a movement? Would it be your hope for the church as a sacrament of God's salvation in the world here and now, your faith in the prophetic call of the Spirit that assures a permanently unfinished character to every church arrangement in the name of God's future alone, or would it be your love for the gift of your faith tradition to which you find yourself inseparably wedded for better and for worse, for richer and for poorer, in sickness and in health -- or something else?
What would be the last straw that would make you join such a movement? Would it be the episcopal malfeasance and coverup known as the sexual abuse crisis, would it be the steady disaffiliation, deconversion, and detachment of your family members or friends from the faith as church structures, teachings, and practices become steadily more incredible in contemporary society, or would it be the failure of the church to practice in its internal affairs the justice it preaches to the world -- or something else?
Or, like the "Occupy Wall Street" movement, would the precipitating awareness that would lead you to join such a movement simply be a recognition of the intractibilty of the near invisibility, in everyday church governance, of the overwhelming majority (all non-ordained persons) as compared to the small minority (the ordained)?
Looking at the world and the church in this moment, I would say that now may be some kind of privileged time for such action. Will Catholics take it up?
I have to agree with you the idea of occupying the church is absurd and you analysis it very well as you always do. I agree with your comments that some of the occupiers' words and deeds are comic. Your analysis and judgement is excellent and very worthwhile hearing.
But your comments about recommending distributionist and Chesterton ideas seem unusually way off the mark. You have repeatedly mentioned distributionism as an economic solution.
I thought I as aware of most economic ideas but I never heard of distributionism before you mentioned it. Distributionism definitely is not a mainstrem economic or political ideas. The scant literature that exists on this subject seems very dated, going back to the eartly 20th century and seems associated with theology more than economic or politics where it is sometimes refered to as Catholic economics or "third way" economics - not socialism or captitalism but something religously rooted in some rare Catholic prespective.
The idea of a "Catholic economics" is scarier and as baseless as some of the stuff in this article. The ideas having a unknown "third way" economics for societ to organize itself economically seems to be way out on the fringe and worst than the vague anti-capitalist sentiments of the Wall Street occupiers. Even the Catholic encycploedia does not reference Distributionis or "Catholic economics".
I'm curious. Where on earth did you get this idea of distributionist from that you are always pushing? Is this a Catholic theology course topic being promoted by a some Catholic collge theology department. I do not believe you got the idea of "distributionist" from a economic course anywhere. Is this just another utopian idea taugh in Catholic colleges outside of mainsteam economics? Or is there some real economic science to "distrbutionist" that I have missed? The few reference I have read on "distributionist" sounds like an essay in Catholic utopian thought in the early 20th century with no current audience. Is promoting distrbutionist ideas some private ideas of one or two of your professors? Is this "distributionist" idea currently being taught in Catholic colleges as part of a theology course ? And if so why ?
And that God is one who, according to my Catholic faith, who is also humble and loving. A king who serves his people, sharing in their humanity.
You know, there is room in this world and in this Church for liberal thought, theology and America magazine. We are, after all, one people, one churh. THat's why it's called "Catholic".
Conservative readers might consider listening to and pondering these ideas, learning something new or a new way of seeing. Rather they are very quick to point out the "wrongness" of these ideas while asking (or sometimes demanding) that we leave the Church. I can't figure out whether they think that they are helping us or trying to convince themselves of their own "rightness".
Thanks Crystal for the link to the insightful book review. I was going to add that this is an old form of conservative nostalga that dates back to 19th century France when the bourgeoisie became entralled with artisan handicrafts-but did not confront directly the foundations of capitalism (and the industrial revolution that helped bring into existence). In many ways it's a feel good leisure activity.
Because two can play the "let's occupy the space" game. If a bunch of hippie radicals storm my local parish, then I'll lead a battalion to storm their homes, schools, haunts and hang outs.
You trash my Church and call it a principle of human rights to do so, then it's free game for us to trash your living room, class room, dorm room, etc.
See, the social compact works both ways..... the moment one group 'takes the law into their own hands' and insists that they can do whatever they want, things tend to go fluid and sideways very quickly.
The Knights of Columbus council in every parish typically has about 100+ men on the rolls... working men who care about their parish and won't take kindly to barbarians urinating on the carpets or trashing the sanctuary.
Virtually every parish has a Boy Scout troop - with an average of 50 or so boys...and 30 or so dads... all of whom believe in the motto "be prepared". It won't take more than a dozen dads with shot guns to keep any size rabble from storming their local parish.
So Tom, you need to think this through because once you light that fuse, once you go 'kinetic' rather than practice this "dialogue" you left-wingers always claim we need to employ with those we disagree with.... you will soon see that the laws of thermodynamics and social dynamics agree: for every action there is an opposite reaction.
That's really a part of mechanics, not thermodynamics. And it's "equal and opposite reaction".
I am all for protesting Wall Street but I don't really understand who is supposed to be playing that role in the analogous case. The Bishops? The entire hierarchy? Who's supposed to do the occupying, just anybody who hates the church or practicing Catholics only?
I think Prof. Beaudoin will probably be embarrassed by this very silly post once he comes down from his enthusiasm.
How else does God become incarnate?
I also like the idea of a "prayer-in". At my weekly Contemplative Prayer group we are all over the map, politically. And because we elect not to talk about dogma, we are getting to know and really like each other. I think it's the prayer that unites (and bonds) us.
As for his characterization on this post and one from yesterday of the TP as "showed up waving flags and acting respectable, cleaning up after themselves and behaving with social decorum": this pure fiction.
They disrupted meetings, made serious threats, and one spit on a Congressman.
The original TP engaged in vandalism and theft.
Even monastics know that they must be part of the conversation of the world.
I am very aware that Francis (and Thomas Merton, by the way) were able to forge their way without officially offending the hierarchy - but if you read their stories, you will see that they both step on toes, and the dogmatic ones were scandalized.
I would guess that more Catholics no longer identify themselves as Church-going Catholics because of conservative control than because they want a more fundamental slant.
I'll have to chalk this up to his frustration at his favorite NFL team losing yesterday.
I love the idea of a "prayer-in"!
Listen up sweet child of mine
Have I got news for you
Nobody leaves this place alive
They'll die and join the queue, sing it
I'm, I'm gonna break right into heaven
I can't wait anymore
How many times do I have to tell you
You don't have to wait to die
You can have it all
Anytime you want it
Yeah, the kingdom's all inside (Stone Roses, Breaking into Heaven)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmR9F12CVIM
My regards!
Tom Beaudoin:
I know it's old stuff, but you someone probably write a great theology of contemporary culture essay on the Stone Roses album "The Second Coming".
As for Brett "laughing and laughing," I'll just take heart from something he wrote back in August on IAT:
"What a myopic description with the obvious intent to demonize those involved with the tea party (of which I am not involved). This is mere ad hominem against those who rightly see the current spending and centralization of power in washington as unsustainable and inhumane in terms of scale."
As for occupy Wall Street, if I were there and a snotty NYT pundit asked me what I stood for, I'd say, for a start, bring back Glass-Steagall and don't tell me about wimpy Dodd-Frank. All casinos should be regulated.
I like Mr. Beaudoin's posts.
If tried today I would hope it would look a bit more focused and meaningful and a lot less silly than this current secular bunch.
Dunno, but this sounds a lot like the movement of the Holy Spirit to me.
The Tea Party was incredibly succesful from an objective (i.e leaving aside what you think of their claims) POV; they object to not just one over the other but the fact that government & Wall St. are so intertwined. They had focused complaints, and targeted goals.
And why the quick baptism of these protests compared with the quick demonization of the Tea Party? Can we get any kind of critical analysis of the anarchical roots of these protestors?
I suggest the Catholic laity rally would attract some of the 1/3 Catholics who have withdrawn, the VatII older people who feel betrayed by the reform of the reform, the young who want to get a grip on a relationship/spiritually/religion. and those who are fed up with abuse cover-up.
This diverse group needs new leadership, VOTF, CTA, Womens Ordination, Survivors, etc all would have to give up their single agenda goals.
The organized Trads like the Legion, SSPX, Opus dei, etc are busy huddling with their attorneys so they are not to worry about.
The Pope just met with a national German Laity conference...and the 'radical' group did him no disrespect .. right? so why the hell don't we have a national US laity conference.?
Brett and David complain alot about ad hominum yet they have a quiver full themselves. so duck as they launch a sky full of arrows at any laity initiative. .
If we have an Occupy the Vatican, wil the conservatives favor pepper spray from the Swiss guatds or, like Fox, catafgorize the protestors asa mob or worse??????
Have you read any of the gospels?
Here's a protest idea of sorts: simply filling the pews with concerned Catholics who would engage in round-the-clock praryer before the Blessed Sacrament. Solidarity and faith-and not letting the hierarchy throw some bogus "disobedience" charge in our faces.
The only thing i find "Intolerable" in the Church today are the disenters and marginal heretics that think "They" know better than the Holy Father and the Magesterium. If you do not believe, if you refuse to give obedience to the Church, go elswhere! Martin Luther, Calvin, Wesley and many others have left you a trail to follow. And may Almighty God have mercy on you.
Pax Christi
"laughing Satan' 'go elsewhere'.. How I remember JPII welcoming/blessing lay led Solidarity without JPII getting right wing vitriol?
Catholic theology is deep and rich, risky and free-ing. Much too dangerous.
http://quotesandmusings.blogspot.com/2009/10/cardinal-rode-photos.html