A Godwin's Law for Catholics?

[didymus]

Found this on Pro Ecclesia:

I wonder if there will ever be a rule similar to “Godwin’s Law” (regarding references and analogies to the 3rd Reich) for invocations of “the Scandal” as a rhetorical device?

It would go something like this: As a debate involving the Catholic Church (either a discussion about the Church specifically, or a discussion in which the Church is taking a position) grows longer, the probability of someone mentioning the sex scandal approaches one.

And then there’s it’s corollary: Once such reference to the Scandal is made, whoever mentioned the Scandal has automatically “lost” whatever debate was in progress

So next time you’re discussing abortion or celibacy, &c and someone mentions “pedophile priests” just say, “BZZZT!! You lose!”

Mark Shea suggests calling this Law’s Corollary (to Godwin’s Law) after Cardinal Bernard Law.

 

[jschutzm]

Very funny… I had not heard of Godwin’s Law - but I think it is true.

I would say that the corrolary actually is in favor of the one using it and against the one who failed to use it. - More often then not. At least in my experience and in regards to the Catholic faith.

In other words… rather then immediately losing the argument… all too often the person resorting to Reductio ad Hitlerum will actually WIN the argument if it is about a socio-political issue.

But I seriously WISH we could BUZZ people who jump to the most absurd analogy and it was an instant and epic FAIL

 

[sedonaman]

…
So next time you’re discussing abortion or celibacy, &c and someone mentions “pedophile priests” just say, “BZZZT!! You lose!”
…

Nah. It would be more fun to point at them and say, “Zombie!” tomwoods.com/blog/interview-with-a-zombie.

 

[Buck_Crosswhite]

The criticism of the Church over pedophile priests will never end.
The Church outlawed the selling of indulgences over 500 years ago and protestants are still raising the issue. They can’t learn.

 

[DavidFilmer]

I heard a talk show host make a similar claim - the minute someone brings Hitler or Nazis into a debate, they loose.

I agree (unless the debate is about WW2 Germany or something).

 

[Della]

The criticism of the Church over pedophile priests will never end.
The Church outlawed the selling of indulgences over 500 years ago and protestants are still raising the issue. They can’t learn.

There are some people who are so anti-Catholic they can’t resist using any stick handy with which to beat the Church–anything except do a little reading of real history or take in account extenuating circumstances. To them the Church is just plain evil–and they, of course, are perfect.

In a back-handed way it’s a compliment because they expect more of the Church than they do of their own faith communities or themselves. They know the Church is called to higher holiness and so are disappointed when they find it full of imperfect sinful people.

Then too, some of these people belong to small groups/congregations in which no one dares be anything except what is expected, and so they delude themselves into thinking their little conclave above everyone else.

 

[Julia_Mae]

So next time you’re discussing abortion or celibacy, &c and someone mentions “pedophile priests” just say, “BZZZT!! You lose!”

Mark Shea suggests calling this Law’s Corollary (to Godwin’s Law) after Cardinal Bernard Law.

Bet this is a real hoot to sexual assault victims who were damaged for life by their priests. Yeah, let’s make any mention of it into a way to totally diss the other person.

 

[Dale_M]

Mark Shea suggests calling this Law’s Corollary (to Godwin’s Law) after Cardinal Bernard Law.

That sounds mean-spirited. If Mr. Shea actually said or wrote that, I am disappointed with him…

However, I do agree that invoking “The Scandal” often is an argument similar to the Hitler comparison. It is meant as a trump card to silence all opposition.

 

[Della]

Bet this is a real hoot to sexual assault victims who were damaged for life by their priests. Yeah, let’s make any mention of it into a way to totally diss the other person.

The problem isn’t that it didn’t happen the problem is it is used as if it were the only thing that ever came out of the Church. Those who most often use the “sex abuse” card do so, not out of sympathy for victims but to make victims of innocents, such as the 99% of priests who weren’t involved and the poor Catholic who is expected to just stand by and say nothing while the other person is allowed to bully him with one-liners that are mostly untrue and unfair. We all feel badly for the real victims. God knows what horrors they are still living through, but it can’t be used as a blanket accusation as if it answers every objections or that Catholics have no good answer. There are many who will not listen to any answer no matter how true or how much they hurt innocents with their meanness.

 

[Julia_Mae]

The problem isn’t that it didn’t happen the problem is it is used as if it were the only thing that ever came out of the Church. Those who most often use the “sex abuse” card do so, not out of sympathy for victims but to make victims of innocents, such as the 99% of priests who weren’t involved and the poor Catholic who is expected to just stand by and say nothing while the other person is allowed to bully him with one-liners that are mostly untrue and unfair. We all feel badly for the real victims. God knows what horrors they are still living through, but it can’t be used as a blanket accusation as if it answers every objections or that Catholics have no good answer. There are many who will not listen to any answer no matter how true or how much they hurt innocents with their meanness.

Sex-abuse in the Church is just the new Inquisition. And the point is still the same: Jesus came to call sinners.

The problem I have with the OP is the remarkable lack of charity involved with making some sort of joke about it. If we don’t have an answer that we can sincerely give, then maybe we need to find one that doesn’t involve disrespecting people. Otherwise we sort of prove their point for them.

 

[Equites_Christi]

Actually I find the corollary to go the opposite out in the world. Whoever plays the scandal card believes they have trumped everything.

Church: [Summa Theologica]
Person: Yes, but [Priestly abuse scandal]

All in attendance declare Person the victor.

 

[Della]

Actually I find the corollary to go the opposite out in the world. Whoever plays the scandal card believes they have trumped everything.

Church: [Summa Theologica]
Person: Yes, but [Priestly abuse scandal]

All in attendance declare Person the victor.

Precisely, and why it’s on par with employing the “just like Hitler” card. Just bringing it up really says nothing about the real situation. In the case of the sex abuse scandal it’s only used by those with a pre-existing bias who have no interest in the facts, but only in using whatever comes to hand to bash the Church. It’s the same old story–if Judas had betrayed Christ in our generation, they’d use that, too. It’s a non-starter amongst reasonable people.