Anti Catholic Teacher

[koryp]

My Western Civilizations teacher is very biased in her style of teaching and states historical events in an anti Catholic point of view. Unfortunately I can’t argue with her sarcasm and tone of voice, but I’d like to make her “facts” look questionable to the class if they are in any way flawed. Currently we are discussing the middle ages. Specifically I’d like to know more about simmony and papal reservation (described as “the sale of church office to the highest bidder”), dispensation in exchange for money (described as “buying forgiveness in lieu of regular reconciliation”). Were these things supported by the Popes while they held office in France? How do we view these events now? Thanks for your help!

 

[AmandaPS]

I remember my Western Civ teacher was very laid-back. He’d let you argue any point with him as long as you made an attempt to back it up.

I remember arguing many points with him (since I had him for more than one history class). During our study of the middle ages, he did take pot shots at religion. One of his snap phrases that he taught the students was, “If you want to keep the peasants under your thumb, you keep them religious and you keep them dumb.” That was in direct reference to the illiteracy rate and the masses being devoutly religous.

He never mentioned that books at the time were hand copied, thus making them more than the common person can afford, or that working from sun up to sun down didn’t leave much time to learn to read.

One thing though, was that his classes made me want to defend the Catholic faith even more, even though I wasn’t Catholic, and I didn’t think I would be.

 

[burnside]

I received very good advice many years ago from a History teacher who was neither a catholic nor anti-catholic.This was to the effect that we should read different historians account of things.It is then easier to read between the lines.They all have their own way of presenting the facts and it is possible to see the
ulterior motives of the principal characters.
In order to save money,i would go to a second-hand shop or to a
Lending Library.I remember doing a History Exam and only just passed it.This was because i had just simply gone through past
Exam Papers and anticipated certain questions would come up
because they had not been used for a while.I simply memorized
the details from one particular book and was accused of doing a real good “narrative”.I had not really thought things out for myself.
Sometimes you get busy with other things and you don’t have the time to do things properly.

 

[Todd_Easton]

I suspect that the online Catholic Encyclopedia has scholarly articles on the various practices you are discussing in class. Here’s a link: www.newadvent.org . Enter a word or phrase in the Search box in the upper right of the home page or choose a letter at the top of the home page and browse the alphabetical listings.

H.W. Crocker III’s book, Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church, would be a nice balance to the anti-Catholic historical views you are getting in class.

Todd

 

[Sparky]

I would suggest recording your teacher’s negative remarks. If there’s anyone else you know in the class who might be sympathetic, maybe have them be your witness to them. Then take your observations to the dean.

Bigotry has got to be stopped in these classrooms.
–Ann

 

[quasimodo]

I’m not sure anybody has yet helped the Koryp with the specific question asked. It has been too long since I studied history to help much but…

IIRC>>
Simony was practiced, but to define it and say it happened is less than half the truth and half truths are as bad as lies, frequently. From the time that the Church was made legal by Constantine there was a titanic struggle for independence of the church from state control. The pope had no army usually and had to rely on other kings for protection from kings who wanted to control the pope & and the church. Kings demanded the right to appoint bishops in their relms and often the pope had no effective way to stop them from taking the priveldge. You can’t excommunicate them all, after all. Who was it…Henry II of England that appointed his friend, Thomas Beckett (who was not even a priest) as archbishop of canterbury. The pope could not stop him.

And that worked in reverse too. The state (kings, princes, etc.) longed for freedom from the church. Despite the negative “Enlightenment” characterization of the church that your teacher uses without really understanding where he got it, the church was the best hope the people had for protection from the whims of their rulers. And the church did provide excellent protection much to the irritation of the ruling classes. The church also was usually the sole source of medical care and welfare for the people as well.

In any case, in the midst of this centuries long titanic struggle for control and independence between the church and the state, simony crept in. The church maintained some control over the who became bishop and the Kings and princes had a say, too. Not a good solution but the church needed money for all its works and simony was a source. MANY (most?) church leaders comdemned it but could not figure out how to end it … the kings had the armies after all, not the church. In the end, the council of Trent slammed the door shut once and for all.

i could be wrong though…

 

[Micky]

I’m just wondering, is the school that you are attending a catholic or government school?

Every teacher may have thier own style of teaching and convey information. But it is up to the listener to decide whether these remarks are presented in an acceptable fashion or offensive.

It is also worth mentioning that sometimes when history teachers mocks particular groups, him/her may not be intentionally trying degrade someone but to get the students thinking*. (This technique was used by my Legal Studies teacher. Sydney, Australia)*

But if you really, really, really find offense with the remarks and it really degrades you as a member of the Catholic church, then you might consider making the teacher aware that he/her remarks are offensive to you as a Catholic and that you do not feel comfortable listening to his/her remarks.*** (Be very polite, don’t get into situation where both of you will hate each other and hold grudges for the rest of the year). ***