Anti-Catholicism acceptable

[Little_Mary]

I recently came across a book entitled Anti-Catholicism - The Last Acceptable Prejudice and as I write this the author escapes my memory. The basic message of the book is in the title - that anybody can take a shot at Catholicism and get away with it either through the media or comedy skits (not all of them - it is good to be able to laugh at yourself) and the like. The author used as one of his examples a Mad TV Show skit where, in a game show setting, the host asks the question “To be Catholic is to be a)stupid, b)stupid, c)stupid or d)stupid.” The author goes on to point out that if the word Catholic were removed and the name of some other organization put in its place, there would have been a lot of trouble. But because Catholic was the target, it was accpetable. That’s just one example.

The author (who himself is not Catholic) suggests that in such a situation, it should be pointed out that Catholics do not deserve to be picked on any more than anyone else does.

Has anyone out there read this book and what do you think of Anti-Catholicism as an Acceptable Prejudice?

 

[kaj3]

I agree, unfortunately. I have not read that book, but I posted a thread about this in the Politics forum from an experience I had watching a TV news show. I related a story about commentators on the TV show Washington Week who called the Holy Eucharist a “wafer” and degrading our Lord by stating, (paraphrase) “We’ll be on ‘wafer watch’ with John Kerry this week.” (in reference to Kerry’s receiving Communion, despite his votes on abortion and other life issues.)

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=3936

It was quite a disgusting display of disrespect and ignorance.

 

[gomer_tree]

Interesting note: the author of that book isn’t even Catholic.

 

[cnelms]

Little Mary:

I recently came across a book entitled Anti-Catholicism - The Last Acceptable Prejudice and as I write this the author escapes my memory. The basic message of the book is in the title - that anybody can take a shot at Catholicism and get away with it either through the media or comedy skits (not all of them - it is good to be able to laugh at yourself) and the like. The author used as one of his examples a Mad TV Show skit where, in a game show setting, the host asks the question “To be Catholic is to be a)stupid, b)stupid, c)stupid or d)stupid.” The author goes on to point out that if the word Catholic were removed and the name of some other organization put in its place, there would have been a lot of trouble. But because Catholic was the target, it was accpetable. That’s just one example.

The author (who himself is not Catholic) suggests that in such a situation, it should be pointed out that Catholics do not deserve to be picked on any more than anyone else does.

Has anyone out there read this book and what do you think of Anti-Catholicism as an Acceptable Prejudice?

Catholic Answers carries this book in their catalogue: shop.catholic.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-B0498.html?L+scstore+dggd1455ff294029+1094517202
I personally have not read it.
You may also be interested in knowing there is an organization dedicated to eradicating Anti-Catholicism in our culture, its called the Catholic League for Religous and Civil Rights. William Donohue is their president: catholicleague.org/
Unfortunately, Anti-Catholic rhetoric is alive and well in our US Media and around the world. As in Jesus’ own time, the truth is wasted on some people. I cite for example in John 6 when many of his followers followed no more after the bread of life discourse. Remember his question to the apostles ‘Will you also leave?’ Their answer ‘Where are we to go? You have the words of everlasting life’. How true it was then, it is true today.

 

[Little_Mary]

kaj3:

I agree, unfortunately. I have not read that book, but I posted a thread about this in the Politics forum from an experience I had watching a TV news show. I related a story about commentators on the TV show Washington Week who called the Holy Eucharist a “wafer” and degrading our Lord by stating, (paraphrase) “We’ll be on ‘wafer watch’ with John Kerry this week.” (in reference to Kerry’s receiving Communion, despite his votes on abortion and other life issues.)

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=3936

It was quite a disgusting display of disrespect and ignorance.

Precisely. I don’t want to get into any trouble by naming names or other organizations that might otherwise be victims of this type of prejudice if not for today’s “politically correct” attitude, but can you imagine the uproar if the news anchors referred to an equivalent of “wafer watch” regarding someone elses’s beliefs or race or lifestyle?

 

[Little_Mary]

cnelms:

Catholic Answers carries this book in their catalogue: shop.catholic.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-B0498.html?L+scstore+dggd1455ff294029+1094517202
I personally have not read it.
You may also be interested in knowing there is an organization dedicated to eradicating Anti-Catholicism in our culture, its called the Catholic League for Religous and Civil Rights. William Donohue is their president: catholicleague.org/
Unfortunately, Anti-Catholic rhetoric is alive and well in our US Media and around the world. As in Jesus’ own time, the truth is wasted on some people. I cite for example in John 6 when many of his followers followed no more after the bread of life discourse. Remember his question to the apostles ‘Will you also leave?’ Their answer ‘Where are we to go? You have the words of everlasting life’. How true it was then, it is true today.

Yes, I have heard of Mr. Donohue and the Catholic League. God bless them and what they do.

 

[Bud_Stewart]

Hello Little Mary,

The title of the book you are referring to is “The New Anti-Catholicism” and is subtitled “The Last Acceptable Prejudice” the author is Phillip Jenkins. As you state, the title says it all. We are the only minority group in America in which it is still socially acceptable to belittle, besmirch, ridicule or marginalize.

 

[Little_Mary]

Bud Stewart:

Hello Little Mary,

The title of the book you are referring to is “The New Anti-Catholicism” and is subtitled “The Last Acceptable Prejudice” the author is Phillip Jenkins. As you state, the title says it all. We are the only minority group in America in which it is still socially acceptable to belittle, besmirch, ridicule or marginalize.

To this, with a heavy heart I say, “Amen”

 

[elvisman]

Here’s an interesting tidbit:

2 years ago in our parish, somebody came onto the church grounds and tore down the statue of St. Rose of Lima that had been donated by the Knights of Columbus. It was replaced with a lawn jockey (or yard gnome, as they are also called).
A short time later, somebody went onto the school grounds (adjacent to the church lot) and took a sledgehammer to the statue of our Blessed Mother which was in the courtyard. Last month, somebody walked into the church itself and stole the crown that sat atop the tabernacle!
Had this been a synagogue or the Gay and Lesbian Center, these would have been considered a hates crimes worthy of the most vociferous front page diatribes and local news stories. Not in this anti-Catholic society! I truly believe that the fact that these things happened to a Catholic parish, the media doesn’t care.
We must defend the public outcry against our Lord in this Godless culture.
Thank God for organizations like the Catholic League.

God bless you all.

 

[Malachi4U]

Sad, all the anti-Catholic bigotry I have received came from fellow “Christians”. I lived with a Moslem from Iran back in 1980-81. He and his friends treated me better then the Baptists I went to church with did when I ‘reconciled’ myself to Christ’s body, His Catholic Church. Now my wife has stopped going to her Baptist church because of the bigotry and hate there directed at me first and now her.

Although our society as a whole is not as bad at discrimination, bigotry and hate as some “Christians” are. There is some there too directed at Catholics.

Its a wacky world we live in. I just comfort myself in the Word Jesus gave us when He said His body would be suffering for His sake. Being a Christian never had a promise of nothing but song, dance, wine, joy, happiness, and a life of ease. Some ‘Christians’ stick their heads in a hole and ignore the suffering our Church undergoes today and just claim to be all happy inside. Jesus promised us a peace of mind and heart, not a good time and big party as some sects are having. Just because some have it good in the US does not mean Christians in Iran, N. Korea, China or India aren’t being beaten and killed for God. Try to pass out free Bibles in those countries and see what happens to you. Try to get even an abridged, edited, incomplete protestant Bible written in Farsi, the language of Iran.

Many proselytize Catholics here in the US and abroad, but try to go to some of those countries I mentioned and convert non-Catholics and see how long you live or remain free.

Its no cakewalk for a Catholic in the good ole USA but remember, our brothers are dieing for our Faith overseas! Even with some bigotry we are indeed fortunate to still be allowed to be Catholics in what is rapidly becoming a non-Christian country.

If I recall correctly too, many protestants like the Baptist established ‘state religions’ in our ‘colonies’ early on? Can someone help me if this is true or not?

 

[Southernrich]

Malachi4U:

If I recall correctly too, many protestants like the Baptist established ‘state religions’ in our ‘colonies’ early on? Can someone help me if this is true or not?

Yes, about some Protestants, no about the Baptists. The Baptists are strongly for the separation of state and religion and have always opposed theocracies.