Controversial Notre Dame priest accused of plagiarism…again

[Brendan]

EtienneGilson:

BTW I think Dr. Smith’s pamphlet on Humanae Vitae is simply terrible.

In what respect?

Did she somehow fail to articulate the key points of the document?

It what way was it lacking?

 

[Andreas_Hofer]

Libero:

I agree with you. O’Brien is clearly a very intelligent man, his academic status, and ability to understand theological matters are clearly not in question, he should not be discreditted because of his viewpoint.

I don’t think any theologian should be discredited because of his viewpoint, but I do think one should be discredited because of dishonesty.

I have respect for theologians with whom I disagree, and have, in fact, studied under and collaborated with one in particular to great benefit. Yet I have no respect for someone who will present something as Catholic teaching when it obviously is not. If Fr. McBrien simply said, “This is my opinion, and it is outside the scope of orthodox Catholicism,” it would be bad that a priest is departing from the faith, but at least he wouldn’t be passing it off as authentic Catholicism to impressionable students. Not to mention that he tries to pass inaccuracies off in a book, the textbook for his class, entitled Catholicism.