Garry Wills on HHS mandate controversy

[dennis01]

National Catholic Register blogger Tom Roberts today (Feb. 16, 2012) used his space to run excerpts of Garry Wills’ support of the HHS requirement that ran in the New York Review of Books. To wit:

*The incomparable Garry Wills, in the New York Review of Books, on the current flap over religious liberty and contraception.

Here’s a taste:
"The bishops’ opposition to contraception is not an argument for a “conscience exemption.” It is a way of imposing Catholic requirements on non-Catholics. This is religious dictatorship, not religious freedom. …

“The opposition to contraception has, as I said, no scriptural basis. Pope Pius XI once said that it did, citing in his encyclical Casti Connubii (1930) the condemnation of Onan for “spilling his seed” rather than impregnating a woman (Genesis 38.9). But later popes had to back off from this claim, since everyone agrees now that Onan’s sin was not carrying out his duty to give his brother an heir (Deuteronomy 25.5-6). Then the “natural law” was fallen back on, saying that the natural purpose of sex is procreation, and any use of it for other purposes is “unnatural.” But a primary natural purpose does not of necessity exclude ancillary advantages. The purpose of eating is to sustain life, but that does not make all eating that is not necessary to subsistence “unnatural.” One can eat, beyond the bare minimum to exist, to express fellowship, as one can have sex, beyond the begetting of a child with each act, to express love.”*

Roberts includes a link nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2012/feb/15/contraception-con-men/ to Wills’ full piece, which is headed “Contraception’s con men” and illustrated with a caricature labeled “crusader popes.”

Small wonder President Obama & advisers aren’t concerned with a united response.

 

[JimG]

I haven’t read anything by Garry Wills for a long time. But if he doesn’t believe the Church’s teaching against contraception, he is clearly presenting the Gospel According to Garry Wills, not Catholic teaching. Catholic teaching against contraception has been consistent for 2,000 years. For that matter, protestant teaching against contraception was consistent from the Reformation up until 1930, when the Lambeth conference thought to take a vote to change the doctrine.

 

[dennis01]

Unfortunately, many of the people who read that particular NCR blog are embracing Wills’ comments enthusiastically.

 

[JimG]

Unfortunately, many of the people who read that particular NCR blog are embracing Wills’ comments enthusiastically.

I haven’t read the comments. But, speaking as one who survived the '60’s reading Garry Wills just gives me a sense of deja vu. Catholic dissent used to be so chic. Not so much anymore. A lot of the dissenters finally just dropped out of the Church, being unsuccessfull in talking it into changing doctrine. Others held on, unwilling to admit they no longer really believed in Catholicism.

Wills is merely saying, ‘the Church is wrong, and it must change to conform to the liberal orthodoxy.’
Poor Garry. When will he realize that’s not going to happen?

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Wills is merely saying, ‘the Church is wrong, and it must change to conform to the liberal orthodoxy.’
Poor Garry. When will he realize that’s not going to happen?

I don’t see where he is exhorting the Church to conform to “liberal orthodoxy.” Can you provide citations from his article where he is doing other than commenting on the Church’s position?

 

[manualman]

The incomparable Garry Wills, in the New York Review of Books, on the current flap over religious liberty and contraception.

Here’s a taste:
"The bishops’ opposition to contraception is not an argument for a “conscience exemption.” It is a way of imposing Catholic requirements on non-Catholics. This is religious dictatorship, not religious freedom. …

This guy needs to take an “Introduction to the Concept of Insurance” class or reeview elementary logic. Insurance is nothing other than the spreading of costs incurred by a few individuals to a larger pool of payers to ease the blow. By forcing insurance to cover abortion pills, sterilization and contraception, this mandate forces people who DON’T use these things to pay for those who do. Just WHO is being imposed on? It’s not like people with jobs good enough to include health insurance can’t afford to buy their own contraception. Why do I have to pay for what they want? Sheesh, buy your own. The only people being imposed on here are catholics. What this guy has never seen a Walgreens?

 

[JimG]

I don’t see where he is exhorting the Church to conform to “liberal orthodoxy.” Can you provide citations from his article where he is doing other than commenting on the Church’s position?

Perhaps I was suffering from an excess of déjà vu. There were a lot of Catholic dissidents in the years following Vatican II who really did expect the Church to change her doctrine.

He does begin by saying “Contraception is not even a religious matter.” Having gotten that out of the way, he then goes on to state: “’Catholics who do not accept the phony argument over contraception are said to be “going against the teachings of their church.’ That is nonsense”

Now I suppose he is not really arguing that the Church needs to change its doctrine, although it’s clear he considers the doctrine wrong-headed and silly, even though it’s the same doctrine taught by Protestants for 400 years–until 1930–and by the Catholic Church for 2,000 years.

At any rate, he does seem a little angry that the Church has not conformed to the liberal orthodoxy.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

At any rate, he does seem a little angry that the Church has not conformed to the liberal orthodoxy.

Don’t see how it is liberal orthodoxy. ABC seems, to me at least, to transcend political positions and can be found among a range of Catholic women.

 

[Nimzovik]

Is he being voiciferouslly challenged in the ‘comments?’ If not we should do so!

 

[_Abyssinia]

Don’t see how it is liberal orthodoxy. ABC seems, to me at least, to transcend political positions and can be found among a range of Catholic women.

You can not have a range of beliefs on the use contraception and be a faithful Catholic.

 

[Leon_Bloy]

Garry Wills lost all credibility as a Catholic voice when he published that book on the papacy, the title of which I will not state.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

You can not have a range of beliefs on the use contraception and be a faithful Catholic.

You are preaching to the Choir.

There are, in fact, a range of beliefs on the use of ABC by the laity who do consider themselves good, faithful Catholics.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Garry Wills lost all credibility as a Catholic voice when he published that book on the papacy, the title of which I will not state.

No need for coyness. The book is Papal Sin: Structures of Deceit. It’s worth reading so that one might prepare to rebut it.

 

[stevegravy]

You are preaching to the Choir.

… consider themselves good, faithful Catholics.

Current Church teaching is…(insert above comment) after they go to confession and relieve their souls of mortal sin that places them in hells fire for eternity if they die first…just saying.

 

[Rich_Olszewski]

Current Church teaching is…(insert above comment) after they go to confession and relieve their souls of mortal sin that places them in hells fire for eternity if they die first…just saying.

Again, you’re preaching to the Choir. There are a fair number of Catholics who got the go-ahead to use ABC from priests who disregard the Church’s teachings on the grounds of compassion for the couple. Why would they go to confess their use of ABC? I think that most Catholics who use ABC just do it without consulting a confessor.

See how far you get preaching eternal hellfire to such folks. Might as well stand on a street corner wearing burlap and holding a banner saying “Repent. The End is near!”

 

[stevegravy]

Again, you’re preaching to the Choir. There are a fair number of Catholics who got the go-ahead to use ABC from priests who disregard the Church’s teachings on the grounds of compassion for the couple. Why would they go to confess their use of ABC? I think that most Catholics who use ABC just do it without consulting a confessor.

See how far you get preaching eternal hellfire to such folks. Might as well stand on a street corner wearing burlap and holding a banner saying “Repent. The End is near!”

 

[Nimzovik]

One must try… fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom…

 

[Robert_Bay]

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