Should I say something?

[Jabronie]

At work, we have a “diversity committee.” They send out “diversity announcements” every month, which is basically a list of religious and secular holidays. They also give a list of things that are supposed to be celebrated for the current month.

For example, October is:

1. Diversity Awareness Month
2. Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual History Month
3. National Mental Illness Month
4. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

So… this month’s announcement included October 31 as Reformation Day. I have no problem with that whatsoever, but here’s my concern. The link they provide with Reformation Day is to a Lutheran church with a huge anti-Catholic slant. (stpaulskingsville.org/reformation.htm)

Read this quote: "
WHY WAS THE CHURCH IN NEED OF REFORM?
For centuries, the Roman Catholic Church had been plagued by false doctrines, superstition, ignorance, and corruption. Since most ordinary Christians were illiterate and had little knowledge of the Bible, they relied on their clergy for religious instruction and guidance. Tragically however, monks, priests, bishops, and even the popes in Rome taught unbiblical doctrines like purgatory and salvation through good works. Spiritually earnest people tried to justify themselves by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious performances and devotions, but they were left wondering if they had done enough to escape God’s anger and punishment."

So, should I let this committee know that I don’t appreciate them sending out emails claming that my faith has been “plagued by false doctrines, superstition, ignorance, and corruption” that teaches “unbiblical doctrines like purgatory and salvation through good works” or should I just ignore it and celebrate **Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual History Month **like a good little “open minded” University employee?

 

[mosher]

I would lodge a formal complaint in writing. Note in the text that you are not being anti-Lutheran but rather that you are offended at the apparent anti-catholicism presented in the material.

 

[thechrismyster]

should I just ignore it and celebrate **Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual History Month **like a good little “open minded” University employee?

Universities and Institutes of Higher Learning are some of the most biased and closed minded instititions in the world. unless you are a liberal, ‘open’ minded individual in their eyes, your opinion needs tuning.
Universitites today are entitlement mills that churn out ill prepared babies who do not fully grasp anything except the liberal ideals that have been burnt into their closed minds.

educated derelicts are a dime a dozen. every University i ever attended had the same mindset.

of course you should say something. if you are offended, how is your voice any different than the ‘tolerant’ secularists who are offended by the truth?

 

[mommyof4]

So, should I let this committee know that I don’t appreciate them sending out emails claming that my faith has been “plagued by false doctrines, superstition, ignorance, and corruption” that teaches “unbiblical doctrines like purgatory and salvation through good works” or should I just ignore it and celebrate **Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual History Month **like a good little “open minded” University employee?

Heck, no. Stand up for what you believe in!

 

[Island_Oak]

Why don’t you enhance everyone’s diversity awareness by offering this:

The month of May is dedicated to our Blessed Lady. Do the other months of the liturgical year have a particular significance?
Not only the months of the year but also the days of the week:

• January is devoted to the Holy Name of Jesus,
• February to the Holy Family,
• March to Saint Joseph,
• April to the Blessed Sacrament;
• May to the Blessed Virgin,
• June to the Sacred Heart,
• July to the Precious Blood,
• August to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
• September to Our Lady of Sorrows,
• October to the Holy Rosary,
• November to the Holy Souls in Purgatory and
• December to the Immaculate Conception.

As regards the days of the week:

• Sunday is consecrated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity,
• Monday to the Holy Ghost,
• Tuesday to the Holy Angels,
• Wednesday to Saint Joseph,
• Thursday to the Blessed Eucharist,
• Friday to the Sacred Passion of Our Lord,
• and Saturday to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

[Article by Fr. Leo Boyle]

 

[LittleDeb]

Why don’t you enhance everyone’s diversity awareness by offering this:

The month of May is dedicated to our Blessed Lady. Do the other months of the liturgical year have a particular significance?
Not only the months of the year but also the days of the week:

• January is devoted to the Holy Name of Jesus,
• February to the Holy Family,
• March to Saint Joseph,
• April to the Blessed Sacrament;
• May to the Blessed Virgin,
• June to the Sacred Heart,
• July to the Precious Blood,
• August to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
• September to Our Lady of Sorrows,
• October to the Holy Rosary,
• November to the Holy Souls in Purgatory and
• December to the Immaculate Conception.
  As regards the days of the week:
• Sunday is consecrated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity,
• Monday to the Holy Ghost,
• Tuesday to the Holy Angels,
• Wednesday to Saint Joseph,
• Thursday to the Blessed Eucharist,
• Friday to the Sacred Passion of Our Lord,
• and Saturday to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
  [Article by Fr. Leo Boyle]

What a great response!!

I am forwarding this thread to a friend who has been very discouraged dealing with “diversity” at his university. He likes to be reminded of what he should be praying for when those frustrating topics come up.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Hi,

I am not catholic so of course I am on the side of the reformation. With that said, I think if you feel lead to say something you should. You know if the gays and lesbians were offended they would ABSOLUTELY speak up loud and clear.

I can totally understand this bothering you, so STAND UP FOR YOUR BELIEFS!! Someone told me they were having a reformation party and I thought that was too much because I felt it was a slap in the face to catholics.

Tell them if they want you to respect all of the other things you listed then they ought to respect your beliefs as well. Maybe you can gather other catholics and stand up together. There are power in numbers.

 

[Della]

Hi,

I am not catholic so of course I am on the side of the reformation. With that said, I think if you feel lead to say something you should. You know if the gays and lesbians were offended they would ABSOLUTELY speak up loud and clear.

I can totally understand this bothering you, so STAND UP FOR YOUR BELIEFS!! Someone told me they were having a reformation party and I thought that was too much because I felt it was a slap in the face to catholics.

Tell them if they want you to respect all of the other things you listed then they ought to respect your beliefs as well. Maybe you can gather other catholics and stand up together. There are power in numbers.

 

[BillP]

Is this a Catholic institution?

Is it your position that the Church WASN’T in need of reform at the time of Luther?

I’m having a bit of difficulty seeing your point.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

At work, we have a “diversity committee.” They send out “diversity announcements” every month, which is basically a list of religious and secular holidays. They also give a list of things that are supposed to be celebrated for the current month.

For example, October is:

1. Diversity Awareness Month
2. Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual History Month
3. National Mental Illness Month
4. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

So… this month’s announcement included October 31 as Reformation Day. I have no problem with that whatsoever, but here’s my concern. The link they provide with Reformation Day is to a Lutheran church with a huge anti-Catholic slant. (stpaulskingsville.org/reformation.htm)

Read this quote: "
WHY WAS THE CHURCH IN NEED OF REFORM?
For centuries, the Roman Catholic Church had been plagued by false doctrines, superstition, ignorance, and corruption. Since most ordinary Christians were illiterate and had little knowledge of the Bible, they relied on their clergy for religious instruction and guidance. Tragically however, monks, priests, bishops, and even the popes in Rome taught unbiblical doctrines like purgatory and salvation through good works. Spiritually earnest people tried to justify themselves by charitable works, pilgrimages, and all kinds of religious performances and devotions, but they were left wondering if they had done enough to escape God’s anger and punishment."

So, should I let this committee know that I don’t appreciate them sending out emails claming that my faith has been “plagued by false doctrines, superstition, ignorance, and corruption” that teaches “unbiblical doctrines like purgatory and salvation through good works” or should I just ignore it and celebrate **Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual History Month **like a good little “open minded” University employee?

Yes I would let them know.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Seems apporpriate that 2. Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual History Month and 3. National Mental Illness Month are celebrated in the same month.

 

[Della]

Is this a Catholic institution?

If you are asking if the OP’s work is a Catholic institution, I hardly think so. The very things they want to celebrate would seem to indicate otherwise, so I would be greatly shocked to find out it was a Catholic institution. In any case, no secular place of work ought to have the right to impose their own ideas about “diversity” upon their employees that directly violates anyone’s religious beliefs.

Is it your position that the Church WASN’T in need of reform at the time of Luther?

No Catholic would say that, that I know of, but it certainly wasn’t guilty of promoting “false doctrines” and teaching “unbiblical doctrines.” And even if one believed this, it is only a matter of opinion, a very slanted opinion, that no Catholic should have to subscribe to in order to be in compliance with a secular job’s diversity program.

I’m having a bit of difficulty seeing your point.

I hope you see it now?

 

[mercygate]

Since the link posted for the Reformation grossly mis-states the case of what needed reform in the 15th Century, I would suggest noting that and noting that it is contrary to the “celebration of diversity” to denigrate the religion of another person.

Where I work, that would come under the heading of “hostile work environment” and could rise to the level of harassment.

 

[Jabronie]

Is this a Catholic institution?

Is it your position that the Church WASN’T in need of reform at the time of Luther?

I’m having a bit of difficulty seeing your point.

As I said, I have no problem whatsoever with the recognition of Reformation Day. My problem comes with this committee linking to a site that claims my faith is “plagued by false doctrines, superstition, ignorance, and corruption” and teaches “unbiblical doctrines like purgatory and salvation through good works."

I hope you can see the difference.

And for the record, no this is a state university, not a Catholic or private one.

 

[BillP]

If you are asking if the OP’s work is a Catholic institution, I hardly think so. The very things they want to celebrate would seem to indicate otherwise, so I would be greatly shocked to find out it was a Catholic institution. In any case, no secular place of work ought to have the right to impose their own ideas about “diversity” upon their employees that directly violates anyone’s religious beliefs.

I’m not so sure its secular. From its description of the Reformation, I believe it is probably some sort of Protestant institution.

No Catholic would say that, that I know of, but it certainly wasn’t guilty of promoting “false doctrines” and teaching “unbiblical doctrines.”

Of course it was!. There are MANY, MANY “unbiblical doctrines” taught by the Catholic Church. After all we’re the people who INVENTED Scripture + Magesterium, aren’t we? And of course if one is “Sola Scriptura” then anything unbiblical is false isn’t it?

I hope you see it now?

Not so much, no.

 

[BillP]

As I said, I have no problem whatsoever with the recognition of Reformation Day. My problem comes with this committee linking to a site that claims my faith is “plagued by false doctrines, superstition, ignorance, and corruption” and teaches “unbiblical doctrines like purgatory and salvation through good works."

I hope you can see the difference.

And for the record, no this is a state university, not a Catholic or private one.

Ah! I see now. Yes, I would mention my concern about the link. I really should read these things more carefully. My apologies.

 

[Everstruggling]

So… this month’s announcement included October 31 as Reformation Day. I have no problem with that whatsoever, but here’s my concern. The link they provide with Reformation Day is to a Lutheran church with a huge anti-Catholic slant. (stpaulskingsville.org/reformation.htm)

…

So, should I let this committee know that I don’t appreciate them sending out emails claming that my faith has been “plagued by false doctrines, superstition, ignorance, and corruption” that teaches “unbiblical doctrines like purgatory and salvation through good works” or should I just ignore it and celebrate **Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual History Month **like a good little “open minded” University employee?

I’m not Catholic, or even Christian, or a part of any faith commmunity, but I agree with most of the advice on this thread. They really goofed with that site, and I definitely think someone should say something.

It would be nice if a non-Catholic stood up and said something though. I used to work at a university and we would try and watch each other’s backs on things like this. Our comments seemed more impartial. Anyway of recruiting a co-worker to help?

If not, I would add one caution. Don’t act as if it is a deliberateattack on Catholicism. If they are anything like the university that I used to work at, they were probably thinking that they had pleased everyone by including Christian and non-Christian holidays. They might not have even read the site they were linking to.

If it were me, I’d try and strike this sort of tone:

“Really appreciate the diversity announcements, but that link to Reformation Day seemed strongly anti-Catholic. I know it is impossible to please everyone, but I think that it is important to make sure that no one feels that their beliefs are being attacked.”

Whatever you do, I would stay clear of suggesting anything like:

“As stupid as I find the whole idea of a diversity committee to begin with, I think that you plumbed all time depths by that last announcement. What were you thinking you anti-Catholic snobs!”

Just a thought.

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

Why don’t you enhance everyone’s diversity awareness by offering this:

The month of May is dedicated to our Blessed Lady. Do the other months of the liturgical year have a particular significance?
Not only the months of the year but also the days of the week:

• January is devoted to the Holy Name of Jesus,
• February to the Holy Family,
• March to Saint Joseph,
• April to the Blessed Sacrament;
• May to the Blessed Virgin,
• June to the Sacred Heart,
• July to the Precious Blood,
• August to the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
• September to Our Lady of Sorrows,
• October to the Holy Rosary,
• November to the Holy Souls in Purgatory and
• December to the Immaculate Conception.
  As regards the days of the week:
• Sunday is consecrated to the Holy and Undivided Trinity,
• Monday to the Holy Ghost,
• Tuesday to the Holy Angels,
• Wednesday to Saint Joseph,
• Thursday to the Blessed Eucharist,
• Friday to the Sacred Passion of Our Lord,
• and Saturday to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
  [Article by Fr. Leo Boyle]

This is great!

Jabronie, submit this list, and you will find out just how committed to diversity the university really is.

 

[DWPC]

I’d protest in writing and point out that 1) recognizing the Reformation as a positive event by definition reflects negatively on the Catholic Faith, 2) its inappropriate for a secular public institution to acknowledge a particular religious viewpoint as superior, which **their **recognition of the Reformation certainly does. And I’d ask them to please give mention to the significant bloodshed inflicted on those who rejected the Protestant zealotry of the Reformation.

I’d send copies to the local ACLU, and to the local diocese too.

I were a smart-***, I’d ask when Reformation Protestantism became the official religion of the university.

 

[Orionthehunter]

I’d protest in writing and point out that 1) recognizing the Reformation as a positive event by definition reflects negatively on the Catholic Faith, 2) its inappropriate for a secular public institution to acknowledge a particular religious viewpoint as superior, which **their **recognition of the Reformation certainly does. And I’d ask them to please give mention to the significant bloodshed inflicted on those who rejected the Protestant zealotry of the Reformation.

I’d send copies to the local ACLU, and to the local diocese too.

I were a smart-***, I’d ask when Reformation Protestantism became the official religion of the university.

I think the question is what is there standard practice regarding these days. Do they have a link that is supportive the of the day no matter what it is? For instance, on Christmas is the link to one that says it is the day we celebrate the Incarnation or one that says it is a national day for goodwill, gift exchange etc? Or on Ramadan does it explain the day from the perspective of Muslim’s? Understanding and reconciliation can come from the knowledge about another’s special days.

With regard to Reformation Sunday, there is much to be learned here. First of all, this link reminds Catholics of the false perception of the genesis of the Reformation held by many of our separated brethren. Second, it is a day of mourning for Catholics as it broke the unity of Christ’s people in a way that must be quite painful for our Lord.

My suggestion is:

1. Read the other links on other days and try to assess if this consistent w/ other days (giving a pro-explanation of the day) or represents a bias? It is concievable that all that happened was out of laziness the link was the first explanation of the day found.
2. Look over the calendar and assess if certain Solemnities or Feast Days are appropriate and consistent w/ the Days currently in the calendar.
3. Suggest that a more objective explantion of this day be presented or ask that they allow you to post a Catholic perception of this day.