If Fr. James Martin had done this interview, you would have absolutely loved it and would be raving about Shia's conversion. Similarly, if everything that happened at Word on Fire (most of which you completely lied about) had happened under Fr. James Martin, you wouldn't have had a word to say about it. The constant lies and slander you spew out about anyone who isn't a radically left progressive is getting stale.
You are totally right. I really wish Jesus would have been more aware of the damage and scandal he caused when he called Matthew to be disciple. Think about all those people in the community that he stole money from as a tax collector and how uncomfortable they would be accepting that Jesus is the Messiah. The problem of sinners entering the Church clearly isn't a new issue, it all started with Jesus. I'm not sure how to fix it, but clearly something needs to be done. It's just crazy how these terrible sinners keep coming to the Catholic Church for mercy and healing, and God lets them do it!
I wonder what Bp Barron's goal was with sharing SLB's conversion story. Does sharing these stories affect would-be converts and connect with them and lead them closer to Christianity/Catholicism/a relationship with God? Or are they more for us Catholics or Christians to pat ourselves on the back that someone else joined up? Maybe someone knows if there's any kind of info on this; I am genuinely interested to know.
If it's the latter, this feels a lot like Barron is a sports writer and he is interviewing a new player who just signed on with a different team.
Hi Chris! I have really enjoyed reading your critiques of conversion therapy as well as calling out abuse of various kinds in catholic spaces, great work. At the same time, I have noticed that you are reading and platforming a lot of work about transgender people that is written by cis-gender folks with the idea that trans identities are complex, difficult to understand, and theologically problematic. At the very least I am wondering: what trans writers are you reading? Where is the representation for affirming trans theology?
When you platform these types of thinkers (first Abigal Favale and now James Heaney), introducing a whole new group of people to their work, and give your own opinions on how trans healthcare should be managed without as much as a hat tip to the actual consensus of medical professionals who actually treat transgender people, it gives the impression that you don't care about the actual dignity and well-being of trans people (and maybe even suggests that you don't affirm trans people!)
I don't believe you have malicious intent, and at present my most charitable interpretation of the way you have handled this topic is that you are "thinking out loud." Unfortunately, the manner in which you are handling this topic could cause harm not only to your trans readers who will feel alienated and unaffirmed but also will spread the kind of misinformation that results in diminishing trans allies rather than building them.
At the very least, I would ask you to read and platform some trans affirming christian theology to balance out the things that you have been posting. For instance, "Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians" by Austen Hartke. Or "Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say" by Preston Sprinkle.
Transgender people deserve more than just a litany of cis-gender folks saying "This is a complicated topic I've wrestled with." Cool, but how about for those who are living it?
Thanks for sharing! I don't think I have too much of a response other than: that's totally fair, and something I should work on.
When it comes to Heaney and Favale, it's not so much that I read them to get their opinions on these issues specifically, as it is that I read what they have to say and they've written on these topics, so I've read and given some responses. I've engaged with them in very different contexts, so that's partly why they're on the radar for me.
In terms of the major reading I've prioritized recently, it's focused more on race, literature, and books that have been sent to me to review. With my present work schedule and other obligations, I haven't had as much time to read as I'd like. But I do think it would be good to find more time for that. I try to not to do much writing on theology related to trans experiences, other than pointing it out when I see people writing things that are anti-trans and using bad theology/logic to do it.
Anyways, thanks for the comment. That's a really helpful reminder, and one I could probably get more often.
I should also say that my focus tends to be very Catholic-specific. So I'm especially interested in Catholic work on gender by trans or nonbinary theologians, if you have any recommendations!
If Fr. James Martin had done this interview, you would have absolutely loved it and would be raving about Shia's conversion. Similarly, if everything that happened at Word on Fire (most of which you completely lied about) had happened under Fr. James Martin, you wouldn't have had a word to say about it. The constant lies and slander you spew out about anyone who isn't a radically left progressive is getting stale.
Thank you for sharing. It’s unfortunate that you find my writing stale. I hope that you find someone else more interesting to engage.
You are totally right. I really wish Jesus would have been more aware of the damage and scandal he caused when he called Matthew to be disciple. Think about all those people in the community that he stole money from as a tax collector and how uncomfortable they would be accepting that Jesus is the Messiah. The problem of sinners entering the Church clearly isn't a new issue, it all started with Jesus. I'm not sure how to fix it, but clearly something needs to be done. It's just crazy how these terrible sinners keep coming to the Catholic Church for mercy and healing, and God lets them do it!
Thank you for sharing. As I wrote, “Everyone should be welcomed in the Church.”
I wonder what Bp Barron's goal was with sharing SLB's conversion story. Does sharing these stories affect would-be converts and connect with them and lead them closer to Christianity/Catholicism/a relationship with God? Or are they more for us Catholics or Christians to pat ourselves on the back that someone else joined up? Maybe someone knows if there's any kind of info on this; I am genuinely interested to know.
If it's the latter, this feels a lot like Barron is a sports writer and he is interviewing a new player who just signed on with a different team.
Hi Chris! I have really enjoyed reading your critiques of conversion therapy as well as calling out abuse of various kinds in catholic spaces, great work. At the same time, I have noticed that you are reading and platforming a lot of work about transgender people that is written by cis-gender folks with the idea that trans identities are complex, difficult to understand, and theologically problematic. At the very least I am wondering: what trans writers are you reading? Where is the representation for affirming trans theology?
When you platform these types of thinkers (first Abigal Favale and now James Heaney), introducing a whole new group of people to their work, and give your own opinions on how trans healthcare should be managed without as much as a hat tip to the actual consensus of medical professionals who actually treat transgender people, it gives the impression that you don't care about the actual dignity and well-being of trans people (and maybe even suggests that you don't affirm trans people!)
I don't believe you have malicious intent, and at present my most charitable interpretation of the way you have handled this topic is that you are "thinking out loud." Unfortunately, the manner in which you are handling this topic could cause harm not only to your trans readers who will feel alienated and unaffirmed but also will spread the kind of misinformation that results in diminishing trans allies rather than building them.
At the very least, I would ask you to read and platform some trans affirming christian theology to balance out the things that you have been posting. For instance, "Transforming: The Bible and the Lives of Transgender Christians" by Austen Hartke. Or "Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say" by Preston Sprinkle.
Transgender people deserve more than just a litany of cis-gender folks saying "This is a complicated topic I've wrestled with." Cool, but how about for those who are living it?
Thanks for sharing! I don't think I have too much of a response other than: that's totally fair, and something I should work on.
When it comes to Heaney and Favale, it's not so much that I read them to get their opinions on these issues specifically, as it is that I read what they have to say and they've written on these topics, so I've read and given some responses. I've engaged with them in very different contexts, so that's partly why they're on the radar for me.
In terms of the major reading I've prioritized recently, it's focused more on race, literature, and books that have been sent to me to review. With my present work schedule and other obligations, I haven't had as much time to read as I'd like. But I do think it would be good to find more time for that. I try to not to do much writing on theology related to trans experiences, other than pointing it out when I see people writing things that are anti-trans and using bad theology/logic to do it.
Anyways, thanks for the comment. That's a really helpful reminder, and one I could probably get more often.
I should also say that my focus tends to be very Catholic-specific. So I'm especially interested in Catholic work on gender by trans or nonbinary theologians, if you have any recommendations!