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?
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?