The War Room

CATHOLICS NOT WELCOME IN SAN FRANCISCO: IS THE DALAI LAMA?

First off, thanks to everyone who took the time to make comments about the practice of Partial Birth Abortion. I do believe that this debate is coming and that the more Americans talk about it, the more we will be forced to talk about it because Canadians consume far more American culture than Canadian.

Writing your MP's is never a bad thing, but after awile, it becomes moot.

You must also talk to people. That's the hard part.

It is also important when talking about this subject to never be hysterical or disrespectful. Try as best you can to be factual and not emotional. I know that is hard...but that is how debates are won.

I came across this article in the Telegraph the other day concerning the Dalai Lama. He has been giving quite a few interviews lately and being more explicit about his beliefs than I have ever heard him be before.

I used to think that he was one of those amorphous types; y'know everything is like a 'Barney' song where if you love me and I love you we will all be alright. Turns out I was wrong, and so are the majority of his North American followers who do not know what he really believes.

"A gay couple came to see me, seeking my support and blessing. I had to explain our teachings. Another lady introduced another woman as her wife - astonishing. It is the same with a husband and wife using certain sexual practices. Using the other two holes is wrong."
At this point, he looks across at his interpreter - who seems mainly redundant - to check that he has been using the right English words to discuss this delicate matter. The interpreter gives a barely perceptible nod.

"A Western friend asked me what harm could there be between consenting adults having oral sex, if they enjoyed it," the Dalai Lama continues, warming to his theme. "But the purpose of sex is reproduction, according to Buddhism. The other holes don't create life. I don't mind - but I can't condone this way of life."

He also is critical here and in other places of the practice of abortion.

"I see women who have had abortions because they thought a child would ruin their lives. A baby seemed unbearable - yet now they are older, they are unable to conceive. I feel so sorry for them."

They need to discover an inner strength, he tells them. "The West is now quite weak - it can't cope with adversity and it has little compassion for others. People are like plants - they can develop ways of countering negative forces. If people took more responsibility for their own problems, they would become more self-confident."

I did some more research on the man and it seems he has very much been misinterpreted by his Western followers. I wonder how many Hollywood celebrities and New Age types who like the Dalai Lama are aware of what his views are on these subjects?

Another interesting article comes courtesy of Lifesite News regarding a recent anti-Catholic proclamation from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Now, when I say anti-Catholic I do not mean in the sense that it merely goes against Catholic teaching, I mean it actually says Catholics are 'undesirables' to society.

"The March 21, 2006 resolution alludes to the Vatican as a foreign country meddling in the affairs of the City and describes the Church's moral teaching and beliefs as "insulting to all San Franciscans," "hateful," "insulting and callous," "defamatory," "absolutely unacceptable," "insensitive[] and ignoran[t]."

They are now being sued for this and the response by the Thomas More Law Center describes the language as follows...

"The demagoguery and virulent words of this resolution are reminiscent of the anti- Catholic bigotry of the Ku Klux Klan and the Know Nothings, which marred our Nation's earlier history. San Francisco may as well have put up signs at the City limits: 'Faithful Catholics Not Welcomed."

Many people are not aware that Catholics were once targetted by the Ku Klux Klan. Similarly, there have been points in Canadian history where they were denied the right to vote in certain parts of the land and discriminated in the area of finding employment, especially in the early days of Protestant Toronto.

Can you imagine any Canadian districts issuing statements like this?

Perhaps a board in Vancouver or Toronto?

With The Da Vinci Code fanning the flames, I do not think things will get any easier for Catholics in the West any time soon.

I suspect, based on comments I hear from aquaintances and friends...they will probably get a whole lot worse. People always use 'history' and 'fact' to justify their predjudices and bigotry.

They will hate someone based on lies that they 'know' are true and those lies then become part of the culture for usually a generation or two until new 'whipping boys' are found.

There was a time when it was acceptable to believe that the Jews controlled the international banking system.

There was a time when it was acceptable to believe that blacks were inferior.

Now I am not comparing contemporary attitutes towards Catholics to the Holocaust or slavery...that would be silly. But all bigotry and ignorance exists on the same gradient curve.

And they all have the potential to lead to the same place.

A question: Do you think the Dalai Lama is welcome in San Francisco?

posted by Nicol DuMoulin @ 7:52 AM