Urgent notice to Catholic friends (especially rubix1229)

[fpb]

In the past, I have sometimes referred to and more or less encouraged others to read a Catholic magazine called the NEW OXFORD REVIEW. More recently, I have had reason to worry about its editorial line. It seemed to be characterized by a disagreeable self-righteousness, a tendency to pick as many fights with orthodox Catholics as with genuine opponents, and a tendency to demonize "neocons" (which, in the language of certain people, means Jews); and a couple of items about the rights and wrongs of World War Two seriously troubled me. In their last daily mailing, however, they made it clear that they thought that Catholics "should regard Islamic fundamentalism as an ally" (quote). They also published an article against Israel, full of all the slanted accounts - or worse - that some of us are familiar with. I am therefore now writing this to warn anyone interested in this kind of things most seriously against the NEW OXFORD REVIEW. Their view of the world seems, all things considered, not too far from a naive yet deadly clerical fascism. And it is always bad news for Christians of any stripe when anyone starts preaching hate against the Jews. I have already deleted my subscription. I will lose a source of good, orthodox, thoughtful articles, for there is much good among this ordure; and that is a pity. But I refuse on principle to have any dealings with Jew-baiters and people who think that Taliban and Khomeinites can be seen as "allies".

Comments

[lyssiae.livejournal.com]

That's a shame. Whilst I don't take it, I was under the impression that the NOR was at least partially solid. The idea that we should see an ally in that kind of mindset is disturbing.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

It is "at least partially solid". It is the parts in which it is not solid that bother me. A confession: I occasionally do read E. Michael Jones, who is, if anything, rather more openly opposed to Jews and Hebraism. But Jones is remarkably well-read and has points that seem to me worth considering, even when I end up refuting them; especially about the issue of rival religions within a culture. On the other hand, the NOR views of these matters seem to me neither original nor deep - pure anti-Israeli boilerplate.

[rubix1229.livejournal.com]

Thank you for posting. I used to enjoy their articles about academic and social affairs, but I agree that the bizarre 'blame everything on the (undefined) neocons' bit has me suspicious. I do not receive the emails; could you post/send me the one you mention? It is very troubling that they call Islamic fundamentalists allies...

[(Anonymous)]

http://www.newoxfordreview.org/note.jsp?did=0606-notes-buying

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Exactly.