fpb | Entries tagged with popular ignorance

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You may remember the case of that disabled child in Canada for whom the parents obtained permission from a court to stop her growth by chemical and surgical means. I was very unhappy with the story when it came out, but I did not know enough, and I thought it better not to criticize the parents when I did not know what they had been through or what the medical prospects really were.

This woman, on the other hand, has every right to speak out on the subject; and I am glad to see that my inchoate sense of disapproval has sound reasons to exist. http://www.mercatornet.com/articles/escaping_from_peter_pans_prison/

Moral of the story: never, ever, EVER pretend that you can judge when a human life is not worth living.

One thing that annoys me a lot is the sheer ignorance that comes out in many comments about the Church. And perhaps the silliest and most widespread notion is the view of the current Pope as some sort of traditionalist authoritarian who has stopped the process of reform initiated by the Second Vatican Council in its track. Ask any non-Catholic about Pope Woityla and you are likely to hear something like, "Oh, dreadful man, stands in the way of progress, benighted reactionary, unfortunately high in charisma, a dictator." Ask any serious Catholic, especially on the conservative side, and you are apt to hear pretty much the opposite; and this is much nearer the truth.

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