Don't Be a Dick
McBrien

Helmet tip to LarryD.

Larry points out on his blog that the coat & tie clad University of Notre Dame theology professor/quasi-Catholic priest, Dick McBrien gushes on and on in regards to Comrade Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Or as Larry summed up the thoughts of Dick, "The Church Needs Its Own Mandela".

Dickie writes in the National Catholic Distorter;

...too many of our bishops -- although certainly not the majority -- function in ways that are directly opposed to Mandela's example.

The names of these high-profile bishops are known to anyone who is more than casually aware of Catholic developments.

These bishops trade in recrimination and self-righteous moralizing, looking upon Catholics, especially those in public office, who don't agree 100 percent with their particular approach to pastoral issues as "bad Catholics," who should not receive Communion and who should even think seriously of leaving the church. As if the third of Catholics who have already left the church isn't enough.

Unfortunately, the Vatican itself has also exercised a form of leadership that is directly opposed to Mandela's. The current "visitation" (read: "investigation") of communities of religious women in the United States, and the "doctrinal assessment" (read: "harassment") of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, which represents 95 percent of these communities, are the most dramatic cases in point.

If Mandela had followed the example of the Vatican or that of many of our bishops, South Africa would still be a divided nation today, with blacks and whites at each others' throats.There's a phrase for folks like Dick McBrien... they're called liberal Protestants. But don't hold your breath if you want any type of disciplinary action against this guy.

And as far as Catholicism 'needing a Mandela', we already have PLENTY of Nelson Madela's in The Catholic Church. Mandela showed his true colors on more than one occasion. Case in point;

ADDRESS BY PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA ON THE OCCASION OF THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTYCape Town, 28 July 1996I feel really honoured to be part of this celebration of a historic day in South Africa's political calendar. The 75th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party is a special occasion for South Africa.

It is special because of the critical role the Party has played in our country's history, because of its relevance to today's politics; and because it is bound to make an impact on the future of our society.

On behalf of the African National Congress, bring you warm fraternal greetings; and we join others in proclaiming; many happy returns.