I found McGrew’s post the most insightful and focused response. Unlike many commentators who are actual Catholics, this Protestant had an excellent understanding of Catholicism, the centrality of the Eucharist and the completely ridiculous response by the Sisters who 50 years ago released their control of one of the two predecessor schools, yet felt compelled to erroneously misquote Butker and base their rant on this misinterpretation.
My female friends who were clutching their pearls and screeching about his misogyny paid little attention to his actual words, not to mention it was the men who came under fire in far more of the speech. Both the feckless and quivering priests and Bishops who hid in their Rectories and Chanceries and the males who abandon their women and children were torched by Butker.
Someone timed the word referring to women being happy as wives and mothers and it was about two minutes worth.
Nothing has changed in the millennia since the reference to whose ox has been gored. Women who have been lied to for fifty years (I’m one of them) just cannot admit they were misled about a fulfilling life. Their anger is pain. I hope they can find healing
I’d heard people talking about this at church yesterday and wanted to read it for myself, so thank you for the link to the transcript as well as your helpful analysis, both here and in the column.
As Whoopi Goldberg put it, he’s a Catholic speaking at a Catholic college, so the cultural ripples of his speech speak to a widespread ignorance of Catholic doctrine and the divergence between it and modern Catholic practice.
As a non-Catholic, I don’t agree with everything he said; in fact I think his main mistake was trying to cover too much ground. The best speeches have one recurring theme, but his seemed to be “stay in your lane,” an unfortunately trite expression that also seems a little hypocritical — how is a football player allowed to comment publicly on bioethics under this advice?
However, the ideas that marriage and family ought to take priority for laypeople, and that church leaders should focus on salvation and not politics, are hard for any traditional Christian to dispute. And I love that he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, knowing it would create controversy. It can be tiresome to try to navigate the bounds of politeness, and there is a time and place for strong vocal dissent.
I think Butker puts his finger on a very sensitive hot button for the Church. For too long have the leaders of the Catholic Church tried to be lenient and "merciful" to those who disagree with Church teaching. This has lead to ambiguity, if not heresy in some diocese. Some priests are effeminate, certainly not attractive to most men looking for spiritual guidance. The movement back to tradition (large families, homeschooling, TLM) is greatly appealing to youth who want clear, strong answers and convicted leaders. They want to be saints, and it is difficult to be a saint. How would the covid situation have progressed of bishops had allowed their priests to keep churches open? Those that were open were full, and these were the traditional parishes.
I generally agree with Butkers views (not all), but I undubscribed from McGrew’s posts after I read her hair-on-fire rant. Outrage isn’t a good discussion starter
I found McGrew’s post the most insightful and focused response. Unlike many commentators who are actual Catholics, this Protestant had an excellent understanding of Catholicism, the centrality of the Eucharist and the completely ridiculous response by the Sisters who 50 years ago released their control of one of the two predecessor schools, yet felt compelled to erroneously misquote Butker and base their rant on this misinterpretation.
My female friends who were clutching their pearls and screeching about his misogyny paid little attention to his actual words, not to mention it was the men who came under fire in far more of the speech. Both the feckless and quivering priests and Bishops who hid in their Rectories and Chanceries and the males who abandon their women and children were torched by Butker.
Someone timed the word referring to women being happy as wives and mothers and it was about two minutes worth.
Nothing has changed in the millennia since the reference to whose ox has been gored. Women who have been lied to for fifty years (I’m one of them) just cannot admit they were misled about a fulfilling life. Their anger is pain. I hope they can find healing
What are your thoughts on the core of his talk -- the discussion of Catholic divisions and their relevance to Sacraments?
I’d heard people talking about this at church yesterday and wanted to read it for myself, so thank you for the link to the transcript as well as your helpful analysis, both here and in the column.
As Whoopi Goldberg put it, he’s a Catholic speaking at a Catholic college, so the cultural ripples of his speech speak to a widespread ignorance of Catholic doctrine and the divergence between it and modern Catholic practice.
As a non-Catholic, I don’t agree with everything he said; in fact I think his main mistake was trying to cover too much ground. The best speeches have one recurring theme, but his seemed to be “stay in your lane,” an unfortunately trite expression that also seems a little hypocritical — how is a football player allowed to comment publicly on bioethics under this advice?
However, the ideas that marriage and family ought to take priority for laypeople, and that church leaders should focus on salvation and not politics, are hard for any traditional Christian to dispute. And I love that he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, knowing it would create controversy. It can be tiresome to try to navigate the bounds of politeness, and there is a time and place for strong vocal dissent.
I think Butker puts his finger on a very sensitive hot button for the Church. For too long have the leaders of the Catholic Church tried to be lenient and "merciful" to those who disagree with Church teaching. This has lead to ambiguity, if not heresy in some diocese. Some priests are effeminate, certainly not attractive to most men looking for spiritual guidance. The movement back to tradition (large families, homeschooling, TLM) is greatly appealing to youth who want clear, strong answers and convicted leaders. They want to be saints, and it is difficult to be a saint. How would the covid situation have progressed of bishops had allowed their priests to keep churches open? Those that were open were full, and these were the traditional parishes.
Hang on for today's Crossroads podcast. Hint. Hint.
I generally agree with Butkers views (not all), but I undubscribed from McGrew’s posts after I read her hair-on-fire rant. Outrage isn’t a good discussion starter