Michael Iafrate on Religion Writing in Time of Trump: Limits of Both-Sidesism (&, Again, Why Queer Employees of Catholic Institutions Will Go on Being Booted)

When I wrote earlier today about the hounding of yet another LGBTQ employee of a Catholic institution out of a job — this time, it was Kristen Nelson of West Catholic High School in the Catholic diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan — I said that the reason we will keep seeing this kind of behavior is that Catholic conversations about these matters are painfully parochial, stifling, and intellectually stutifying. As a result, they simply miss the point frequently. 

Yet Another Queer Catholic Teacher Hounded Out of Job: Why This Situation Will NOT Change

Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see how the Archdiocese deals with this: “Catholic priest in Indy charged with kidnapping, confinement and domestic battery of wife” https://t.co/PVlOKjRbL5

— Brian K. (@bmk) February 28, 2018

In my last posting here, I asked, 

As neo-Nazi groups celebrate the killing of a gay Jewish student (and as white supremacist hate groups make tremendous inroads on college campuses), where are the churches, the defenders of the least among us, the defenders of human rights and the conscience of societies as they decry prejudice, discrimination, and violence?

As Neo-Nazis Celebrate Murder of Gay Jewish College Student, Where Are the Churches? (When They're Not Firing Queer Employees and Supporting Anti-Queer Discrimination, That Is)

Members of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division have been linked to five murders—most recently the stabbing death of a gay Jewish college student in January. They also have a secret chatroom.

Here's our story: https://t.co/nZPTHUvNGP pic.twitter.com/cOUTqIZzNK

— ProPublica (@ProPublica) February 24, 2018

In an article entitled "Inside Atomwaffen As It Celebrates a Member for Allegedly Killing a Gay Jewish College Student," A.C. Thompson, Ali Winston, and Jake Hanrahan report on behalf of ProPublica:

Assessing Billy Graham's Legacy: "Wrong Side of History," "Toxic Brand of Evangelicalism That Has Kneecapped American Politics"

So members of the public can pay their respects, the late Rev. Billy Graham will lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda from Feb. 28 to March 1. For more information: https://t.co/LMnKWnnnkg

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) February 22, 2018

Thoughtful statements I've read about the legacy of Southern Baptist minister and "unofficial pope of white Christianity" (see Fred Clark below) Billy Graham, following his death: 

Yesterday, Yes Means No re: Blessing Gay Couples; Today, Diametrically Opposed Statements about Papal Commission on Abuse: Why Does This Happen in Catholic Conversations?

Why is it that, when issues such as whether same-sex couples can be blessed by Catholic officials or how child abuse by clerics is handled by church officials are discussed in the Catholic church, the discusson immediately descends into he-said, she-said allegations in which yes becomes no?

Cardinal Marx and Blessing Same-Sex Couples: Yes Means No, of Course — And You Want to Build a Bridge to THAT?

Well, it seems we are now unambiguously back to, My God, no! We can't bless same-sex couples. And, No, I didn't say yes. Even when you heard yes . . . .

Assessing Billy Graham's Legacy: "After the Bombing That Murdered the Four Girls at the 16th Street Baptist Church He Visited a White Congregation in the City and Made No Comment about the Attack"

I abide by the old dictum not to speak ill of the dead. I do not think it means, however, that we ought to lie about the dead and their legacy. That said, I'd like to point you to a valuable discussion taking place on Twitter now after Billy Graham has died: