Derek. Excellent piece. One minor, maybe major, correction. As I understand it, JD Vance did not go through the Catholic RCIA program like almost every other adult wishing to convert to Catholicism as I did. For those unfamiliar with RCIA, it typically runs from August until the Easter Vigil. Weekly classes learning about the Catholic Church. Baptisms and Confirmations are held at the Easter Vigil. JD Vance found an accommodating Priest to convert him without RCIA training. Secondly, I would like to ask JD how many of these “low-wage foreigners” are in Trump’s employ or his and his billionaire donor’s employ? Thanks.
Yeah, that's a major correction. I think the instruction was set up by mover-and-shaker Peter Thiel. And individual instruction is a very very different process from the normative process that occurs >>in community<< ... with people who are different from you and are asking different questions and sharing mutual accountability.
It's my understanding that Vance did not do the full RCIA process but was privately instructed by a priest, presumably from the same wing of the church as Peter Thiel, who recruited Vance to the church for his own politico-theological reasons.
Vance is, regrettably, in good company as there is, of course, a revanchist Christo-fascist party within the Roman Catholic Church, including but not limited to the secretive Opus Dei organization and the newly excommunicated Society of St Pius X. Their agenda is in tune with that of such US outfits as the Heritage Foundation and the Claremont Institute, and is openly embraced by at least two of the six Catholic Supreme Court justices (Alito and Thomas), with three of the others being fellow travelers. The one Catholic justice who would agree with your theology here is Sonia Sotomayor. You undoubtedly know all this but perhaps not all of your readers do.
For a rapier-sharp critique of Vance's conversion story you can't do better than this conversation between two practicing Catholics on The Bulwark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30uF-A8yF8U&t=8s
So many! You once again summarized it all in so many quotable snipits.
The best and the one I will pass around is
“Because Jesus has a habit of walking into the middle of people that the folks in power tell us to steer clear of. The question is whether we’ll follow him, or keep steering clear.”
From a favorite hymn:
“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?”
Derek. Excellent piece. One minor, maybe major, correction. As I understand it, JD Vance did not go through the Catholic RCIA program like almost every other adult wishing to convert to Catholicism as I did. For those unfamiliar with RCIA, it typically runs from August until the Easter Vigil. Weekly classes learning about the Catholic Church. Baptisms and Confirmations are held at the Easter Vigil. JD Vance found an accommodating Priest to convert him without RCIA training. Secondly, I would like to ask JD how many of these “low-wage foreigners” are in Trump’s employ or his and his billionaire donor’s employ? Thanks.
Yeah, that's a major correction. I think the instruction was set up by mover-and-shaker Peter Thiel. And individual instruction is a very very different process from the normative process that occurs >>in community<< ... with people who are different from you and are asking different questions and sharing mutual accountability.
I have no words, “low wage foreigners”? “normal people like us”? It’s like did he read the gospel at all? Did he just skip the parts about Jesus?
My heart has been heavy this week, with the actions of our country. Thanks Derek for being a voice of grace in their idiocy.
It's my understanding that Vance did not do the full RCIA process but was privately instructed by a priest, presumably from the same wing of the church as Peter Thiel, who recruited Vance to the church for his own politico-theological reasons.
Vance is, regrettably, in good company as there is, of course, a revanchist Christo-fascist party within the Roman Catholic Church, including but not limited to the secretive Opus Dei organization and the newly excommunicated Society of St Pius X. Their agenda is in tune with that of such US outfits as the Heritage Foundation and the Claremont Institute, and is openly embraced by at least two of the six Catholic Supreme Court justices (Alito and Thomas), with three of the others being fellow travelers. The one Catholic justice who would agree with your theology here is Sonia Sotomayor. You undoubtedly know all this but perhaps not all of your readers do.
For a rapier-sharp critique of Vance's conversion story you can't do better than this conversation between two practicing Catholics on The Bulwark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30uF-A8yF8U&t=8s
Jesus wept, and still weeps.
You hit another one over the center field wall at the deepest part of the outfield. Wow!
So many! You once again summarized it all in so many quotable snipits.
The best and the one I will pass around is
“Because Jesus has a habit of walking into the middle of people that the folks in power tell us to steer clear of. The question is whether we’ll follow him, or keep steering clear.”
From a favorite hymn:
“Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?”
May we all be brave I pray.
Thank you, Derek! I wish I could say that it’s hard to believe he even said that!” Sadly, it’s not!
Another outstanding reflection, Derek. Thank you for this!