It is important to remember that the Catholic Church infallibly teaches that abortion is killing, and that embryonic research qualifies as abortion. And it is Abp. Burke’s sworn duty to ensure keep his flock in line with Catholic teaching.
With that in mind, some exceprts…
Majerus reiterated that he doesn’t speak for Saint Louis University or the Archdiocese. He doesn’t demand that anyone agrees with him though he would like to rally folks around the cause of stem-cell research.
Um, excuse me? We’re supposed to give credit to a Catholic coach at a Catholic institution for not insisting that others take a position oppose to that of the Catholic Church.
Again, what Majerus would like to “rally people around,” is, in his Church’s view, the deliberate killing of persons. It is well within his bishop’s authority to correct that.
As much as Majerus enjoys conversations with people who agree with him, he draws more enjoyment from discussing the issues of the day with those who disagree with him. Majerus doesn’t try to squash dissenting opinion; he encourages it. (OK, this doesn’t necessarily apply to basketball practice, if his players pop off. But that’s a different dynamic).
No, it’s precisely the same dynamic. Burke:Majerus on matters of faith and morals = Majerus:SLU basketball players on basketball matters. Why should the reaction of a bishop to a Catholic is his archdiocese advocating intrinsic evil be that much different from the reaction of a basketball coach to player “popping off”?
“…And I never want to impose my views on someone else. I will share my views, certainly. But not impose them, as if I have all the answers, and that I am always right. So I want to discover all that I can. Maybe there is something I don’t know.
The polarizing Burke, on the other hand, has adopted a zero-tolerance policy. According to Burke, it’s the Catholic Church’s way; or the proverbial highway. Those who don’t comply strictly with the Vatican’s teachings aren’t about to receive a warm welcome from the Archbishop.
Maybe that’s because Archbishop Burke is a bishop and Rick Majerus is a basketball coach. I mean, come on. We’re supposed to think Majerus is Burke’s superior becuase Majerus doesn’t insist on agreement with his political views?
Exactly what kind of welcome would the oh-so-tolerant Majerus put up with a player who insisted on playing zone defense when he had directed them to play man-to-man? Or decided to keep playing when he was calling for a timeout? I’m guessing the welcome would amount to a cold stare and a seat on the bench.
And that’s perfectly appropriate — it’s Majerus’s job to ensure that his players follow his direction on the court. And it’s Burke’s job to ensure that Catholics in his Archdiocese, particularly ones with high profiles, give proper deference to the Church’s position.
If we’re going to give credit to Majerus for not insisting that others share his political views, then it seems we ought to also give Burke credit for not insisting that Majerus follow his basketball strategy.
If that sounds ridiculous, it’s because it is.
Majerus doesn’t understand that. He believes churches should be inclusive. He doesn’t understand why any church would take a hostile position that could drive worshipers, or potential worshipers, away.
Supporting civil rights in the 1960’s probably drove some worshippers away. Preaching forgiveness toward terrorsits and against torture probably drives worshippers away. That doesn’t make it wrong for the Church to take those positions.
Jesus Himself took some pretty hostile positions that drove potential worshippers away, too.
“If religion speaks to anything, it should be optimism and hope,” Majerus said. “In some cases, those patients who are suffering, and their families; all they have left is hope and faith. And I’ve witnessesed this, first hand. So, yeah, I personalize these issues. But why take away that hope? If stem cell research could lead to a dramatic breakthrough that would save lives or improve lives, then don’t we owe that to these brave people?”
Except that resorting to embryonic research is the direct opposite of hope — it is declaring that we cannot bear these dieseases without turning on the least among us. It is letting the diseases win.
Recent scientific advances have shown that embryonic stem cells can be derived without killing embryos. So I ask — who is giving up hope — those who insist on embryo-destructive research, or those who believe that we can find ways to confront these diseases without destroying embryos?
My purpose here isn’t to attack Majerus, but to defend Burke. Majerus seems to have arrived at his position out of genuine concern for those who are sick, and I pray that he will find his way to express that concern in a manner that is in harmony with the Church.
But Abp. Burke is not only correct, but bound to correct Majerus when he’s off course, just as it is Majerus’s job to correct a player who decides to run a different play than the one Majerus called.
