The Archbishop's Special Delivery

And It Isn't a Nosegay

Gerald Augustinus at The Cafeteria is Closed reports that the Holy Father is lending support to Genoa's Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, the president of the Italian bishops' conference, in the face of death threats: most recently, a bullet in the mail. Not "soft coercion." Not a subtle message. Point blank clear: message received.

Once again we note that the Catholic Church, in supporting the sacrament of Holy Matrimony, the "domestic church," and the common good, draws the usual lynch-mob of miscreants and degenerates. They understand that their "special interests" (read: neo-pagan, anti-Christ agenda) are only confronted by Catholic truth. Who else? Please show me if I'm wrong about that. We're supposed to forgive, turn the other cheek, not return evil for evil. They certainly don't have to. Any means -- political, judicial, ecumenical, death threats -- any means to disassemble the foundations of civility, sanity, and hope for humanity.

Catholic World News reports that Cardinal Camillo Ruini, who had preceded Archbishop Bagnasco as president of the Italian bishops' conference, told the Italian daily Corriere della Sera that Italian Church leaders would not be silenced by threats. “We will speak even more clearly and forcefully," he vowed.

For the clearest, most lucid expression of why support for our Church leaders matters and such violent threats cannot be ignored, pick up a copy of David P. Lang's superb slim volume, Why Matter Matters [Our Sunday Visitor, 2002]. Hint: Genesis 1, 31.