Joseph Feuerherd, head of the National Catholic Reporter, passed away from cancer this past week at the age of 48 years. Other blogs wrote about his passing; I highlight two of them and invite all to do their own comparisons.
The first is from the American Papist blog, and is actually quite a glowy write-up - perhaps overly so. In it, Mark Stricherz refers to him as a gregarious individual, and commented on the deceased's "commitment to the poor".
To answer the question why I put his "commitment to the poor" in quotes, it's worth taking a look at the second of the two blogs - that of my CMC colleague, Les Femmes. She points out that Feuerherd placed his erroneous concept of concern for the poor above (or at least on a par with) concern for the thousands of unborn children murdered each day - so much so that he announced his support for Obama during the 2008 campaign. Need I remind anyone of the immense menace that Obama continues to pose for these truly defenseless amongst us?
It may well be that Feuerherd was a gregarious individual. So what? Ted Kennedy was reputed to have an outgoing, afiable personality - and no one disputes how he played in integral role in ensconsing the Culture of Death in the fabric of modern society. Feuerherd caused similar damage via the dissent and pro-abortion propaganda promulgated through the National Catholic Reporter while he was at its helm.
Stricherz concludes his piece by saying, "Whenever you feel like criticizing someone, just stop to think if you would reach the same conclusion if you met and talked with the person. Charity goes a long way." Criticizing the person is not the issue; his deeds (and misdeeds) are. We can, and must, look at and speak honestly of the ways in which Feuerherd et al helped to foster a dangerous culture that wars against its unborn. It is the complete antithesis of true charity to gloss over the truth, for then we may not be so urgent to pray to God that he have mercy on the soul of Joseph Feuerherd - as well we should.
Ugh.
ReplyDeleteFeurhard spent his life misleading souls. Under the circumstances Mark's glowing article is a disservice to the merits of salvation. He should have, like everyone else, mentioned the passing with a prayer for mercy.