Sensible, except when fuddled

In a comment at Chez Shea last week, I took issue with Mr. Shea's characterization of Andrew Sullivan as "Sensible about the War and Bush, Hopelessly Fuddled about Catholicism and Sex". I've long thought there are two other men (an atheist and an agnostic) that fit that description much better.

Today's essay by Steven den Beste, Europe's future, is a remarkable demonstration of the author's clarity of thought and expression when he speaks of topics where he has some background knowledge. Stephen Green is likewise a good writer on some topics. He's funny as all get-out too. Sadly, he's bought the dominant culture's lies about human sexuality. Since neither are Catholic, I don't really expect them to have a strong understanding of Catholic moral theology. Sure enough, they end up being fuddled about Catholicism and sex.

Still, neither of these men go out of their way to impose their own beliefs on others. They're fundamentally American in that they recognize the right of others to live their own lives in accordance with the dictates of their own consciences. Sullivan doesn't recognize that right. He wants everyone to live according to the dictates of his conscience -- even to the point of demanding that the Church abandon its foundations to embrace his preference. He's not fuddled. He's a bright enough fellow to have grasped what the Church teaches. He's knowingly trying to destroy a basic precept of the Church. That's evil.

So how does Sullivan's insistence on the morality of homosexuality differ from Christianity's disapproval of homosexual behavior? In this day and age, the Church does not have the power to impose its doctrines with criminal or civil law. Christianity is non-compulsory. Sullivan and his confreres seek to make the acceptance of homosexuality completely mandatory with force of law. It ties in pretty closely with the ossified state described in Mr. den Beste's analysis of Europe. It's completely reasonable that the homosexual activist community be described as "brownshirts" with all that entails. Also any Catholic worth his salt knows that the Church's moral teachings come from God Himself. They aren't matters where people of good will may differ. There's a reason we have "commandments" rather than "suggestions".