19 April 2008

Weighing and Measuring Pain and Suffering

Commendable indeed was Benedict XVI’s meeting with the victims of pedophile priests. The lifelong suffering of their victims must be beyond measure.

From our Mainstreet perspective, feeling shamed and betrayed by our former church , and, even our government, cannot impose the severity of pain and suffering of the pedophile victims, but the numbers afflicted and the permanent damage done to so many, the confusion and God-questoning are boundless.

The Episcopal Church of the U.S.A., the church of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, the church in which our founders prayed together, went trendy and Sodomite. It installed as bishop a known homosexual priest, one who had shamed his wife and family by openly declaring his disfunction, breaking his vows, and later confessing his alcoholism. It is no wonder that the many former Episcopalians in public life left the church for other denominations.

Changing religious affiliation is not uncommon in American life, particularly among Protestants. Ancestors were every manner of belief: Baptist, Quaker, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist - you name it. From Mainstreet’s informed but cynical point of view, there were many who imagined that if moral anarchy were imposed on the church of many leaders, all would follow. That was a step toward outright communism. Very few followed and to do so is not in the American nature. Heeding the Pope, however, we very much doubt the pervert bishop will apologize for his distribution of pain and suffering.

Then our administration and many elected: they have by and large elected to be Israelis. It did not at all seem to bother them the number of once Democrats or Republicans who, feeling pain and suffering and betrayal, have gone independent. There are certain monetary benefits available to those backing Israel, thus each politician must speak more loudly for Israel than the last. Along comes our former President Jimmy Carter now speaking with the Palestinians elected Hamas. How dare he, say our Israelis. Does he not know Hamas to be a terrorist organization? Well, not to us. Although our politicians chose to adopt all Israeli labels, Hamas has harmed not a hair of an American head, as we have oft said.

To our surprise, wonder, delight we find that nearly 100% asked to comment on President Carter’s meeting with Hamas, approved. And, if we can believe reports out of Israel, a rather large plurality of Israelis approve as well.

Can we hope that a lot of pain and suffering might end there?

Might we even hope that a Christian Republican Party will emerge here, one which wishes to adhere to the principles of our founders? Perhaps not for 08, but, certainly for 10?