Daffey Thoughts
I won’t say much, as I determined not to bring any debates or disputes I had with Mark to Patheos. But this is being talked about across a host of blogs and websites. I’ve had a few ask me my views, and I don’t wish to go any further into the topic than the simple response below. But given the posts that have been written, and several responses I’ve seen, including excuses made, I felt I needed to say something. So below is a piece I briefly whipped up and posted on a couple sites last night. Take it for what it’s worth. That will be it for me.
‘Allow me to post. I was banned by Mark Shea some time ago, just because we went on with endless arguments that went nowhere. Mark had threatened to ban me for more than a year. The first time was around when I defended myself against Mark’s accusation that I wanted to increase human slaughter. Funny thing, I didn’t. I actually don’t want to increase human slaughter, or see people suffer, or worship guns more than Jesus. Yet Mark said these things about me more than once, and others as well. Assuming that at least some of those Mark accused were as innocent as I believe I am, then that amounts to Calumny. That’s a false accusation. Bearing false witness. That’s potentially damaging reputations. It turns on its head Jesus’ teaching that while murder is wrong, the pathway to murder through raca and fool is no less perilous, if not more perilous.
I bear Mark no ill will, though at times, I blame those who cheered him on, prodding him, using him as their Mark shaped shield to call down racas, fools, and even false accusations, on their ideological opponents. Sometimes they even chided Mark when he felt compelled to apologize; asking why should he apologize? They deserve it!
No, I hope this helps Mark. And maybe those who are his friends – not those who saw Mark as a convenient lineman taking the hits so they didn’t have to – will see that there are issues having nothing to do with ‘those Catholics over there’, ‘those Catholics who aren’t like us’, or ‘those Catholics who are the real problem’. They’ll realize he has developed a major problem, a deadly one, and the true friends will step up and help him turn away from where he has been going.’
“… I will not vex your souls—
Since presently your souls must part your bodies—
With too much urging your pernicious lives,
For ’twere no charity; yet, to wash your blood
From off my hands, here in the view of men
I will unfold some causes of your deaths:
You have misled a prince, a royal king,
A happy gentleman in blood and lineaments,
By you unhappied and disfigured clean…”
Richard II, Act 3, Scene 1.
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