...I care, if anyone would like to thank non-tax paying atheist Justin Vacula for the Nativity debacle at the courthouse, feel free to email him at either of these addresses. The photo at left is from his meetup.com profile.justinvacula@kings.edu
or
blitzace255@hotmail.com
Send him some Christmas cheer!
Thanks St. Mary's of Dorrance Parishioner for the links! You officially Rock!
12 comments:
Yet another reason Bishop Martino was proven right in investigating the local Catholic colleges. If I were the Holy Cross Fathers, he would have been out this morning, expelled!
Catholic Reader
Just saw this on the news. I can't believe a Kings student is the one who made the complaint. What are they teaching in theology class??
Elaine
Elaine:
Has it just dawned upon you that Kings College is not Catholic?
Where have you been?
Father Dave Bechtel
Sorry Father, but I DID think Kings college was a religious institution. My son graduated from there in 2004. I must ask him if he took Theology classes. Anyway, sorry for the mistake.
Elaine
Father--I think this time you owe me an apology. I just went on the Kings website, and it states, "We are a Catholic instution". I thought I was correct in this, but had to make sure.
Elaine
Elaine:
Yes---- I know that Kings College "calls" themselves Catholic. That is not in question. I never claimed they did not "call" themselves Catholic.
It is indeed clear from their website that they believe themselves to be a Catholic institution.
However, the problem is that they don't seem to understand that "Catholocism" is not just a name. Catholocism is a way of life. Catholocism is something that should permeate everything they do. This clown who is protesting the Nativity should not want to be a student at Kings College, becasue Catholocism should be the air they breath.
I ask you Elaine: Do you really believe Catholocism is treated in this manner at Kings--- or do they simply give the Faith lip service as many of our allegidly "Catholic" unversities do?
Remember--- this is where one of the priests publically criticized Bishop Martino during the Miltz Debacle.
Father Dave Bechtel
Father, I wholeheartedly agree with most of what you say. However, your earlier post to me made me feel like you were "putting me down", so to speak. I spoke to my son, and he had to take four years of Theology classes while at Kings. This would not be required at Penn. State, or Wilkes. While Kings is a Catholic college, money seems to be the "root of all evil". And if Justin has the money to pay tuition, he is accepted, no matter what religion, (or not ), he is. If I were the head of Kings, I would impose some sort of sanctions on him. But----he could always withdraw from the college, causing them to lose much needed revenue. It's all about the almighty dollar. And that doesn't cut it with me. Hope we're square on this one, Fr. Dave. Christmas, after all, is and must be about the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Elaine
Elaine:
In my original post I was being sarcastic- but unfortunatley that can't come through on an email. Hence you thought I literally meant "Elaine, Kings is a secular college- do you live under a rock?" When that is not what I meant. It is easy to see why you would have thought that however.
Anyway, Merry Christmas to you and yours also!
By the way-I emailed Justin. I went to his blog where he answers his critics. I don't agree with him, but one thing I do agree with him on: We can talk to him in a reasonable way and debate the issue intellectually. There is no need for insults, etc. That is not going to help anything.
People calling him a godless liberal are not helping bring a soul to conversion. People calling the ACLU bullies- aren't helping. Yes, the ACLU bullies and browbeats people into unwilling submission as they threaten to unleash the power of a liberal activist judiciary on us----but pointing that out to Justin doesn't help.
Father Dave Bechtel
Father, I wholeheartedly agree with you there. My point on this is: I really could care less what you believe, or don't believe. Just please don't interfere with my beliefs. When he states that being an atheist makes it offensive for him to have these (Nativity and Mennorrah) on public ground, he has the CHOICE to look away. By causing all this rucus, he has taken away my choice to view these beautiful symbols, and he has no right to do this. Funny thing, he goes to a school where it is mandatory to take theology classes; there is a Crucifix atop at least one of the buildings; when my son went there, there was a Crucifix in every classroom. I really think he's just a poor mixed up kid who doesn't know what he wants. By the way, looked for you at the rally on the square. Wanted to meet you. Have a nice day.
Elaine
Hi Elaine:
I am not assigned anywhere near the valley. My assignment is in Williamsport--- and I LOVE IT!
Father Dave Bechtel
Fr. Dave, Someday we'll meet. I would love to "pick your brain", so to speak. Anyway, I'm so happy this ordeal with the Nativity and Mennorrah has been settled; for now, at least.
Again Father, have a very Blessed Christmas, and Happy New Year.
Elaine
So let me get this straight. The article above does a good job of outlining the "They" and "We" syndrome in our society.
It is very easy to prejudge someone by calling them "They". You can lump them into some vacuous contemptible concept of a group that you do not, or have not tried to understand.
The second thing is, I see religious folks here using the words HATE, when referring to a person that does not agree with them, and chooses law over religion. You are advocating harassing him, by posting his email and photo.
If you are trying to garner sympathy or understanding from me, you just lost it all. The last thing I see in this blog are Christians, acting like Christ. I even see you fighting and demanding apologies from one another, while putting someone else that you don;t agree with down.
How does it feel to indiscriminately make up ad hominem attacks, and call people names, and make fun of them publicly while claiming to be Christians?
The "Liberal" moniker is so funny, I won;t even discuss it other than saying that it must be great to be able to easily compartmentalize people in your hateful mental file, because they do not agree with you. If I raved about "Catholics" and lumped them into an unflattering metaphor, you would be screaming right now, and begging for "justice".
it is clear that no one here, including the priest, understand the law or the founding of this country.
I was completely civil, so let's see if this gets posted.
PEACE,
MY NAME IS CRAIG BARTMER
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