Unpleasantness at the Vatican
By Diogenes (articles ) | December 15, 2003 6:34 AM
"I'm not here to celebrate, like you, the birth of Christ, but to ask you why you are not in mourning for his death in this place. God has been a witness to the corruption of his leadership, of the exploitation and abuses by the clergy."
That's hip-hop artist Lauryn Hill scolding the audience at the Vatican's Christmas concert held Saturday evening in the Paul VI Auditorium. Her J'Accuse was a not-entirely-coherent mixture of old-style Protestant polemic ("I don't believe in God's representatives on earth") and contemporary invective against the corruption exemplified by the clergy abuse scandal.
It's impossible to gauge the sincerity of Hill's admonishment, but it's clear that the publicity thereby gained will sell lots of albums and cost her zero customers. Moreover, a person engaged in the pop music business at any level is in an extraordinarily poor position to criticize others for sexual exploitation of youth. Ask yourself whether the entertainment industry helps teenagers make choices in favor of purity, rationality, sobriety, and thrift.
That said, there's a sense in which Hill's Vatican hosts got what was coming to them. I'm not referring to her reprimand on sexual abuse but to the ill-focused worldliness of senior clergy who wish to nuzzle up to the rich and famous of whatever stripe, including those who exult in contempt for Christianity. The Italian daily La Repubblica says a rapper named Shaggy was not allowed to perform a number called "Hey Sexy Lady" before the assembled bishops, but clearly the stuff that makes the cut is pretty gamy.
Are Vatican photo-ops with pop stars expressly designed to show the world that Catholic clergy are no longer ingenuous and unworldly mystics locked away in monastic libraries? If so, many of us will wish to say: "Gentlemen, you've proved your point. Rembert Weakland and Robert Lynch have convinced us more thoroughly than many thousands of acoustic guitars could have. If you're missing, we won't go looking for you in the adoration chapel -- a point you made by inviting Lauryn Hill to amuse you in the first place. Now can we move on?"
|
An appeal from our founder, Dr. Jeffrey Mirus: Dear reader: If you found the information on this page helpful in your pursuit of a better Catholic life, please support our work with a donation. Your donation will help us reach five million Truth-seeking readers worldwide this year. Thank you! |
Easter Campaign: Progress toward our Spring 2013 goal ($24,002 to go):
$80,000.00
$55,997.55
30%
70%
|
All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!
-
Posted by: Gil125 -
Dec. 15, 2003 7:39 PM ET USA
True enough, Jesus ate with sinners. But in the only examples of conversation we have between him and the sinners, he is telling them to repent. He is doing the talking, not the listening. That's where the current generation of men in red hats go astray.
- Posted by: - Dec. 15, 2003 2:21 PM ET USA
-
Posted by: Pseudodionysius -
Dec. 15, 2003 11:34 AM ET USA
Was Ms Hill performing Palestrina, Preisner or something somewhat more contemporary? Perhaps she can be an invited member of a Vatican ecumenical dialogue commission to iron out differences and create an acceptable liturgical dance compromise that would be appropriately inclusive of all those who have been disenfranchised. We are an Advent people.
-
Posted by: -
Dec. 15, 2003 9:54 AM ET USA
When I hear comments like, "[I do] not believe in representatives of God on earth," it should not be a surprise to anyone why she named her own album: "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.''
-
Posted by: extremeCatholic -
Dec. 15, 2003 9:53 AM ET USA
On my blog I've got more quotes and a nice picture of Lauryn. Whatzz zup with this concert in Advent? The Church considers the celebration of Christmas to commence on Dec. 25., or did the spirit of Vatican II change that as well. I wait for Ms. Hill to deliver the same message to M. Jackson and R. Kelly next them she's in their hood.
-
Posted by: -
Dec. 15, 2003 7:54 AM ET USA
Move on to where? More of the same? Something worse? This generation will soon pass. I hope they get the chance to rap their defense to the accusations our Crucified Lord. "Yo, yo JC, as you can see lukewarm and worldly was the place to be. Don't be judgin' me. Word."
