a clear strong voice for strong clear clarity

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Sep 27, 2005

Father Paul Lininger, OFM Conv, executive director for the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, writes to reassure the heads of American men's religious orders that he is hard at work, responding to the news that the Vatican might say that homosexuals don't belong in seminaries.

It is our hope to articulate the ever increasing danger of diminishment of the Church's public persona as well as elucidate the potential damage and harm such a document or statement would engender.

We're all concerned, I'm sure, about the "public persona" of the Catholic Church. And if there's damage or harm-- a nice distinction there-- by all means it should be elucidated. But could I gently suggest that someone who plans to "articulate" things should not write like this:

As a Conference representative of the many voices of male religious life, we have always done well to do what is ours to do in a less dramatic means such as the public domain where important elements of communication are lost by the pitting of one group against another.

For those readers who have not taken vows, here is a rough translation, in English:

We're working very hard, behind the scenes, to put the kibosh on this thing.