a Dallas expert speaks again

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Oct 14, 2005

At their June 2002 meeting in Dallas, the US bishops heard from a psychologist named Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea.

Or at least one of them is still hearing from her. In a letter sent to Archbishop Sean O'Malley of Boston-- with copies helpfully sent to all the pastors in the archdiocese-- the bishops' chosen expert says:

Almost surely, if Jesus returned today to St. Peter's Square (or Holy Cross Cathedral), he would do so as a tattooed, multiply pierced individual wearing jeans and an old camouflage jacket. He (or she) would dine with gays and lesbians, bless the children born in test tubes, and gather unto him the sea of sexual abuse victims. He would, as he did, spend his time lifting the marginalized and powerless of today's world while taking down the arrogant who teach with forked tongues. He (or she) would remind the modern day Pharisees - you and too, too many of your episcopal brethren - that people are more important than rules or accoutrements of power. As before, almost surely, the Swiss Guards would call the Romans to remove the disruptive truth teller from the temple. Sound familiar?

So now we have a glimpse into the thinking of the USCCB's chosen expert. And we're left to wonder how, with thousands of shrinks to choose from, the bishops' conference selected this one as an expert witness.