theology, Boston style

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Dec 10, 2005

Boston's Mayor Tom Menino responded last night to the Catholic critics who have protested his support of abortion and same-sex marriage. And the Boston Globe, always sympathetic to anyone in conflict with the Catholic Church, gave His Honor's speech a rave review.

Menino, who is not easily confused with Demosthenes, worked himself up to this rhetorical peak:

"And what moves me most about being a Christian is what Jesus taught us about being religious," Menino said. 'He did not give priority to piety. He didn't make holiness the big thing. And he did not tell us to go around talking up God, either."

Go ahead: Read that final sentence again. Now read the final four verses of St. Matthew's Gospel. I sense a teeny bit of tension there. But what do I know, never having studied at the Ted Kennedy School of Theology?

About now you could be wondering: What did the leaders of the Boston archdiocese think of the Mayor's remarks? The Globe story provides the answer:

Terrence C. Donilon, a spokesman for the archdiocese, applauded the speech.