Res ipsa loquitur

By ( articles ) | Jul 03, 2003

Analytic philosophers describe some utterances as performatively self-refuting ("I never deny anything") and some as performatively self-ratifying ("Like I never made a big thing like out of my grammar lessons."). The Washington Post provides us with a beautiful specimen of the latter:

The Rev. Richard McBrien, an outspoken University of Notre Dame theologian, agrees. "There is little or no leadership talent in the hierarchy today," he says.

If there were a sufficiency of competent bishops, Fr. McBrien wouldn't be quoted to the contrary, because he'd be telemarketing vinyl siding, roach & wasp-killer, and above-ground pools out of Ellettsville, Indiana.