A second reading of the ‘ecumenism of hate’ essay?
By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Jan 06, 2020
With tensions soaring in the Middle East, what does Father Antonio Spadaro recommend reading? Why, an essay of his own, in which he attacks conservative American Catholics. Never waste a crisis, you know, when you can use it to promote your own partisan interests.
And Father Spadaro—editor of Civilta Cattolica and adviser to Pope Francis—is as partisan as they come. His 2017 essay on the “ecumenism of hatred” was an embarrassment to the Vatican: a vitriolic piece, marred not only by its tone but also by its spectacular ignorance about American political affairs. But the shameless Jesuit now thinks we should all read it again.
Let me make an alternative suggestion. Rather than reading a foolish essay, read an informed critique of that essay. If you have time, read another.
Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org. See full bio.
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Posted by: fwhermann3492 -
Jan. 06, 2020 6:11 PM ET USA
The phrase "spectacular ignorance about American political affairs" sums up Spadaro's understanding of Christianity in America pretty well. I would like to invite Fr. Spadaro to actually travel around the U.S. and get to know people, to talk to them and hear their stories, before bashing them. I'm sure he'd learn a thing or two.
