Effie Caldarola
The Theological College in Washington, the national seminary of the Catholic University of America, recently canceled a lecture by Jesuit Father James Martin.
Father Martin was to speak on his popular book, “Jesus: A Pilgrimage.” But the college announced that “in the interest of avoiding distraction and controversy” about his more recent book, “Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity,” they were disinviting the Jesuit. A couple of other groups likewise canceled his appearances.
In doing so, they bowed to trolls and online vitriol, to organized cyberbashing that appears all too frequently in the comments section of online publications, to ad hominem attacks, to hatred. Personal insults and gay slurs have been hurled at Father Martin by a crowd of bullies masquerading as guardians of Catholic orthodoxy.
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The college was not questioning the Catholic credentials of the book. “Building a Bridge” was endorsed by Cardinal Kevin J. Farrell, head of the Vatican’s office on the family, and many other prelates.
The Catholic University of America quickly distanced itself from the cancellation. Father Matt Malone, editor of America magazine, the Jesuit journal, defended Father Martin.
Father Malone called the attacks on Father Martin, an editor-at-large at America, “unwarranted, uncharitable and un-Christian,” and decried the online barrage as “invective that is as appalling as it is toxic.”
This column is not an endorsement of “Building a Bridge,” nor is it a book review. It’s on my list, but I haven’t read “Bridge” yet. That’s not the point.
This summer, I spent prayerful mornings on my patio savoring Father Martin’s meditations on his journey through the Holy Land in “Jesus: A Pilgrimage.”
Someone rightly described Father Martin’s writing as “gentle.” When a friend asked me for good Catholic reading material for her daughter-in-law going through the RCIA process, I quickly said, “Anything by James Martin.”
“My Life with the Saints,” “Between Heaven and Mirth,” “In Good Company” — these books are easy reading that surprise you with how much you’ve learned, and how joyful you feel to be a Catholic.
“Bridge” has not been without critics, left and right. Cardinal Robert Sarah, head of the Vatican’s office on liturgy, penned a Wall Street Journal op-ed in which he expressed disappointment that the book hadn’t more thoroughly explained the church’s view on sexuality. Father Martin responded by saying sexual morality was not the book’s focus.
This exchange was healthy dialogue, what the church needs. Under Pope Francis, dialogue has been encouraged, and while that road is sometimes bumpy, it’s yielding many graces. Father Martin has called his book an invitation to dialogue and prayer, and, in an interview with Religion News Service, specified that neither the book, nor he, would ever challenge church teaching.
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Meanwhile, Father Martin’s online presence bursts with praise and thanks for his book, while the online minority of haters fill posts and blogs impugning Father Martin’s integrity, and hurling homophobic smears that insult Father Martin and gay people in one swipe.
And will we give in? Will we as church allow cyberbullies to silence a leading voice in the American church?
Although so far not employing actual violence, these right-wing zealots remind me of the antifa folks, who do threaten violence in an effort to curb speech that they consider fascist. They took aim at Ann Coulter this summer. I disagree with just about everything Coulter represents, but her right to express her opinions should be inviolable.
What can the church do about trolls?
We must stand firm for open dialogue and Christian respect. Giving in because we don’t want “controversy” is a coward’s way out.
I was with you until you compared the Catholic cyberbullies to antifa…”Speech they consider fascist?” By whose judgment is the chanting of Nazis and white supremacists not fascist? Not a good comparison at all. I don’t agree with antifa’s violence, but they are standing up against evil vitriol and behavior. By using them as a comparison, you’re essentially equating Fr. Martin, a gentle priest who wants to be inclusive in the way Jesus was, with the white supremacists, Nazis, and/or Ann Coulter who makes money from vicious taunts and hateful statements. I agree with your basic premise, but you took it down the wrong path by making that false equivalency between antifa and the right-wing Catholic cyberbullies.
I can not understand how you can recommend Fr. Martin’s books as your go – to book for people. Fr. Martin has promoted homosexuality as being “good” for our Church. Also, how can you say that Cyberbullying is taking place against Fr. Martin. As far as I am aware Church Militant is not being uncivil in fact just the opposite is true. I think you should go to Churchmilitant.com . and actually seen what is being said.
Sadly, if one even dares to disagree with Fr. Martin on any issue, they are labeled as a troll or a member of the alt-right or a cancer or any number of terrible things. It is exactly the same tactic that is used by the far left to shut down any discussion or comment that may be contrary to ones personal opinion. Fr. Martin has a habit of making statements that are not only at odds with what the Church teaches, but he also seems to be ignorant as to what Jesus teaches. When he is called on it, he starts to cry as to how misunderstood he is, and then he slides into attacking anyone who disagrees with him.
How dare you refer to Catholics who happen to actually know the teachings of Christ and the teachings of the Church as haters. Just as I would want to let people with same sex attraction know that they are called to chastity as any single person would be, I would expect our priests to be giving that same message. If one has ever read Cardinal Sarah and then read Fr. Martin, one would know the difference between a holy man and a man who just happens to wear a collar. If anyone asked me for good Catholic reading, Fr. Martin is the LAST person I would recommend. The Church has oodles of holy saints, men and women of great faith and incredible spiritual role models. How you would make Fr. Martin your first recommendation is beyond me. The vitriol that pours out of your commentary is a perfect example of everything you accuse everyone else of being. It also speaks volumes as to the followers or groupies of Fr. Martin.
The cancellation might be better blamed on Fr. Martin’s heterodoxy on same sex marriage, transgenderism, and homosexual lifestyles. The coverage I’ve seen from the Catholic press acts like Martin is a martyr. They repeatedly fail to check off the many errors he spreads, and focus on the mean people who seek to protect the Faith.