DARK MOMENTS IN HUMAN HISTORY

I have just returned from the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Its proper title is the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

 

I toured the three floors of the permanent exhibit. The exhibit methodically traces the Holocaust from the rise of Hitler to those who were lucky to survive. In between were evil acts of inhumanity committed on a massive scale.

 

Six million Jews murdered.

 

There is little I did not know of the Holocaust. I am and have been a student of history all my life. One thing I did learn today makes the six million number appear even larger. If it can. In all of Europe when Hitler commenced his mass extermination, there were only nine million Jews. Hitler effectively eliminated two thirds of a people.

 

For years, I have heard ".....never forget!" One cannot.

 

What bothers me is that Hitler's intentional extermination of the Jews was not the last such occurrence.  There have been many more since the end of World War II.

 

All over the world. Places such as Armenia, Bosnia, Darfur, the Congo, Cambodia, Sudan and Iraq. It is thought by some that Syria may be ripe for mass killings.

 

There is one mass killing I would be remiss if not mentioned.  Though not since World War II. I refer specifically to the American Indian. Native Americans to use the correct terminology. Subjected to annihilation because of the United States' Manifest Destiny concept at the time..

 

There was a bit of a quirk that I had to figure out. The Jewish extermination is referred to as a holocaust. All the others mentioned, genocides. What is the difference? Is there a difference?

 

Both terms are very close In meaning. A holocaust involves fire. Perhaps the cremations following the gassing gave rise to the term. Genocide is simply mass killing in any form. From my perspective, both are the same.

 

The purpose of today's column is not merely to recite my trip to the Holocaust Museum and how terrible the Nazis were to persons of the Jewish faith. I have a broader and deeper thought to convey.

 

Six million Jews killed during World War II. Millions more in the genocides set forth earlier. I believe man likes to kill. It is inherent in his nature. Some where, some time, there will be another holocaust/genocide going on. Man's inhumanity to man prevails. It never ends.

 

I apologize if I offend some. The record is clear, however. Man keeps doing it. Killing his fellow humans on a mass scale.

 

Think back in history. Recall Roman days when Christians and others were killed in the Coliseum by lions. The only difference between now and then is that man no longer uses lions. He does it himself. 

HYPOCRISY

Do as I say, not as I do. A simple example of hypocrisy. Formally defined, a hypocrite is one who expresses zeal for those virtues which he neglects to practice.

 

My Church is guilty of hypocrisy. The Catholic Church. Specifically with regard to its positions on birth control and abortion.

 

The Catholic Church rejects contraception under any circumstances. Most recently with regard to Obamacare. The Church was opposed to Obamacare's provisions which would provide contraception coverage. Directly or indirectly. Even where Obama acceded to the Church's initial protestations and said that birth control would be paid for by the insurance company. In effect, the insurance company would provide the coverage free.

 

The Catholic Church rejected the President's solution. Instead the Church has gone to court claiming that any provision regarding contraception violated the Church's beliefs. Its religious beliefs. The court matter is in its early stages.

 

The Catholic Church uses as a primary spokesperson the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. The Council's present chairperson is Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the New York Archdiocese. The Cardinal recently was on the short list for election as Pope.

 

The Obamacare fight thus far has been limited to contraception. Abortion not an issue. It goes without saying that the Church abhors abortion.

 

A recent article by Sharon Otterman in the New York Times uncovered the factual basis warranting the hypocrisy charge. The article brought forth that the Archdiocese of New York for twelve or more years had been providing coverage to certain union medical employees for contraception. Also for voluntary pregnancy termination. A delicate way of referring to abortion.

 

Shocking! The same Archdiocese now headed by Cardinal Dolan. Who is also chairperson of the United States Council of Catholic Bishops. The organization in the forefront of the Obamacare contraception battle.

 

A Church spokesman suggested that the Archdiocese succumbed and accepted a union contract containing the contraception and abortion coverages under protest.The issue at the time was providing health care or violating the Church's religious beliefs. It was thought better to provide the coverages. It was said by the Church spokesperson that the issues of contraception and abortion would be left to the conscience of individual employees.

 

More than ten years later, the Church's position has become that the Obamacare provisions are unprecedented, intolerable, and a government intrusion on religious liberty. Where were these arguments back when the union contract was on the table? How can what passed muster years ago now become a horrible imposition on Catholicism?

 

The Archdiocese is not the only institution that has permitted contraception coverage. Fordham University is a Catholic institution. It provides contraception coverage not only for it employees, but also its students. Since 2002, New York State mandates agencies with standard commercial insurance to provide coverage for contraception services. Many Catholic agencies fall under the mandate.

 

Where was the Catholic Church when Fordham University did what they did? Where was the Catholic Church when New York State issued its mandate?

 

I have my own thoughts.

 

I believe the Catholic Church has become politically active to an extent never before experienced. The United States Council of Catholic Bishops has a budget of $26.6 million. Such a sum would better be spent feeding and sheltering the poor and homeless.

 

I suspect also that the Catholic Church has been goaded into and has become an ally of the Republican religious right. It has been reported that the Bishops became involved in the Obamacare fight only after consultation with the group.

 

I cannot get out of my head that Catholic Church hierarchy now seek the spotlight of the public pulpit. Enjoyably so from where I sit.

 

Something else sticks in my craw. What happened to free conscience? My Catholic upbringing taught me man has free conscience. God sets the rules. Man has the ability to follow the rules or not. In the exercise of free conscience.

 

Interestingly, free conscience was one of the reasons/excuses claimed for not vehemently protesting the contraception and abortion coverages to certain union employees many years ago. Provisions that remain intact to this day.

 

I still subscribe to the Church setting the rules. Then it is up to the laity to decide what rules they wish to follow. It is not the Church's role to go public as it has. Religion and government must remain separate. Salem witch hunts are a thing of the past.

 

I say to the Catholic Church.....Take care of my soul, not my laws. Leave it to me to judge issues and make judgments in the exercise of free conscience. The free conscience given to me by God.