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BustedBlog
April 13th, 2009
What We Catholics Fight About and Why That’s Annoying
I am frustrated. I’ve been looking back at my blog posts, particularly the ones that have gotten attention, and they’re almost always about authority, particularly the authority of the Church to talk about abortion, homosexuality, and condoms. That’s fine. People respond to what they respond to.
But let me tell you what I wish they would respond to. I’m all about discussions of whether or not any disagreement with the Pope should be allowed. I’m interested in how the Magisterium works. But I really wish that people would respond to a post about art or culture or broader cultural trends, and that they would respond as Catholics. Let’s face it: our religion, among all Christian religions (except the Orthodox) is, I would argue, uniquely capable of dealing with issues of art and culture because of our sense of embodiment and our commitment to physical practice. I think a great example of this is the novel, My Name is Asher Lev, in which Asher, a Hasidic Jew and painter, takes on Catholic themes in his work because of the just great material.
So what happened to the Flannery O’Conner’s and the Walker Percy’s? What about Graham Greene? Why is so little visual art indebted to religion anymore? What about all the great movies and TV shows about being Catholic or at least religious (Scorsece, for example, and there are many others who are less Catholic but just as interesting). And all of these ask compelling questions about the nature of belief, of the role of faith in the world, and how we ought to exist in a universe where the True is increasingly in doubt.
I’m not saying not to talk about abortion or homosexuality. I’m just saying that, for God’s sakes, isn’t there more to talk about?
I definitely couldn’t agree with you more! There is so much out there, particularly in the Arts, that is indebted to Catholicism - and so much more to create, as well. If we are to truly live our lives in the fullness of faith, then that includes seeing it in the world around us - in every avenue possible, I think, and not only in political “hot topics.” God is the Creator of so much more than things to argue over.
I feel for you Jeff and I’m sorry no one seems to want to talk about art or culture any more- I am happy to talk about it, but most people are just interested in the hot-button issues.
For what it’s worth however most people seem to be much more content talking about controversies in all sects of society- look at what’s big in the media/news etc. Aside from academia I don’t hear too many conversations about religious subtexts in contemporary media and scholarly discussions of new Catholic literature- I <3 academia but sadly most people don’t care - so homosexuality and condoms will always get more comments- it’s easy fodder.
I agree Asher Lev is a great book. Such an interesting look at Faith and Art. Powerful stuff. One of the best books I have ever read.
I feel like people feel attacked and need to stick up for the other issues. We as a church have a lot of attackers and a lot of arguing and people are defensive. All of this leads to people not wanting to take the emotional time to invest in great scholarly literature and have debates and conversations about such. It is a shame, but I think society may be damaged a bit.
Abortion, homosexuality and stem cell research seem to be the only things that the current crop of bishops cares about.
Sure, let’s talk art. Let’s talk about the kitschy cloth banners that the schoolkids make, and the the abstract designs that pass for stained glass windows these days. Let’s talk about the bare walls in churches with stations of the cross that look like they were made by a 6 year old. Let’s talk about churches that look like bomb shelters, strip malls, and everything in between. Let’s talk about “On Eagle’s Wings” (the words are fine but the melody’s awful) and anything written by Haugen, Haas, Joncas, or the St Louis Jesuits. And let’s talk about the fact that the only Catholics who get any public notoriety for their written work are the ones who write about how they told that old priest off and how it made them feel good.
The problem with Catholic art today is that it’s just plain bad taste. For some reason, the religion with the deepest treasure trove of art int he world has become embarrassed of the riches in its vault, and it presents crud instead. Go ask a Methodist about our songs. Or an Anglican or Episcopalian about our liturgies. Our a Lutheran about our churches. They’ll all tell you the same thing.
I think you are wise to pose such questions. As Catholics we should never be afraid of the world - our faith and culture are forever intertwined. It is only when they become undone that problems emerge.
There is the thing… it is not a destination point but the journey between the polarity. What better crucible for that than art?
I am afraid that the Flannery O’Connors et al have all been summarily dismissed by a more hierarchal and orthodox church that fears the questions posed in art rather than embraces them.
Fran, your last comment makes absolutely no sense. Flannery O’Connor died in 1964. She wrote in the 1950s. If you think TODAY’S church is heirarchical, fears critique, and drives out dissent, how about the 1950’s church? Yet that was the very church Ms. O’Connor loved and infused in her work. This is the same woman, after all, who read Thomas Aquinas as her bedtime reading. And that was the same musty old church that attracted Walker Percy, Evelyn Waugh, and Graham Greene. The one good post-Vatican II English-speaking convert-author the Church can point to is Malcolm Muggeridge, who converted in 1982. And I think all of you here would be embarrassed by his politics.
If this is what it takes to get more decent Catholic authors, I think today’s church could use a bit more hierarchy and orthodoxy from its bishops.
Jake, thank you for your welcoming ears and generosity. If i had a thinner skin, I would never come back here. My point, possibly not well made, was that the post-conciliar church, is often more structured in many ways than the church the gave us O’Connor and others. As is seen in your comment, things said that might go against the grain get blasted. Such behavior either curbs creativity or sends it someplace else.
Fran, I “go against the grain” myself on plenty of things. But I also call ‘em like I see ‘em. If you blame the hierarchy for the dearth of good Catholic literature, then you need to explain why it is that an arguably even more heirarchical and intolerant Church was able to not only produce but also attract good authors.
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