Quote of the Day -- Sunday Edition

“It is only when the people become ignorant and corrupt, when they degenerate into a populace, that they are incapable of exercising the sovereignty. Usurpation is then an easy attainment, and an usurper soon found. The people themselves become the willing instruments of their own debasement and ruin. Let us, then, look to the great cause, and endeavor to preserve it in full force. 

Let us by all wise and constitutional measures promote intelligence among the people as the best means of preserving our liberties.”

~Founding Father James Monroe, First Inaugural Address, March 4, 1817

Quote of the day (of a lifetime?)

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can." --John Wesley, Christian evangelist, Anglican priest and founder of the Methodist Church. (With thanks to the South Kansas City Observer for the reminder).

Bad branding: the Republican Party and now the Catholic Church, too

The Republican Party, like it or not, has gotten beaten up badly, as a "brand", ever since George W. Bush lead and de facto ran the Party for 8 years, it has to be admitted.

After spending like a drunken sailor, creating new agencies of at least questionable value--think Homeland Security Agency--and getting us into a chosen, unnecessary, selected war--and in the Middle East, no less--and then handing out favors to all his cronies and wealthy friends and corporations, well, let's just say he did a number on them.

Now, added to this history, the Catholic Church keeps racking up sexual abuse and physical abuse scandal after scandal, decade after decade (in the 90's, it was here in the States, of course and for example). Now, it's Europe. And by Europe, I mean Ireland, first, then Switzerland, Germany, even Italy and seemingly just all over.

The conclusion? At least for now?

Word out in the last 24 hours from the Archbishop of Canterbury of the Anglican Church is that "The Roman Catholic church in Ireland has lost its credibility because of its mishandling of abuse by priests, the leader of the Anglican church said in remarks released Saturday."

I couldn't agree more.

But you can imagine the uproar from the Catholic Church.

And I don't think this is so much lashing out at the Catholic Church, as some Catholics have apparently responded, but it's just a matter of fact.

And here's the "matter-of-fact", non-judgemental part of it, in the Archbishop's own words: "I was speaking to an Irish friend recently who was saying that it's quite difficult in some parts of Ireland to go down the street wearing a clerical collar now."

You can just imagine how that would be true.

More, on the broader picture for the Catholic Church: "And an institution so deeply bound into the life of a society, suddenly becoming, suddenly losing all credibility — that's not just a problem for the church, it is a problem for everybody in Ireland, I think."

For me, it's especially easy to see the Republicans "brand" be so beat up, since they've so obviously been for the wealthy and privileged in our society.

And while it's not as easy to see the Catholic "brand" beat up, I don't feel any real sympathy for their leaders. First, my concerns are for the people who were abused--again, either sexually or physically--and secondly, because, time and time again, the Catholic Church turned their heads, sometimes even blaming the victims--which is even happening again, now, in these instances. They've also been far more interested in both protecting the priests and the church and in trying to ignore the problems and, in effect "sweep them under a rug."

So, no, if you ask me, the Catholic Church is getting exactly the lack of respect it deserves right now and at their worst possible time-- their "Holy Week."

Forget the Catholic superstitious mumbo-jumbo for right now. That's a different reason to not respect them.

This is far more serious and ugly.