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April 28, 2005
Catholic Americans and Veruca Salt
Thanks to a heads up from Jimmy Akin.org, I came across an excellent article entitled My Kingdom for the Pill by Abigail Palmer. Here are a few excerpts:
A certain figure has been looming unexpectedly in my mind over the last month. The adverb "unexpectedly" is the key -- it could not refer to the Holy Father, whose passing gripped the Church and the rest of the world. Pope John Paul II, may he rest in peace.(Read the entire article here.)Rather, the figure that plagues me was provoked by something quite removed from the Pope: whining. And that figure? Veruca Salt. There isn't a person in my generation who hasn't seen "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory." Since the classic is soon to be remade (like all classics), I'm sure another generation will be made familiar with Miss (or Ms.? She might like that) Salt. For the reader who does not know this young lady, I'll make introductions.
While I regrettably have not read the book, I have seen the movie more times that I can count. Forgive me if I unwittingly diverge from Roald Dahl's text! Veruca Salt is one of the youths who wins a tour of Willy Wonka's candy factory. In this strange morality tale, almost every child (and accompanying parent) who wins the contest displays some kind of vice: one boy is obsessed with TV; a girl incessantly chews gum. All are spoiled, and each meets his bizarre demise. But Veruca, at least in my mind, is the most spoiled of all. The child of wealthy, pushover parents, she whines incessantly and throws violent tantrums....
...What in the wide world could possibly remind me of whining, and of dear Veruca, and of those lovely lyrics? I happened to watch the coverage of the Holy Father's death, which included much commentary. Some praised his charisma; others, his love of fellow man. Then there were those who would form their brows into a tragic crinkle, utter a sigh, and lament the fact that the Pope was out of touch with American Catholics. So right-wing! So divisive, with iron fist firmly grasped! This was usually followed with the "wise-up" argument, which went something like this: "you know, most American Catholics don't even follow the Church's teaching on birth control/divorce/premarital sex. We need someone who will move us into the 21st century."
In light of these kinds of laments, I can easily make a broad, extreme, and uncomfortable statement. American Catholics are the most spoiled Catholics on the planet. A Catholic in Baghdad just hopes that his church won't be bombed this Sunday; Sudanese Catholics hope that they can face another day without brutal, unspeakable religious persecution. In many of the dioceses of the world, a roof on the church or running water would be nice. And we, in all of our prosperity, want more ease. We can go to church when we like, say what we like, do what we like. We want, if it's even possible in this world, an easier life, a life less uncomfortable, and one that doesn't involve explaining "arcane" doctrines to non-believers. The idea of prosperous people sliding into laziness and insolence is not unheard of in history. The real outrage is that it is happening to a people who has received teachings that extol sacrifice, humility, fidelity, and love of the helpless and lowly. The excuse "But Zeus does it, too" won't work for us...
Posted by bobbi at April 28, 2005 8:41 AM
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