Since you seem to have a lot of experience with this recently, what do you think is the best approach to dealing with status updates/comments on facebook that support the HHS mandate, gay “marriage” or other issues that we know to be wrong? Let it go unless it is said directly to you? Always comment in hopes of sharing the truth (in charity of course)? Somewhere in between or another way?

I have seen how you have handled things on your FB page and I think that you have done very well standing up yet being charitable. I would appreciate your thoughts on this. Thanks!

Kerry

By the way, I just love that Gospel. Both of those statements “If you will it, you can make me clean” and “I do will it. Be made clean” are just so moving. The trust in the midst of a horrible situation from the leper and the wonderful compassion of our Lord, just wow!

In defense of my fellow priest, he himself acknowledged that it may not always be fair to characterize people who use graphic images in this way. Neither of us mean to paint all uses of them as solely anti-abortion. But sometimes they are, and in those cases are often used as a way of expressing horror and/or anger at the evil done (good…) without compassion for those who have sinned in this way (…but not good enough).

I think its fair to say – for myself now, apart from my priest friend’s opinions – that I am not a proponent of common use of graphic images. At some point we must all be confronted with the horror of our sins, in this life or the next. But until that moment, there is so much that needs to come first before most people can look at the face of sin and not fall into despair, or simply rebel. I think we run a terrible risk of losing everything by starting here, in forcing the confrontation. I can’t say its always wrong or a bad idea, but I do think its the wrong tack most of the time. Thus the pro-life vs the anti-abortion tack.

As for anti-spam, yes, I do get to make those up! I choose elements from my favorite books, movies & television series (the Bible, Firefly & Serenity) [both a very mature PG-13], the Princess Bride, the Great Divorce and Perelandra – I’m sure I’ll add more in the future!)

I absolutely agree that we are called to be pro-life, not just anti-abortion. If I may pick at one of the points you brought up, I would like to ask you to elaborate on the logical progression of assuming that someone using graphic images is only anti-abortion. I don’t understand how the former implies the latter. I realize you said that your friends comment may be fair or not and it seems very reasonable to me that aggressive actions and vilification may imply not living with a pro-life attitude or heart. I do not see the same connection with graphic images.

Thanks!

PS Do you get to pick your own anti-spam words?