Freedom...Even to be a Disgrace

A few weeks ago a depraved man used his internet web show to desecrate the Eucharist. Determined to flaunt his contempt for religion, University of Minnesota biology professor Paul Zachary Myers hammered a nail through the Eucharist and then threw it in the garbage. Many Catholics demanded that the university fire the self-proclaimed 'godless liberal'. (National Catholic Register, August 10, 2008) They argued that if he had used a swastika as the backdrop for his program or had walked around the set wearing a Klan hood, the university would have fired him instantly. And they are right. In today's politically correct climate certain groups are protected, while others can be denigrated without anyone raising an eyebrow. So I guess I am among those who want Myers fired, correct?

No.

I am incensed by what Myers did, but my reason for objecting to his dismissal has a lot to do with Matthew 5:25:

"Be at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him: lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison."

In this passage Jesus warns that we shouldn't assume that a third-party will side with us in our disagreements with others. We may confidently approach a judge believing that our case is guaranteed, only to walk away on the losing end of the judgment.

Our Lord’s instruction applies in this case. Sure what Myers did was offensive and his firing would elicit little sympathy from anyone. But if we as a society allow the “powers-that-be” to dismiss others because of their unpopular views, what is to stop others from applying that same litmus test against us when it is our views that are unpopular? And let's face it: the Church's views are hardly popular. As Jesus warns in Matthew, we may be the ones delivered to the judge and cast into prison. For example, a Myers dismissal would open the doors to many anti-Church groups who view the Church’s teachings as offensive, such as the homosexual lobby. What would prevent the homosexual lobby from demanding that the university dismiss Catholic professors because gays and lesbians find the Church’s views offensive?

A better approach than firing Myers would be to let the Law of Supply and Demand run its course. Catholics should widen the publicity net exposing Myers’ views and actions. As more people learn about his wickedness, fewer students will register for his courses and overall enrollment at the university may even suffer as parents opt to send their children elsewhere. Eventually, Myers will either realize that his own atheism doesn’t give him carte blanche to denigrate the faith of others, or he will be forced to slither away to his burrow, shamed into obscurity.


Donald Tremblay