This diary is meant to solicit information and provoke discussion about an aspect of the Schiavo case that has been, I think, mostly overlooked. The aspect that concerns me most is the ability of christian fundamentalists to charade as friends and allies of the catholic church. If you walk into any fundamentalist "family" book store, you will find shelves full of books condemning catholicism as a cult. I'm sure some of you Kos research wizards could easily dig up some quotes from fundamentalist leaders condemning catholics to hell. It seems to me that, following women and gays, the catholics are clearly next on the fundamentalist "hit list."
AND YET... because of overlapping dogma on abortion and gay rights, the vast majority of catholics seem to be accepting some kind of makeshift alliance with the radical christian right. Nevermind that the catholic church is opposed to war, opposed to the death penalty, opposed to environmental degradation, and commits countless resources and even lives to the goal of aiding the weakest, poorest, most powerless peoples of the world. Nevermind that christian fundamentalism is a fifty-year-old phenomenon that has absolutely no connection to anything "fundamental" in Jesus' teachings.
So now, I ask those of you with more expertise than I: have American catholics lost their minds? Do they really think fundamentalists poured millions of dollars into the Schindlers' cause because they share (or even tolerate or respect) the catholic teachings about the sanctity of all life? Is Mother Theresa rolling in her grave to see the millions of dollars spent on this case and the illusory religious brotherhood it seems to represent?
And more practically, is there anything that progressives can do to refocus the discussion on the differences between the two groups and the hostility the christian right holds for the majority of catholic beliefs? Some of the fundamentalist preachers routinely hold themselves out as enjoying a very intimate relationship with God. Wouldn't it be something to hear the Pope say, "You know, I spoke with God this morning, and he sure as shit doesn't like your war or your pissant excuse for christianity, Mr. Dobson." Ahhh, I can fantasize, can't I?
My first diary; sorry it isn't sourced.