The Vatican out of touch with the world?
Once more I am drawn to Pope Francis’
recent comments on how to react when insulted, on the spanking of children and on the "selfishness"
of those who choose not to have children.
I was raised in an era when spanking a child with a belt or a switch (from a tree) was acceptable. As a young parent, I spanked my children, though I did not use a switch or a belt. Then one day I woke up and realized that it was wrong. Terribly, terribly wrong!
Adults are many times bigger and stronger than their children. They often act in anger and frustration. They inflict pain and emotional hurt, especially as the child grows older and becomes more aware of what is happening.
It is never okay to hit a defenseless person, be it a child or an adult. It is never okay to inflict emotional pain on another child or adult. It is never okay because each human deserves respect and dignity, no matter the age.
As for being selfish for choosing not to have children. The Vatican has stepped into the inviolable realm of the intimate and personal. Such decisions should be decided by the two consenting adults concerned. If they desire Papal advice, then it is something they have chosen and not something that has been imposed upon them.
Parenting is a lifelong commitment that is best undertaken when each party is mature and fully aware of the choices they are making. The world is now 7+ billion people strong and growing daily. Those who want to have children should do so; and those who do not, should not. How religion ever got into these issues is a puzzle. Jesus was all about injustice, intolerance, greed and stale religious ritual. He did love children, but I know of nowhere in the New Testament where he advocated procreation as a Godly pursuit. In fact, scholars still argue over own his marital status or lack thereof.
I applaud Pope Francis for his efforts to raise awareness of the poor and disenfranchised. I applaud his efforts to encourage dialogue among warring nations. But I am completely befuddled by a man who uses the "other hand", so to speak, to validate corporal punishment for children and "punching" someone who "insults his mother."
We cannot have it both ways.
"Do no harm" is a fine maxim. These three pithy words are
tucked into every religious creed. But
in practice, religions often punctuate its meaning with a “but” . . .
but when a child is misbehaving, but when we deem it otherwise, but when one is
insulted.
It is possible that the Pope's advocacy of the "punch" following the Charlie Hebdo attack was metaphorical and in support of his belief that we must respect each other or incur the wrath of the injured party. But it sent a message nonetheless:
When faced with an insult, retaliate in a manner that shows your anger. In which vain follows, when faced with a recalcitrant child, whip him into submission.
What more can I say?
