WOULD ANYONE DENY THAT HOMOSEXUAL "MARRIAGE" HAPPENED HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS BECAUSE IT'S A VERY "LIBERAL" PLACE? We don't think so. Can we blame it partly on the cultures of Boston, Harvard and the other universities, and the Jesuit Theological Seminary? Sure we can.
So why the sudden rage over a 2002 column by Senator Rick Santorum (Catholic Online), where he makes a connection between the sick culture here and the huge scale of the priest sex (read: homosex) abuse scandal in Massachusetts? Cultural relativism is the culprit, according to Santorum. It just so happens that Boston is a leading center and exporter of cultural relativism. Here's the larger context of Santorum's jab at Boston:
"Like most American Catholics, I have followed the recent sex scandals in the Church with profound sympathy for victims, revulsion over priests who prey on minors and frustration at the absence of hierarchical leadership.... The most obvious change must occur within American seminaries, many of which demonstrate the same brand of cultural liberalism plaguing our secular universities....
"It is startling that those in the media and academia appear most disturbed by this aberrant behavior, since they have zealously promoted moral relativism by sanctioning 'private' moral matters such as alternative lifestyles. Priests, like all of us, are affected by culture. When the culture is sick, every element in it becomes infected. While it is no excuse for this scandal, it is no surprise that Boston, a seat of academic, political and cultural liberalism in America, lies at the center of the storm....
"A renewed, united effort of clergy and laity will transform the Church. That this does not already occur belies the greatest systemic failure of the Church in America where so many cradle Catholics have left the Church or go 'unchurched' because of exposure to uninspired, watered down versions of our faith by those with deficient seminary training. In light of recent events, the laity must guide them back."
The vicious attacks on Santorum by our beloved Massachusetts delegation demonstrate, once again, that the HATE is on the left. Sen. Teddy made a scene in the Senate, calling Santorum irresponsible and insensitive. Rep. Barney Frank (who fixed parking tickets for his male lover who turned Frank's home into a homosexual brothel) called Santorum a "jerk". Rep. Marty Meehan said Santorum is "encourag[ing] hatred for fellow human beings." Sen. Kerry, Rep. Tierney, and others piled on, including even Gov. Romney.
This should not come down to a numbers game on which city had the most abusive priests. But even the Boston Globe said that Mass. Attorney General Reilly's 2003 report showed 235 priests and church workers abused children. Compare this to Philadelphia's Archdiocese report of 44 abusive priests. That's because Harvard's here in Mass., and we all know that the University of Pennsylvania (in Philadelphia) doesn't hold a candle to Harvard.
