Called to Duplicity

I'll have more to say about the substantive claims in another post. For a moment I'd just like to draw attention to startling contrast between the posting guidelines at CTC and their actual conduct:

Posting Guidelines

If you wish to comment here, please follow these guidelines. Since truth and love go together, make sure that your comments arise from a genuine love for the persons about whom (or to whom) you are speaking. It is a good habit to pray for the person you are writing to (or about) both before and after you write your comment. Pray that you will be united with this person in the Body of Christ. If you are criticizing another participant’s claim or position, address your criticism to that person in the second-person; don’t speak about that person in the third-person. Speaking about another participant as though that person is not present is impolite, and suggests that you wish only to criticize a person, and not to be reconciled with that person in the truth.

This is to be a forum wherein unity is pursued in the context of humility, charity, respect and prayer. For that reason, ad hominems are not allowed. That means that you may not criticize or insult or belittle or judge or mock any person, his character, intelligence, education, background, or motivations. Attacking persons is fallacious and uncharitable and will not be permitted here. If you are wondering why your comment was not posted, the most likely reason is that it contained some ad hominem.

Another common fallacy related to the ad hominem fallacy is the genetic fallacy, wherein a person’s argument or claim is dismissed because of its source. An argument is not refuted, nor is a position falsified, merely by its source. One common form of this fallacy is labeling a position (or its source), and then dismissing it on account of its label, instead of its own merits. An argument or position is not refuted by a label. In order to evaluate what is under the label, we have to evaluate the positions and arguments underlying such terms. Also, please avoid imperatives and other patronizing or disrespectful forms of address.

http://www.calledtocommunion.com/about/posting-guidelines/

Did the Pope Condone Condoms in Certain Cases?

Nov 20th, 2010 | By Tim A. Troutman | Category: Blog Posts
Several main-stream media outlets are running a story with headlines like “Pope says condoms acceptable ‘in certain cases’.” One does not even need to read the quotation in context to know that this is false. The reason one can know this is because the pope does not have the authority to do such a thing. The Catholic Church does not have the authority to overturn natural law. That is why she can never condone artificial contraception.

Unsurprisingly, many Protestant blogs (including some well known Reformed blogs), dissenting Catholic blogs, liberal blogs (and some conservative ones) are all running this story without the slightest attempt to read what was actually said – much less to understand it within the context of Catholic moral teaching. (I recommend reading Matt Yonke’s “Contraception and the Reformed Faith” to better understand Catholic moral teaching on this subject.) How quick the world is, including separated Christians, to jump on any opportunity to disgrace the bride of Christ! Well, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me [Christ] before it hated you.” (John 15:18) If you want to find the Church that Christ founded, you don’t need to read through all of the articles on Called to Communion. You don’t even need to read the early fathers. Just find the Church that the world hates the most.

http://www.calledtocommunion.com/2010/11/did-the-pope-condone-condoms-in-certain-cases/

Sean Patrick November 20th, 2010 7:24 pm :
Thank you Tim. Telling that certain Reformed blogs (the bad ones) are running with this like it’s a shut case. The desire to score points against the Church trumps reality. The same folks know better about the media when it comes to their issues but the gloves come off when the media misreports the Holy Father. In a word: Pathetic.

http://www.calledtocommunion.com/2010/11/did-the-pope-condone-condoms-in-certain-cases/#comment-12155

Tim A. Troutman November 20th, 2010 10:39 pm :
TurretinFan –

As for an example of Reformed blogs handling this just as poorly as the liberal media, Triablogue is one. I think that one’s pretty well known. Did you find their treatment of it adequate and fair?

http://www.calledtocommunion.com/2010/11/did-the-pope-condone-condoms-in-certain-cases/#comment-12164

Sean Patrick November 20th, 2010 10:40 pm :
TurretinFan -

I refuse to link it on account of the refuse spewing comments and invective vomit but you can look at the other reformed blog that starts with a ‘T’ for starters which features comments from other usual suspect Reformed bloggers that make their way around the internet. It is absolutely and utterly reprehensible.

http://www.calledtocommunion.com/2010/11/did-the-pope-condone-condoms-in-certain-cases/#comment-12165

Sean Patrick November 21st, 2010 1:54 pm :
If anything the Pope is frankly too trusting with the media and a little naive to think that a comment like that would not be played up and grossly misinterpreted by the media in a matter of minutes. And after the media spreads the lie the enemies of the Church are all to eager to use it against Her even when they know it is a false characterization; such as the aforementioned ‘bloggers.’

This is not the first time that the media has taken a comment from a cleric and twisted the words to mean something unintended. The media does it all the time with Conservative politicians. Many of these Reformed bloggers are eager to come to the defense of their Republicans when it happens to them but the Pope? No such luck. All of a sudden the media is just an honest reporter. This is all so transparent.

http://www.calledtocommunion.com/2010/11/did-the-pope-condone-condoms-in-certain-cases/#comment-12187

Tim A. Troutman November 21st, 2010 2:53 pm :
Peter – you saying that the libelous article to which you linked doesn’t need commentary implies that what was already said in the article speaks for itself and adequately represents the truth. What you are doing is deliberately spreading (and implicitly endorsing) false propaganda against the pope. I can understand that you disagree with the Church teaching on sexuality. But at least have the decency not to join in with the secular world in deliberate misrepresentation of the Church. No one at Called to Communion would ever do that to one of your leaders. Please return us the common courtesy.

http://www.calledtocommunion.com/2010/11/did-the-pope-condone-condoms-in-certain-cases/#comment-12189

This reaction is both typical and predictable. On the one hand, CTC has a set of self-flattering guidelines to advertise how well they intend to treat their theological opponents. An exercise in making themselves look good.

On the other hand, when that’s put to the test, the guidelines instantly become inoperative. That’s because it’s so much easier to be nice to the people you like. To like like-minded people. The acid test of their sincerity is whether they apply their guidelines to the people they dislike. And what we immediately see is the classic contrast between how they treat the in-group and how they treat the out-group. So much for ecumenical outreach.