James commented on the parody video I made with an objection that I think holds some water:
As a graduate student in theology at the University of Notre Dame, I am engaged each day in conversations with disaffected, liberal Catholic colleagues and I work and pray, to the best of my very limited abilities, for their conversion to orthodoxy and Tradition. And I must say that parodies like these, though perhaps amusing for us, are offensive to them, and only hinder the efforts of people like me to converse charitably with those who are inclined to dissent (i.e., NCR subscribers)…
As such, it is the sort of parody that closes down conversations, that reinforces the impression among liberals that we orthodox Catholics are self-satisfied and snide, that we are more interested in being right than in being charitable. Though this is not true, and though the video was merely meant to be amusing, it will nevertheless convey that impression to my disaffected colleagues and make it even harder to reason calmly with them about the beauty of our Tradition and the wisdom of our Holy Father. So, with respect and charity, I would ask you to consider carefully what impression parodies of this sort lend. Again, “Everything is lawful, but not everything builds up” (1 Cor 10:23).
I told James I would consider his criticism, and after doing so I think he has a point. I don’t know whether it is a strong enough point for me to, say, take down the video, but it is a point nonetheless. I would like to make a two-pronged response however.
1. When I created the video, I didn’t have one particular group in mind as the antagonists (i.e. the side Hitler is speaking from).
Cancel the rest of my liturgical dance lessons
Instead, I combined the views toward Pope Benedict from a bunch of different people, both Catholic, non-Catholic Christian, and non-Christian. For example, it was the secular media that called Pope Benedict “God’s rottweiler” and “Der Panzer Pope.”
And I don’t know of any specific Catholic group, whether orthodox or dissenting, who have gotten mad about the Pope’s overtures to the Anglicans or toward the Orthodox Churches.
So Hitler’s side broadly encompasses anyone who was or is opposed to Pope Benedict and therefore is galled by his successes.
2. The most well-known dissenting Catholics do not seem open to dialogue to me.
These persons write articles and give interviews on a regular basis, misrepresenting the Catholic Church, and do so with full knowledge of what the Church really teaches.
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That being said, James’ argument that, even if the video is funny for orthodox Catholics, is it the best thing that could be done? Why not do something positive that does not offend dissenting Catholics?
What do you think about his criticism? Is it valid? Is he being too sensitive, or am I not being sensitive enough?
I think its hypersensitive! There is no particular group who is the target of this parody. If anyone were to feel offended it would be because they sincerely dislike the Pope.
I also attend the University of Notre Dame. James is not being too sensitive. Your parody was well-scripted but the barbs in it (NCR, liturgical dance, even the odd one about N. T. Wright) can do nothing but propagate the idea that conservatives are bigoted. I have come to realize more and more that, while it may be a relief to mock things that I find irksome, it is a relief that comes at the price of the diminishment of my own charity and the weakening of whatever receptivity others might have to the truths that I would hope they would come to embrace. Self-identified progressives often complain that “conservatives” and “traditionalists” are nothing but triumphalist, angry, and narrrow-minded elitists who care more for being “right” than for being followers of Christ. I am confident that this is not true, and certainly not true of you, but the barbs in this parody could reinforce the impression of “triumphalism” that some have concerrning those who merely wish to be faithful to Christ and His Church.
There are times for humor, and times when frustration can be abated by it. Yet certain kinds of humor remain always dangerous to our souls and — in a public forum such as this — can hamper others’ encounter with orthodox Catholicism.
Thanks both of you guys for your feedback. Obviously this is an issue of prudence, and it is challenging to discern the right answer.
George, one thing I would mention is that the video’s references are pretty broad. For instance, liturgical dance to me is just silly, and it is to most Catholics. But NT Wright is not silly at all–I have tremendous respect for him and think he is a brilliant theologian (though I hope of course he enters full communion with the Catholic Church one day). So putting him in there was more a hat tip to my Anglican friends rather than saying that he is bad/silly/dissenting.
This response doesn’t address the root of your criticism, which supports James’, and which I agree to an extent on. I guess the defense I would make is that it is a fairly harmless piece of entertainment that supports Pope Benedict. If you don’t support Pope Benedict, then you won’t like it.
As a graduate of the graduate program of Theology at ND and one who worked at the University for several years, I can’t comment on James’ or George’s sensitivities. I can say that I shared it with many friends – of all ecclesial persuasions, including some people J and G think might be offended – and I have yet to find anyone who was offended. Instead I found people who appreciated good satire, (and intelligent humor – oh so hard to find these days) even if it bit a little close to the bone. I’m not criticizing J or G’s perspective, because – since it’s a perspective, it’s valid – only offering a counter perspective. (How many times can I use perspective in a paragraph?). FWIW…
Oh, and the Christian message itself is offensive…why must we be so sensitive to not offending? Just curious…
i think it’s hypersensitive. i can hardly think of anyone more prudent than you, devin, and can’t remember ever hearing an uncharitable word come from your mouth. the video was funny.
There will always be some people who will be offended no matter how carefully you watch what you say and how you say it. It’s a form of control and censorship on their part to take offense so easily and usually such people are not interested in dialogue. Humor has often been used to make a point and as long as it’s not malicious, should not be considered uncharitable. The video was funny and I could detect no malice in it.
“triumphalist, angry, and narrrow-minded elitists”
Sounds like you are describing a 1970s progressive who is stubborn and stuck in their ways and attached to “hippy” church. A true progressive would be intrigued by Pope Benedict’s resume which includes such progressive ecumenicism as never seen in the Catholic Church, reaching out to Orthodox and Anglicans and opening dialogue with Islam, and bolstering a devout youth movement like we’ve never seen before in Catholicism. You need to correct your terminology before you critique this video. The “conservatives” you speak of are actually the progressives, while the the 1970′s “progressives” you speak of are “consevatives” who are scared at the thought of all these good changes in the Church. The sort of hypersensitive political correctness that you have proposed only serves to stifle theological dialogue and perpetuate common misconceptions about catholicism. But “narrow-minded” , “earth is flat” rhetoric is to be expected from Notre Dame theology.
ErikP:
Perhaps I have misunderstood you, but isn’t the claim that “‘narrow-minded’, ‘earth is flat’ theology is to be expected from Notre Dame theology” fairly, well, narrow-minded?
Sorry, let me clarify. An expectation of one’s ideological tendency can change over time, whereas an blind, stubborn, denial of one person is “narrow-minded” in the sense that great things can and will come from Notre Dame, but there has long been a “narrow-minded” ideology present there. Rest assure things will be changing soon enough. My advice, is not to let political correctness create a sense of “not stepping on anyones toes.” Dont be afraid to open the dialogue with people who may oppose your beliefs. For example, Jesus and the apostles surely stepped on a number of toes in their lifetimes and we are incredibly indebted as a result. I know you will do great things at Notre Dame, James, and I wish you the best of luck in your studies.
Thank you again for this video, Devin.
Your video was very clever and could be funny for us orthodox Catholics but my concern is using Hitler in a parody. I found myself wanting to laugh in a few places but just couldn’t. Nobody here mentioned the video being disrespectuful to our Jewish brothers and sisters. I’m sure you weren’t in anyway trying to be but we all need to be more sensitive especially when is comes to Hitler. He is a terrible symbol for so many. Pax, Darrin