Black Lives Matter (BLM) has fired up support for racial justice and stoked controversy across America in the Year of the Virus. Catholics have experienced similar reactions – some have become ardent supporters of BLM, and others have expressed concern or outright disapproval.
As a point of comparison, during the 1960s virtually all Catholics lined up behind the Civil Rights Movement and its leaders, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Catholic Wise Guy (CWG) decided to investigate BLM and develop a Wise position. What should a good Catholic boy believe, what should he do?
It did not require much time or wisdom for the Wise Guy to determine the phrase “black lives matter” can be (and should be) supported by everyone. Nothing contrary to Catholic teaching here. We Catholics might clarify the statement by adding, “of course, black lives matter. White lives matter too. Brown lives matter. All lives matter. We believe all people are created by God in His image and likeness. All are equal in importance in His eyes, all have dignity and worth. All people, of every race, color, and creed are beloved by the Creator of the universe.”
Further research revealed that “Black Lives Matter” has become, as the Catholic News Agency (CNA) reported, “…the rallying cry for a broad social movement.” Catholics share some common objectives with this movement such as racial justice and the reduction of misbehavior of police officers, especially against black men.
However, in addition to this generic Black Lives Matter banner, the CNA notes
“…there are also specific organizations which take the name ‘Black Lives Matter.’ The largest and best-funded of these groups is the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, which has a network of local chapters around the U.S. and in other countries, and operates the website blacklivesmatter.com.”
The Wise Guy visited this website, read about this organization, and became concerned. Thinking he misunderstood them, he read more, and his concerns proved justified.
This core BLM group, let’s call it BLM1, is Marxist, “queer-affirming,” anti-nuclear family, and anti-Christian. It’s difficult to conceive of a 21st century group more antithetical to Catholic teaching.
Let’s be clear here: BLM1 is toxic to Christians. We should stay away from it and warn others away. When we dance with the wolves of BLM1 we risk becoming the “useful idiots” of the Church’s enemies. Worse yet, we risk losing our souls.
Here the Wise Guy introduces wisdom from the Lord. In the Sermon on the Mount He warns us about false prophets,
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them.” (Mt 7:15-16)”
BLM1 is clearly a den of false prophets. They are wolves coming to us in the sheep’s clothing of racial justice.
How about the broad social movement of Black Lives Matter? Let’s call it BLM2. How should we Catholics relate to it? Many of us, including some bishops, have become supporters. Of course, we support racial justice and the reduction of police brutality. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we align ourselves with all groups we share a few slogans with. Catholics in Germany supported the Nazis and their “National Socialism” because they wanted to improve the lot of the workingman. That didn’t work out too well.
It would take the wisdom of Solomon to develop a detailed fool-proof Catholic policy on BLM2. The CWG lacks this wisdom and is waiting for our bishops to provide it. Here’s what the CWG knows so far: some BLM2 groups and individuals are wolves in sheep’s clothing (just like their BLM1 brothers and sisters), and others are truly sheep, good sheep with whom Catholics can comfortably share a pasture. Bishops and priests need to teach their flocks about BLM and the critical importance of discerning the wolves, whatever their apparel.
Here is an example of what not to do.
Bishop Timothy Doherty of the diocese of Lafayette, Indiana, suspended from ministry Fr. Ted Rothrock, the pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton in Carmel, Indiana, for what he wrote about Black Lives Matter (BLM1) in the parish bulletin. Here is a key passage from Fr. Ted’s article.
“Who are the real racists and purveyors of hate? You shall know them by their works. They are wolves in wolves clothing, masked thieves and bandits, seeking only to devour the life of the poor and profit from the fear of others. They are maggots and parasites at best, feeding off the isolation of addiction and offering to replace any current frustration and anxiety with more misery and greater resentment. Black Lives Matter, Antifa, and other nefarious acolytes of their persuasion are not the friends or allies we have been led to believe.”
Now Fr. Ted is obviously alluding to Jesus teaching on the false prophets, which the Wise Guy quoted above. A slight difference is that Fr. Ted describes the wolves as being in wolves clothing, not bothering to disguise themselves in sheep’s clothing. But the point remains the same: the wolves are enemies of the Church and the good.
Bishop Doherty, upon learning what Fr. Ted wrote, asked for a “clarification” from Fr. Ted, adding “I have not known him to depart from Church teaching in matters of doctrine and social justice.” The Wise Guy adds that Fr. Ted was the esteemed pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton and scheduled to become the pastor of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, perhaps the pre-eminent parish in the diocese. Bishop Doherty and others obviously thought highly of Fr. Ted.
Despite the apology/clarification by Fr. Ted and his years of priestly service to the faithful, the following day Bishop Doherty decided against a slap on the wrist and instead suspended Fr. Ted from ministry, a draconian measure.
What happened? Who knows – the Wise Guy has no answers, no inside information.
The following Sunday Bishop Doherty, to his credit, said mass at St. Elizabeth Seton and addressed the faithful. Not all were happy campers. The Wise Guy gives the bishop points for showing up. However, in his comments, the bishop said, “…if anyone asks you, you can tell them that this bishop says that black lives matter.”
Wish he hadn’t said that. Wish Fr. Ted hadn’t described the Black Lives Matter leaders as “maggots and parasites.”
This circles us back to the confusion of BLM1 and BLM2. Fr. Ted was addressing BLM1 and his analysis was correct, even if some of his words were unfortunate. Is it not a duty of priests and bishops to warn the faithful about wolves prowling outside the sheep fold?
I give Bishop Doherty the benefit of the doubt and assume his comments referred to BLM2. Even then, his words conveyed ambiguity. Which is not what is not needed. Some of the members of BLM2 are simpatico with Catholic teaching, but many are soul brothers of BLM1. The faithful need clarity and guidance on telling the difference, not ambiguity. The bishop carries a crozier to signify that he is the shepherd of the sheep. His primary mission is to protect the sheep from the wolves. He must fend off the wolves and he must be able to discern a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Here is where the Wise Guy suggests Bishop Doherty has fallen short. He is undoubtedly spiritual enough and wise enough to Dance with the Wolves without harm to his soul. But that is not true of the average Catholic. When Joe in the Pew sees his fellow Catholics actively support BLM (1 and/or 2) and his priest and bishop remain silent he might jump in and support them too. But Joe in the Pew is not wise and spiritual enough to Dance with the Wolves and escape unharmed. The Evil One will entice him down wrong paths and put his soul in peril.
The shepherd must both guard the flock and bring lost sheep into the fold. This is not an easy task and the Wise Guy knows he would not be up to the job. But the Lord has entrusted the bishop with both missions, and he cannot let his search for the lost sheep leave those in the fold unguarded. In his search for the lost sheep entangled in BLM, he may be endangering the faithful sheep already in the fold.