Constantly tackling controversy can be exhausting
I know that many of you wonder why I am not controversial each week in my column, as I try to dish out advice to religious institutions across the United States.
The answer is: Controversy exhausts me. I have never enjoyed being a part of controversy. Personal criticism cuts deeply into my energy. I become a man without drive, without a desire to prick a conscience or push someone's nose into anything foul.
You may remember the last controversy. Last fall, I suggested that professional sports were failing to win our interest because of too much prayer on the field. Many of you wrote me and I read each missive with interest. Also, many newspapers across the country that carry my column had to deal with their own batches of letters and opinions prompted by my column.
I, however, was felled by the criticism, which included responses such as, "You big dumb oaf, can't you see that God and prayer make everything better? Sincerely in Jesus."
But after a respite, I am bursting with energy. So I looked over my mail this morning, mostly stuff from religious interests, and I found plenty of material to turn my jowls green with spiritual sickness.
For instance, the Americans United for the Separation of Church and State magazine reports that the Rev. James Kennedy, a Florida evangelist, wants to wipe out the First Amendment, which guarantees a separation of church and state.
This really ticks me off. Talk about stupid causes - this has to be the worst. Why would anyone want to remove a law that says the government can't build its own religion? In Kennedy's world of a combined church and state, right-wing Christians would take control of a government religion. Just think how powerful they would be. Shucks, Kennedy might even want to become president of the United States.
But what if some other religion got the power, driving its religious fervor into the heart of the government and the country? Then watch Kennedy and his ilk run for the hills like a bunch of crazed survivalists.
The second thing in my mail this morning that made my blood run cold was a recent issue of Commonwealth Magazine. An article in it says Catholic bishops are demanding more authority over Catholic colleges.
I know a good many teachers and administrators at two Catholic colleges, and they are wonderful, deeply devout Catholic Christians. Why would they want to turn those schools into secular institutions? They don't.
They cherish the heritage of their faith. For decades, some of them have fought secular forces and protected the faith without fear. They are Catholic heroes. Why can't the bishops trust them? Why this power play so late in the game?
Then I opened the Southern Baptist Convention's printed voice, the SBC Life, and one of the first articles shows a picture of an attractive married couple. The woman looks overjoyed, but the guy seems less enthused. The article is about who should be head of the house - man or woman. Guess what they say? The man, of course.
I ask - what if the man is a poor leader or he can't balance a checkbook? What if he is a dope about relationships or is a certified loser? Who leads then, and why are we still arguing about this simple concept?
Men and women are partners in marriage; that's the way marriage works. If the Southern Baptists don't understand that simple concept, they will be doomed to fight about this forever.
Another article says the Southern Baptist denomination pulled its support from an airline because it supports gay and lesbian groups. The denomination is urging members to book tickets with other airlines to the June SBC convention in Atlanta. In response, the airline said it was only trying to treat all of its customers the same.
This story upsets me because any airline the Southern Baptists choose will have many gay and lesbian employees. Further, every airline will support causes employees recommend.
Broaden the boycott, Southern Baptists, and your delegates may be walking to your annual meeting.
See what I mean? Every day, four or five hot issues fry my heart and brain. If I didn't push controversy away once in awhile, I'd be in trouble all the time.
Clark D. Morphew
April 17, 1999