The original version of this text cited the epistle to St. James. This is an embarrassing mistake -- James is identified as the author, not the recipient, and of course, yes, I know this, I just wrote the wrong thing and we didn't catch it.
First, thank you for the long reporting in Silverstream Abbey. That in depth coverage was precisely what I subscribe for, and it's a helpful balance against attacks on The Pillar that it is a conservative site.
Second, as a point of clarification its not entirely true that "the people who went there were not the policy makers, were not creatures of the Beltway, not setting America’s foreign policy doctrine." An awful lot of who went there were in government or later joined it. Sen Lindsey Graham served his annual Air Force Reserve tours in Afghanistan for many years; I know because I served with him, there, for one of them. Rep Jake Auchincloss deployed there before being elected to Congress. Many others in the Departments of State or Defense deployed as Reservists or went into the Civil service after military service abroad. That language of "creatures of the Beltway" is somewhat pejorative and implies those making policy decisions had no skin in the game or personal experience from which to draw. That simply is not true enough to merit the rhetorical claim, and discounts the degree to which many of their hearts ache for the Afghan people... particularly those they worked with and for.
I will be praying for Fr. Andersen and the monks of Silverstream. It seems Fr. Andersen is between the proverbial rock and hard place. His suffering must be acute. The abuse of power is a horrible thing and it happens all too often in the Church. I’m reminded of the words of Lord Acton: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
I enjoyed your reflection on the merits of intercessory prayer especially that it 'habituates us to charity'. I've never been a fan of Card. Burkes positions etc, but it is not hard to genuinely empathise in prayer for even an 'enemy' who is suffering greatly.
And also enjoyed the story of your father in the 'Stan. In Australia we have a train line from the bottom of the continent to the top right through the red center, called the 'Ghan'. In the late 1800's the colonists enlisted cameleers from Afghanistan to bring out camels and establish a route through the vast desert area that was too harsh for horses. The route became affectionately known as the Ghan.
I will pray for Fr. Andersen. I admire his courage for speaking out and hope that he remains faithful even if all that were closest to him do not. Let the fresh air of truth blow throughout the Church.
And now for JD's dumb mistake of the week:
The original version of this text cited the epistle to St. James. This is an embarrassing mistake -- James is identified as the author, not the recipient, and of course, yes, I know this, I just wrote the wrong thing and we didn't catch it.
As usual, I beg your forgiveness.
Two things.
First, thank you for the long reporting in Silverstream Abbey. That in depth coverage was precisely what I subscribe for, and it's a helpful balance against attacks on The Pillar that it is a conservative site.
Second, as a point of clarification its not entirely true that "the people who went there were not the policy makers, were not creatures of the Beltway, not setting America’s foreign policy doctrine." An awful lot of who went there were in government or later joined it. Sen Lindsey Graham served his annual Air Force Reserve tours in Afghanistan for many years; I know because I served with him, there, for one of them. Rep Jake Auchincloss deployed there before being elected to Congress. Many others in the Departments of State or Defense deployed as Reservists or went into the Civil service after military service abroad. That language of "creatures of the Beltway" is somewhat pejorative and implies those making policy decisions had no skin in the game or personal experience from which to draw. That simply is not true enough to merit the rhetorical claim, and discounts the degree to which many of their hearts ache for the Afghan people... particularly those they worked with and for.
I will be praying for Fr. Andersen and the monks of Silverstream. It seems Fr. Andersen is between the proverbial rock and hard place. His suffering must be acute. The abuse of power is a horrible thing and it happens all too often in the Church. I’m reminded of the words of Lord Acton: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
I enjoyed your reflection on the merits of intercessory prayer especially that it 'habituates us to charity'. I've never been a fan of Card. Burkes positions etc, but it is not hard to genuinely empathise in prayer for even an 'enemy' who is suffering greatly.
And also enjoyed the story of your father in the 'Stan. In Australia we have a train line from the bottom of the continent to the top right through the red center, called the 'Ghan'. In the late 1800's the colonists enlisted cameleers from Afghanistan to bring out camels and establish a route through the vast desert area that was too harsh for horses. The route became affectionately known as the Ghan.
I will pray for Fr. Andersen. I admire his courage for speaking out and hope that he remains faithful even if all that were closest to him do not. Let the fresh air of truth blow throughout the Church.