In my biased opinion, the voices of faithful Catholics who experience SSA are precisely the ones that need a platform right now. In a world that thinks it to be cruel and impossible for us to live celibate happy lives, those voices can prove the exact opposite; that Catholics with SSA can be Catholic and loved within the Church, and while maybe it is a hard struggle, there is still joy to be had in a life lived in union with Christ.
I'm a bit confused, the faithful representation is the side I'm calling for. And while I've admittedly not read any of Eve Tushnet's works, I'm not aware of her calling for the Church's teaching to change.
Bethel McGrew has an excellent critique of Side B Christianity at First Things that explains it better than I can. The gist is that it is problematic being in romantically chaste same sex relationships (and acceptance of sexual identities)because they don’t conform to a.) the church teaching SSA is disordered b.) marriage is between one man and one woman c.) we were made in the image of God.
Any time you have a friend of the same sex it's a same sex relationship. Any time you have a friend of the opposite sex it's an opposite sex relationship. The real problem is that many people think a close relationship has to be sexual. It doesn't. Good friends are hard to find but they are invaluable.
I very much agree with you, but wish they would quit using the term “partner”. That word implies (a sign of our times) a sexual relationship thereby giving cause for scandal
Ed, while your humorous note on the commercials is well received, you may want to take a peek at what Hallow has planned. They haven’t tipped their hand entirely but my guess is a nation-wide 60 seconds devoted to prayer, undoubtedly featuring Mark Wahlberg and Jonathan Roumie. Let’s see what they have for us.
Edward, you do realize "Lose yourself" by Eminem is the most popular rap song of all time. It was a massive crossover hit and probably a song the players were listening to before the game. Its like expecting Green Day to play Longview over Boulevard of Broken Dreams. The average person has never listened to Longview. Neither have you probably.
everyone our age has listened to longview. Actually, the only green day songs I know are the entire Dookie track list and then that time of your life thing, which I find to be awful.
Yes they should go back to *checks notes* naming their albums after poop (kerplunk and Dookie) and signing about their first apartment. Either way, I just looked it up. They have had 3 top 20 hits, and they all were released in 2004. The audience would expect the hits
If you're in the 40- age demo alluded to, you're probably as familiar with Longview as you are Boulevard, but then again maybe that's me showing my age. But yes, "Lose Yourself" is the definitive Eminem track.
To chain off of you JD, if there are Pillar readers out there that haven't watched Laura Horn's Taylor Marshall themed Stan parody, they haven't truly experienced the heights that the genre can obtain.
As an actual football fan I detest the halftime show - not because (or solely because) I am a curmudgeon, but because it creates an extra long halftime break that is well beyond the typical break in a game. That being said, the last time the halftime show was interesting was when Prince performed, mainly because he actually went out to entertain and not merely go through the motions for the paycheck.
Glad you published the Tushnet article. I was surprised to see it as a guest piece, but as you say, it contains perspectives I think most people (of any social stripe) don't often see.
Also, Ed is entirely right about the blandness and perplexing overratedness of Taylor Swift as a performer (or even as a public personality.) As with Justin Timberlake, I just don't get it.
Yes. And, Please, can all adult humans agree we don’t need to care about Taylor Swift? She’s fine. Kids can love her, that’s fine. I once loved *name redacted* boy band, too- when I was 14. Adults are free to enjoy her music, if they like, but once we are past voting age can we just relegate pop super stars to the “this isn’t important or worth going on about” part of our lives?
Thank you for the article from Eve. It is a perspective I've not yet seen reported and I greatly appreciate that you have. In controversy, people do not fall into neat either/or groups, much as that idea is foisted upon the masses. Journalism needs to reflect the whole reality, not the dichotomous fantasy. Thank you.
On another note, it also brought up a lot of memories and nostalgia for St. Dominic's in San Francisco.
I noticed the picture too! I occasionally get to St Dominic's for mass and confession, and can say some great (and some not-great) things about it, but overall a beautiful church and some lovely Dominicans there.
> Some have expressed surprise that Eve Tushnet herself was the author of the piece
I barely know who Taylor Swift is so I don't know whether to have opinions about whether I'm hopelessly out of touch for having no idea who a byline is (it sounds like "yes"?)
--> Always, there is something worth reading in The Pillar. But, some weeks are just better than others. I think that this week has been an overall very good week of stories. I've particularly enjoyed the reports from Finland, the "Cardinal Bigfoot" story, and the look at Sacred Music (not to mention the Pillar Posts, natch).
--> I've given up on the NFL (and college football, too). I grew up a lifelong Saints fan, even when paper bags were required apparel. Call me a "conspiracy theorist" if you must, but I can't get past the feeling that storylines and narratives increasingly play an important role in determining outcomes (not the only role, or even a critical role; but a role, nonetheless).
I am going to put foreword a far better candidate that would check off all of your boxes: Weird Al Yankovic
1) Popular with older millennials
2) An older act with just enough socially progressive caché to give the coastal elites a reason to write approving commentaries about the event, but plenty of wave-the-flag-and-support-the-troops populist appeal so as not to alienate the flyover country crowds
3) A bag of banging tracks in their back catalog
Bonus: He wrote a song ("Sports Song") specifically due to the constant demand (and petitions) for him to be the Superbowl Halftime Entertainment.
In the Navy they'll give you a hand ✋️ 😏 🎶 ✨️ cuz it's fun to stay 🎶 at the YMCA
You can get a good meal and you'll really feel like 👍 you got a good deal 😌 ✨️
Can't wait to see the new Clydesdale commercial 😍 those are usually the best!!!
Glad that we're always welcome at God's table regardless, because the good Lord Jesus he really does gets us 🙏 just gotta meet him halfway, just like He told many, by your faith (and His everloving sacrifice) we're saved 🙏 😀
// I’ve said it before because it’s true: We set up The Pillar to do Catholic journalism the way we think it needs to be done, and that’s how we’re going to do it, for as long as we’re able to keep going.
But there is no backstop or safety net here. It’s just us and you, our readers. We’re either in it together or we’re out of the game. //
// Am I crazy, or is the perfect Superbowl act actually the Village People? //
No idea who they are - or it is. We'll evidently be watching the thing (sort of) because a couple my wife knows have invited us. I was born and grew up here, but it's all a mystery to me, too.
I think the Pillar made the right decision publishing Eve. She's got a needed contribution to make to the Church to help us navigate a really complicated world of relationships that we generally have no idea what to do with. All this has just confirmed for me that the Pillar is worth subscribing to.
In my biased opinion, the voices of faithful Catholics who experience SSA are precisely the ones that need a platform right now. In a world that thinks it to be cruel and impossible for us to live celibate happy lives, those voices can prove the exact opposite; that Catholics with SSA can be Catholic and loved within the Church, and while maybe it is a hard struggle, there is still joy to be had in a life lived in union with Christ.
Then there need to be the view point from the Courage, which is the most faithful group for those with SSA.
It is good to share the Side B version of it, even if it is problematic, but there needs to be the faithful representation too.
I'm a bit confused, the faithful representation is the side I'm calling for. And while I've admittedly not read any of Eve Tushnet's works, I'm not aware of her calling for the Church's teaching to change.
Bethel McGrew has an excellent critique of Side B Christianity at First Things that explains it better than I can. The gist is that it is problematic being in romantically chaste same sex relationships (and acceptance of sexual identities)because they don’t conform to a.) the church teaching SSA is disordered b.) marriage is between one man and one woman c.) we were made in the image of God.
I'm still confused, what does the Side B position have to do with what I initially said?
I fat fingered my original comment, and it happen to comment on your comment instead of the general thread.
Ah, gotcha!
Any time you have a friend of the same sex it's a same sex relationship. Any time you have a friend of the opposite sex it's an opposite sex relationship. The real problem is that many people think a close relationship has to be sexual. It doesn't. Good friends are hard to find but they are invaluable.
Barbara in the report, Eve both say they are in partnerships that are applied as being romantic and exclusive. We are not talking about friendships.
If it's not sexual, how is it romantic?
I very much agree with you, but wish they would quit using the term “partner”. That word implies (a sign of our times) a sexual relationship thereby giving cause for scandal
It was used by the author of the piece describing at least one woman’s relationship, Barbara.
She isn't.
Ed, while your humorous note on the commercials is well received, you may want to take a peek at what Hallow has planned. They haven’t tipped their hand entirely but my guess is a nation-wide 60 seconds devoted to prayer, undoubtedly featuring Mark Wahlberg and Jonathan Roumie. Let’s see what they have for us.
Edward, you do realize "Lose yourself" by Eminem is the most popular rap song of all time. It was a massive crossover hit and probably a song the players were listening to before the game. Its like expecting Green Day to play Longview over Boulevard of Broken Dreams. The average person has never listened to Longview. Neither have you probably.
everyone our age has listened to longview. Actually, the only green day songs I know are the entire Dookie track list and then that time of your life thing, which I find to be awful.
I love me some Dookie. It is still they're second most popular album
I'd agree, since Dookie and half of Nimrod, Green Day have become a textbook example of band-turned-tedious-political-poseurs.
Yes they should go back to *checks notes* naming their albums after poop (kerplunk and Dookie) and signing about their first apartment. Either way, I just looked it up. They have had 3 top 20 hits, and they all were released in 2004. The audience would expect the hits
Wow. I have zero idea what you're talking about. Deplorable as it must seem, some of us have grown up totally outside pop culture.
If you're in the 40- age demo alluded to, you're probably as familiar with Longview as you are Boulevard, but then again maybe that's me showing my age. But yes, "Lose Yourself" is the definitive Eminem track.
It's his worst song.
He should have played a seamless medley of My Name Is, Real Slim Shady, and Without Me.
and Stan, with a guest appearance by Dido.
To chain off of you JD, if there are Pillar readers out there that haven't watched Laura Horn's Taylor Marshall themed Stan parody, they haven't truly experienced the heights that the genre can obtain.
https://youtu.be/fH29q_8z0wk?si=n6X783qiungTR3iI
That was amazing. thank you.
As an actual football fan I detest the halftime show - not because (or solely because) I am a curmudgeon, but because it creates an extra long halftime break that is well beyond the typical break in a game. That being said, the last time the halftime show was interesting was when Prince performed, mainly because he actually went out to entertain and not merely go through the motions for the paycheck.
FWIW, there's no paycheck for the halftime show -- performs are expected to do it for free.
Glad you published the Tushnet article. I was surprised to see it as a guest piece, but as you say, it contains perspectives I think most people (of any social stripe) don't often see.
Also, Ed is entirely right about the blandness and perplexing overratedness of Taylor Swift as a performer (or even as a public personality.) As with Justin Timberlake, I just don't get it.
Yes. And, Please, can all adult humans agree we don’t need to care about Taylor Swift? She’s fine. Kids can love her, that’s fine. I once loved *name redacted* boy band, too- when I was 14. Adults are free to enjoy her music, if they like, but once we are past voting age can we just relegate pop super stars to the “this isn’t important or worth going on about” part of our lives?
Ed, please do not denigrate the hard working, God fearing people of the middle of the nation as being "flyover country."
I used the term as ironically I did referring to New Yorkers as “elites”.
I’m really ok with the “elites” thinking we’re “flyover country”, actually. Keeps it from getting crowded here. 😆
Thank you for the article from Eve. It is a perspective I've not yet seen reported and I greatly appreciate that you have. In controversy, people do not fall into neat either/or groups, much as that idea is foisted upon the masses. Journalism needs to reflect the whole reality, not the dichotomous fantasy. Thank you.
On another note, it also brought up a lot of memories and nostalgia for St. Dominic's in San Francisco.
I noticed the picture too! I occasionally get to St Dominic's for mass and confession, and can say some great (and some not-great) things about it, but overall a beautiful church and some lovely Dominicans there.
> Some have expressed surprise that Eve Tushnet herself was the author of the piece
I barely know who Taylor Swift is so I don't know whether to have opinions about whether I'm hopelessly out of touch for having no idea who a byline is (it sounds like "yes"?)
As someone with family in Kansas City, I certainly hope you are wrong about the outcome.
--> Always, there is something worth reading in The Pillar. But, some weeks are just better than others. I think that this week has been an overall very good week of stories. I've particularly enjoyed the reports from Finland, the "Cardinal Bigfoot" story, and the look at Sacred Music (not to mention the Pillar Posts, natch).
--> I've given up on the NFL (and college football, too). I grew up a lifelong Saints fan, even when paper bags were required apparel. Call me a "conspiracy theorist" if you must, but I can't get past the feeling that storylines and narratives increasingly play an important role in determining outcomes (not the only role, or even a critical role; but a role, nonetheless).
I am going to put foreword a far better candidate that would check off all of your boxes: Weird Al Yankovic
1) Popular with older millennials
2) An older act with just enough socially progressive caché to give the coastal elites a reason to write approving commentaries about the event, but plenty of wave-the-flag-and-support-the-troops populist appeal so as not to alienate the flyover country crowds
3) A bag of banging tracks in their back catalog
Bonus: He wrote a song ("Sports Song") specifically due to the constant demand (and petitions) for him to be the Superbowl Halftime Entertainment.
In the Navy they'll give you a hand ✋️ 😏 🎶 ✨️ cuz it's fun to stay 🎶 at the YMCA
You can get a good meal and you'll really feel like 👍 you got a good deal 😌 ✨️
Can't wait to see the new Clydesdale commercial 😍 those are usually the best!!!
Glad that we're always welcome at God's table regardless, because the good Lord Jesus he really does gets us 🙏 just gotta meet him halfway, just like He told many, by your faith (and His everloving sacrifice) we're saved 🙏 😀
// I’ve said it before because it’s true: We set up The Pillar to do Catholic journalism the way we think it needs to be done, and that’s how we’re going to do it, for as long as we’re able to keep going.
But there is no backstop or safety net here. It’s just us and you, our readers. We’re either in it together or we’re out of the game. //
Is good. I'm here for as long as you are.
// Am I crazy, or is the perfect Superbowl act actually the Village People? //
No idea who they are - or it is. We'll evidently be watching the thing (sort of) because a couple my wife knows have invited us. I was born and grew up here, but it's all a mystery to me, too.
I think the Pillar made the right decision publishing Eve. She's got a needed contribution to make to the Church to help us navigate a really complicated world of relationships that we generally have no idea what to do with. All this has just confirmed for me that the Pillar is worth subscribing to.