Going to Hell

I’m going to Hell. At least that’s what the Catholic Church is going to say if any over sensitive priest, Bishop, Archbishop, Cardinal or member of some tight assed Catholic organization reads this.

Freedom of speech is apparently a concept that the church has never heard of or chooses to ignore. Twice in the past week or so they have gotten their albs in a bunch over something someone has said publicly that runs counter to their dogma. Strangely they both happened in the world of sports.

First basketball coach Rick Majerus got in trouble with the Archbishop of St. Louis for stating that he is pro choice and supports stem cell research. The sin of this is that Majerus said this when he is the coach of St. Louis University, a Jesuit institution. Of course the right to choose and stem cell research are anathema. So now the Archbishop wants the university to discipline Majerus for not parroting the company line.

This whole thing is patently ridiculous. Majerus, who is Catholic, was not representing the university or the Catholic Church when he made these comments. In addition, the university does not answer to the St. Louis diocese. Why then should the Church demand action? Why can’t a private citizen, no matter where he works, or whatever religion he belongs to, be free to state an opinion that runs counter to what the church believes? If the Church checked they’d probably find a significant number of students and members of the St Louis faculty share the same opinions and have stated them publicly. Should they all be censured as well?

In the second instance Dana Jacobson, co-host of ESPN 2's "First Take,” has been disciplined by the network for derogatory remarks she made about Notre Dame and the mosaic overlooking there football stadium that is commonly called Touchdown Jesus. She is reported to have said “Fuck Notre Dame” and “Fuck Touchdown Jesus” while attending a private roast for two ESPN personalities.

The choice of words may have been a little blunt but the fact is that more people than not are not big fans of (read that hate) Notre Dame. In addition, many find the mosaic and what it popularly stands for in poor taste if not sacrilegious. It doesn’t matter to the Church, they want Jacobson punished. And ESPN has caved to these demands and has punished her with a suspension.

Jacobsen probably regrets her statement. I know she has apologized and she seems to be contrite. Why then should she be punished further? I thought contrition led to forgiveness.

As for Majerus, he stands by his statements and his right as a citizen to express them freely. No word yet if the university is going to support him or cave to the demands of the Archbishop. Let’s hope that they have more courage than ESPN.