You know that you are living in strange times when an active homosexual is a better defender of the Faith than many paid to do so. Milo Yiannopoulos was sent a series of questions by America, the Jesuit rag. He answered them but they declined to print his answers. He has now printed the questions and the answers:
Although you grew up Catholic, you now say and do many shocking things in your public career which seem to be at odds with your childhood faith. In what sense do you still consider yourself a Catholic?
Plenty of saints were shocking, to say nothing of our Lord, who got in a spot of trouble for His shocking claims, as you might recall. I am certainly no saint, but I don’t think “shocking” is a helpful way of approaching the question of Catholics in public life. It doesn’t settle much to say that the current Pope is shocking to many Catholics, including me. Or to note that I’m shocked by supposedly Catholic politicians who make laws in flat contradiction to the natural law, which you need no faith to grasp.
In my case, do you mean it’s shocking that a Catholic like me is loudly worried about Islam, which has waged war on Holy Mother Church for more than a millennium?
Or that I say Planned Parenthood’s abortion crusade amounts to black genocide?
Or that I’ve supported Pope Paul VI’s criticism of artificial contraception so strongly that Hillary Clinton attacked me for it in her presidential campaign?
Frankly, what’s really shocking is that a poor sinner like me has spoken out more on contraception than 99% of our bishops, who seem too preoccupied with diversity and climate change to talk about God.
Maybe you mean it’s shocking that I’m always joking about my lack of chastity and my fondness for black dudes, but I still call myself Catholic. And I don’t see what’s so shocking about that, either. One of the most famous saints of all time, sixteen centuries ago, prayed, “Lord, make me chaste, but not yet.”
Anyone who grows up in Catholic cities like New Orleans and Rome emerges pretty unshockable — and certainly wouldn’t be alarmed by me.
I think it was a visit to New Orleans that inspired Evelyn Waugh to make an observation I often quote: Protestants seem to think, I’m good, therefore I go to church, whereas Catholics think, I’m very bad, therefore I go to church. Waugh also said, when people asked how he could call himself a Catholic: You have no idea how bad I’d be if I weren’t.
Sins of the flesh, let us remember, are at the bottom of the scale. The Church says self-righteousness is at the top. Therefore, I’m in a lot better shape than some of my feminist and establishment Republican enemies. To say nothing of Islam!
In life, I believe in aspiration. If you’re a poor kid, aspire to rise economically. If you’re shy, aspire to confidence, so you can defend your views in public. And if you’re a wretched sinner like me, aspire to end up better than you are now. Miracles do happen!
Where do you experience tensions with Catholicism in your life?
Who says any Catholic should lack tension stoked by his weaknesses? We Catholics are better at clothes, food, and parties. Why shouldn’t we be better at guilt, too?
You don’t see me disputing the Church’s teachings on homosexuality. There’s no intellectual tension, because I wouldn’t dream of demanding that the Church throw away her hard truths just to lie to me in hopes I’ll feel better about myself. I love the truth, not lies, and I know no one’s feelings are the basis of truth.
That’s why I don’t understand those Catholics — such as, if you’ll forgive my horrid impertinence, this magazine’s editor at large, Fr. Martin — who imply that if people don’t like what the Church says, maybe the Church is wrong or should apologize. The Church was founded on a rock and a cross, not on a hug.
Still, if you insist I talk about feelings, I’ve said before that I feel there’s something wrong with the fact that my lovemaking can’t produce the mini-Milo’s I’d like to have. How’s that for a subjective confirmation of the Church teaching that same-sex attraction is “objectively disordered” because it can’t lead to procreation?
Bottom line: The Church says I’m not culpable for my temptations, but I shouldn’t sin. She’s right. And her founder said He came to heal those who knew they were sick, so I don’t despair.
Go here to read the rest. When Mr. Yiannopoulos comes to his particular judgment he will have many sins to answer for. However, I doubt that one of them will be seeking to convince himself and others that sin is not sin. Would that a majority of contemporary Jesuits could say the same.
No need to follow the link for the rest of the article, but what is provided above is powerful stuff. No wonder the Jesuits rejected it.
“Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
I had not realized how close Milo was to the right track.
/sigh
Yeah, I’ve got great hopes for him. He’s one of the examples I use for being good about taking over some of the Left’s tactics, because he doesn’t seem to get down in the mud.
I thought that was what drove them nuts about him.
Now, I’m wondering if they realize he knows he’s messed up on a basic level– and doesn’t try to insist that it’s the world that is wrong, not him.
I had no idea the extent that the man is a stand-up guy. As long as he lives, there’s the chance he may come to a better state of grace.
“You have no idea how bad I’d be if I weren’t.” [Trying to be a follower of Christ]. He hit the nail right on my head.
The entire interview is worth reading.
Wow so beautifully expressed Milo- and a Catholic Mag refused to publish this? I guess the Truth is just too straightforward for some people (ie liberal variety Catholics). They would rather chase their tails trying to squeeze and contort the Truth to fit their agenda.
” When Mr. Yiannopoulos comes to his particular judgment he will have many sins to answer for. However, I doubt that one of them will be seeking to convince himself and others that sin is not sin.”
While my sins may be different, I doubt that I am any better than Milo Yiannopoulos. God bless that man for being truthful no matter what!
The entire article is indeed worth reading.