RSS Feed
Catholics Calling Gaza a Concentration Camp = Ugly Hyperbole or Worse
Catholic leaders are making grotesque and false analogies about the situation Gaza. The most disturbing of which is Cardinal Renato Martino's analogizing Gaza and a concentration camp. Not far behind would have to be the Pakistani diocese which released a statement declaring that Israelis are spilling blood in Gaza, "just for fun".
I appreciate that such claims flow from a deep concern with human suffering that must not be denied or minimized, no matter how one views the war in Gaza. And I caution anyone against a line of argument that begins with explaining how these current comments continue a long history of Catholic anti-Semitism. Such an approach is neither helpful nor in the case of these comments, based on any facts of which I am aware.
I even appreciate the attempt to address the issue by a few catholic writers such as David Gibson at Beliefnet.com. But at least three elements in the responses of those who seek to explain these sickening comments by leaders of one of the world's great faiths remain quite disturbing.
First, they rather casually explain the overstatements of Catholic leaders by explaining that it is only natural that Catholics overreact against Israel because of the possibility of Catholics being killed in Gaza. That's a dangerous road down which to travel.
Every time religious faith is used to circle the wagons around the faithful in order to provide an excuse for ignoring those beyond that faith, the faithful end up doing pretty bad things. It is precisely the over-identification with the suffering of those who share our religion, race, or ethnicity which fuels many of these fights.
If we are to understand, let alone excuse, Catholic leaders for their remarks, on that basis, why not extend the same approach to Jews who defend Israel the same way? Why not find it acceptable when a Jewish leader brushes off the suffering of Gazan women and children because Jews are suffering in Israel?
Far more Catholic lives are at risk everyday in Israel because of Hamas rockets, yet no Church leader has made that argument. So even if one could accept the morality of such an explanation, the evidence points against it being true. Something more is going on here and it demands more attention than an explanation which would be deeply dissatisfying were the shoe on the other foot.
Second, In the case of Mr. Gibson's article, the post features a photo which is used to portray the suffering of Gazans. Ironically, it's taken from a recent New York Times story about a Hamas fighter who is happy to see his fellow Gazans die, and is eager to likewise, in order to attain martyrdom.
I wonder why, especially for Catholics, who attach deep religious significance martyrdom, neither Gibson, nor any other writer of whom I am aware chooses not to address this issue. Could it be that a culture which celebrates any form of salvation through death is more likely to be sympathetic to others that share that belief, no matter how differently they apply it?
Finally, some authors have responded to Cardinal Martino's analogy by asserting that a better comparison for Gaza would be the Warsaw Ghetto. Such suggestions represent either tragic ignorance or something far darker, which only they can explain.
Gaza is many things, many of them tragic. And I am not without many serious questions about both sides in this war. But the Warsaw Ghetto? Please say it ain't so my Catholic brothers and sisters!
Whatever any of us may think about this war, do you really believe it represents the first major phase in an attempt by Jews to rid the world of every last Palestinian? If so, you are either dangerously misinformed (and I am being very generous), or you just hate Jews.
Whatever they case may be, none of us need to participate in the shock culture of most media in order to make an important point about human suffering in Gaza. And I hope that next time those who do, be they in Rome, Pakistan, or here in the United States, think twice about doing so.
Writing in the National Catholic Reporter, John L Allen provides an insightful analysis of the situation and provides an alternative Catholic view, from Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesperson, on Vatican Radio: "Hamas is a prisoner of a logic of hatred," Lombardi said, "Israel of a logic of trusting in force as the best response to hatred."
One could argue each of those claims, I suppose. But I am quite certain that we all could learn from reflecting on them seriously as well. Catholic or not, pro-Israel or pro-Hamas, Fr. Lombardi could teach us all a thing or two. I thank him.
By
Brad Hirschfield
|
January 11, 2009; 5:38 PM ET
Share: Email a Friend | 
Technorati
| Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
Previous: Avoiding Next Madoff Meltdown by Balancing Justice and Compassion |
Next: Biblical Literalism Kills -- Literally
Posted by: coloradodog | January 14, 2009 10:44 AM
Report Offensive Comment
So Hirshfeld's argument is that the Israeli government isn't as bad as Hitler's, that Israeli treatment of the Palestinians isn't as bad as Hitler's Final Solution.
What a lofty standard to aspire to!
Posted by: marcedward1 | January 13, 2009 11:47 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Rabbi Hirschfield writes:
"And I caution anyone against a line of argument that begins with explaining how these current comments continue a long history of Catholic anti-Semitism. Such an approach is neither helpful nor in the case of these comments, based on any facts of which I am aware."
What are the facts that Rabbi Hirschfield is seeking?
Isn't the selection of language that is historically inaccurate, but filled with emotional sensitivity for Jews, a fact?
Does Rabbi Hirschfield believe that the Catholic scholars at the Vatican are not very studied and careful in the words they choose?
Does Rabbi Hisrchfield not believe that the Vatican does not have a broad historical perspective on the struggle of Israel for its survival against Arab anti Semitism?
Does Rabbi Hirshfield believe that the scholars at the Vatican are intellectually sloppy?
What are the facts that Rabbi Hirschfield seeks?
Posted by: captn_ahab | January 13, 2009 11:45 AM
Report Offensive Comment
The Vatican is not the first to make said comparisons:
"Gaza worse than Nazi death camps: Libyan envoy
Posted Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:32am AEST (ABC News)
A Libyan envoy who compared the situation in Gaza to the Holocaust went further overnight, saying the situation there was worse than in Nazi concentration camps because of regular Israeli bomb attacks."
Maybe "refugee camp" would be more accurate term?Not much different though in terms of occupant treatment.
"As of late last night, Israeli troops remained in the open areas on the fringes of Gaza's cities and refugee camps." (Philadelphia Inquirer, 1/12/2009)
Posted by: CCNL | January 12, 2009 4:44 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"I wonder why, especially for Catholics, who attach deep religious significance martyrdom, neither Gibson, nor any other writer of whom I am aware chooses not to address this issue. Could it be that a culture which celebrates any form of salvation through death is more likely to be sympathetic to others that share that belief, no matter how differently they apply it?"
Perhaps Catholics don't address this issue because their understanding of martyrdom is so radically different from that of the suicide bombers who declare themslves martyrs and the press who insist on using the terms interchangably.
In Catholic understanding, martyrdom is not chosen by the martyr...in fact, quite the contrary, Catholic adherence to natural law, makes it not only un-natural, but presumptuous and sinful for an individual to seek martrydom rather than life: for Catholics, suicide is a sin and not a path to heaven. (for example, see the martyr, Thomas More's scruples on that very issue in "A Man for All Season."
Posted by: htsgdawg | January 12, 2009 12:03 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The comments to this entry are closed.
After their egregious looking the other way during the Holocaust and centuries of blaming Jews for the death of Christ, Popes, especially this ex-Hitler Youth, should just shut their mouths regarding Jews and Israel. They deserve no right to comment.