Lying in a Good Cause
James O'Keefe scored another victory recently, when his group tricked Ron Schiller, an NPR fundraiser into making statements that were soft on militant Islam and expressed contempt for Middle American conservatives. As much as I detest NPR and all its works, the attack on the fundraisers is either naive or disingenuous. Schiller may well have really believed everything he said, but some level of exaggeration and acquiescence is part of his job.
Fundraising, especially during hard times, is a tough racket. A good fundraiser has to avoid saying anything to antagonize a donor, and a knowing nod, friendly smile, an occasional "Absolutely" thrown in over a boozy lunch is all part of a day's work. I confess I am not good at it. I try to grit my teeth and listen to a rant on how the rising tide lifts all boats or how more freedom will save Americans from the consequences of original sin, but, in the end, I blurt out some inopportune truth that queers the deal. As one libertarian businessman, a generous donor despite differences of opinion, once told me, "You are one of the two worst fund-raisers I have ever met. You insult the people who give you money." It's true, but then the same man, who raised money for his favorite libertarian charities (nice phrase, eh?), admitted he was as bad as I am.
I'd like to be a better schmoozer than I am, and I respect people who walk the fine line between amiability and dishonesty. I also feel a good deal of sympathy for fundraisers who cross the line and tell a rich donor what he wants to hear, especially when he is raising money for an organization he really believes in. In such case, lying is clearly wrong, but how wrong would it be to exaggerate a little one's enthusisams for the Palestinians? That may be all that is involved in the NPR scandal. I feel sure Mr. O'Keefe himself has found himself overstating his case in order to attract donations for the work he believes is good.
Well, here is the problem. A number of intelligent and principled Catholic writers--I would rather not name names because I respect some of them (albeit not Peter Kreeft)--have been arguing for the virtues of lying in a good cause. It is ok for James O'Keefe to impersonate a pimp and a young woman to pretend to be a hooker, if they are serving the pro-life cause. St. Augustine and St. Thomas just did not understand modern theories of language and communication according to which truth is really not the object. Thus 2000 years of Christian theology is bunk, including "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."
Well, fine. But I do have two observations. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Let us suppose Schiller was actually lying. How can we condemn him? If it is ok for O'Keefe and his pals to lie when he is serving the pro-life cause, surely he and his pals are right to lie to NPR. But in that case, it would be meritorious for Ron Schiller to tell lies to gain support for the organization he believes in, wouldn't it? And what is true of Ron Schiller should be true of pro-abortion feminists and Marxists. Of course we already know that Marxists believe that truth is whatever serves the interests of the laboring classes. That is why we don't believe anything they say.
Then why should we believe the Catholic apologists who justify lying? Why should we even believe they are sincere in their defense of lying?
Here is an even more extreme case, and I wonder how the Catholic Liars would treat it. One Rafid Ahmed Alwan al-Janabi, code name "Curveball," was the source for the story about mobile bioweapons that Colin Powell took to the United Nations in order to justify our imminent invasion of Iraq. Mr. Curveball now says he made it up, but he is not sorry.
Justification Numer One, personal revenge: "I had a problem with the Saddam regime," he said. "I wanted to get rid of him and now I had this chance."
Justification Number Two, a higher law: "Believe me, there was no other way to bring about freedom to Iraq. There were no other possibilities." He says this confronted with the Iraqi death toll (100,00 at least and rising) and with the fact that there is still no political freedom in Iraq.
Well, I had always heard that lying in a good cause was justified in Islam. There, however, is a long and complex debate among Catholics and Protestants about when it is not necessary or even wrong to tell the truth. A very fine casuistry was practiced not just by St. Thomas and St. Alphonsus, but also by learned Lutherans and Anglicans. Now we are being told we don't need all that fancy moral theology. Just be sure you are right--or just imagine you are right--then go ahead and lie your head off. It's going to be a pretty world.
PS In the near future, I believe, Scott Richert will be posting a more responsible and detailed analysis of this controversy.
Tagged as: Catholic moral theology, James O'Keefe, lying, NPR, Ron Schilling
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I wonder if Dr. Fleming has ever written about Emerson? IMO, he seems to be a precursor to 20th Century American liberalism.
Jon I,
What I think does not matter in the blogosphere. I enjoy the honest and thoughtful comments of which yours are always a part. Keep up the good work. I really don't know the answer to your question (although I know alot about the question) but I know you and I know that you ask and speak with a willingness to learn and understand. That should be enough.
With regard to Massachusetts, I find it ironic that one-time "puritans" elect the likes of Gerry Studds and Barney Frank to congress, but won't let the public shop on Sundays.
#53. Because Puritanism and degeneracy are merely two sides of the same coin.
I was bothered by the "pimp and hooker" stunt, particularly the hooker part of the stunt. A conservative shouldn't encourage a young woman to role play as a prostitute. Yet again, I'm reminded of Sam Francis' phrase "kiddie-cons."
From John 1:47 "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"
Matthew 5:37 "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one."
What is the difference between cutting corners on the truth, and taqiyya? By extension, what is the difference between a Christian who feels a lie is justified, and a jihadist?
#54 "Because Puritanism and degeneracy are merely two sides of the same coin."
The Puritan heresy is one of the oldest. Some say it dates back to Manici and his followers, or at least to the Albi or Alibigensians and then the English puritans. The word "pure" and "elect" is a consitent thread or theme in this particular heresy. Its most recent and popular form is the famous movie that kids love, Star Wars, where all the world is split between good and evil and the force of depravity is almost as strong as the forces of light. Fox news,O'Rielly, Hannity and those folks are another group where the forces of good and evil are equally divided; and of course the Neo-cons have joined forces with honest and dishonest leftists and gone global with the idea. It may be the most widespread reference to the old Christian culture that yet remains in America.
Milton of course was the greatest Puritan, and we would all be better off reading him than listening to the more contemporary and degenerate forms. But as Dr. Wilson right states,"Puritanism and degeneracy are merely two sides of the same coin."
Puritanism seems be a historical relic. Today Massachusetts, the home of "Puritanism" is only 25% Protestant, and a large number of those are Blacks. Catholics have dominated Massachusetts and Rhode Island (and other New England states) for a long time.
Jews make up almost 5 percent of Massachusetts and are quite influential. No doubt Mr. Huckabee will go there and worship a few, when he finds the time.
rocean, most Massachusetts Catholics are of only the nominal variety. The Irish, Italian and Polish Catholics of Massachusetts have long marinaded in the post-Puritanism of the Yankees(seeded themselves from Puritan East Anglia) and have largely absorbed the noxious mindset of the Yankees. Very simply, Puritanism led to Unitarianism which led to a neo-Puritanism that has no room for God, Christianity or Western Civilization. In Massachusetts today, approval of absolute abortion rights and homosexual "marriage" are beyond the bounds of decent political debate yet smoking a cigarette in your backyard or owning a handgun brings the guilty party condemnation by decent society. Progressive Puritanism reigns and the Catholics of Massachusetts are not only compliant but are in the vanguard of that repellent philosophy.
Mr. Leaberry - Massachusetts changed quite a bit from 1920 to 1964. To go from Calvin Coolidge to Ted Kennedy can't all be explained by post-Puritan degeneracy. But this is a minor point and no doubt the main thrust of your post is correct.
However, I do like Calvin Coolidge - puritan or not.
#58 and #59,
You illustrate at least one of my points and that is regardless of how bad or degenerate the thing becomes they consider themselves the pure, the elect, the perfect. It easy for those of us looking on from a distant to see how hillarious this idea is in fact, but to this day and probably in the next political election, Massachusetts will send the duopoly another candidate that we will be asked to view as at least the best of a bad lot -- And for no other reason than they believe it to be true about themselves, always and everywhere. This may be of the essence of its ancient and universal appeal but it is the devil to try and deal with in America, regardless of whether one is Catholic, Protestant or Jew.
#59 And liberal Catholics in New England have been trying to introduce into The Church a form of Catholic Congregationalism in which each local Parish institutes its own form of (deformed) Worship while cutting its Doctrine to fit the fashionable progressivism of the moment.
I used to live in the Dead Diocese of Portland, Maine (comprises the entire state) and saw the implementation of the RENEW Fiasco that included denuding our Churches of elegant Iconography only to be replaced by a damned RENEW Tree in our Sanctuaries; and I saw the Diocese hire Sister Hobday to teach The Confirmandi how to imitate wolves and howl at the moon; and saw the Diocese invite Richard Rohr to lecture; and saw the "Catholic" paper, Church World publish a piece by Fr McBrien that claimed Jesus was ignorant, in error, and sexually tempted, etc etc etc.
I used to hike with my family on Mount Desert Island in Maine and on one particular trail above Sommes Sound I would point-out where, long ago,, the Jesuit Fr Baird encamped to convert the indians. When the protestants heard about it they arrested him and shipped him outta there.
Now, there is little need for a Protestant to object to what a Catholic Priest does in Maine.
Vermont Crank,
Yes, the Church in America is torn to shreds and mostly from the hands of apostate Catholics. Each week or month it seems another diocese seeks bankruptcy protection, another seminary closes down, another convent sold to developers and another Bishop preaches on the new springtime of the Church. St. Thomas taught that reality was the proper nourishment for a man's soul which for today's catholic matches nicely with St. Paul's admonition to boast in nothing but the cross of Christ.
#57 Robert : chesterton "the thing:why i am a catholic, as an aside,- of course that is par for the course,- suggests that milton was in many ways more of a humanist than a putridan; that he seperated himself from the Catholic creed but retained its culture. Mass re-visited.
Yes, Milton was an educated man. Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Italian and was comfortable in Christian culture on the Continent as well as England. G.K. always brought out the best in people and Samuel Johnson knew he was a rare and emminent poet, although a heretic of the Cromwell variety.
He was serious enough to die destitute for his convictions and I always admire that in any man. And like so many men of his age, the so called dualism of Plato and the ancients fascinated him but the last place they ever thought to look for an answer given the mood of the reforming times, was the mystery of the Incarnation. Monism was all the rage with enlightened types and we are still suffering from its ill effects to this day. I simply mentioned him as a real puritan because he was so much better than all the rest and I like to put my enemies arguments in the best light possible.
At the heart of the Puritan mind, whether it manifests itself in the political correctness of radical liberalism or Darwinian evolution on the one hand or fanatic religiousity and objective creationism on the other is the intolerance of ambiguity. Ambiguity is the medium in which creatures, which we humans are, have their being, particularly since we are also fallen creatures. Only God can have the knowledge which would eliminate all ambiguity. The tools which the Creator has given his fallen creatures to navigate the ambiguity of the created order are reason and faith. To reject ambiguity is to reject the medium in which we exist. To reject ambiguity is to reject the complementary tools of reason and faith. To reject ambiguity is to claim to be God or to have the knowledge that only a god can have. Whether cloaked in secularism or a Christian facade, Puritans are dangerous, particularly when they become the powerful will which drives a Hobbesian state which has a monopoly on coercion and the ability to define the limits of its own power.
Robert. The few signs of a healthy and masculine ecclesiology are to be found in such Orders as The FSSP or amongst the Monks of the Clear Creek Monastery in Oklahoma. I am fortunate in that every fortnight I can get to the FSSP Parish of Christ The King in Sarasota, Fl.
I was there last week for the 1st Sunday of Lent with the solemn Fr Fryar offering Mass with six altar boys serving. There is a clear hierarchy amongst the Altar Boys with the eldest performing duties solely reserved to him while also bearing the responsibility to educate and oversee the actions of the younger Altar boys during Mass.
During Communion, the oldest Altar Boy held the Paten for Communion while the other five knelt in a recollected and erect posture on the marble floor of the Sanctuary while maintaining custody of their eyes.
They are learning how to be intelligent, educated, self-controlled, holy men while the MTV boys and the Ultimate Fighting Boys are learning a corrupted and cruel form of masculinity.
There are signs of springtime but one has to know where to look for them - in the Traditional Orders which maintain union with the Successors of St Peter.
Well said, Mr. Peters. As always, your observations are born from the same reality I have experienced, or at least that part most familiar to me. Revelation does not answer all human questions(though the major issues are addressed) and should not be expected to unless one wants to eat only the forbidden fruit. Mystery is what provides substance to human reason for without wonder, there is no wisdom.
Vermont Crank,
There is also a good place in Vermont that keeps vigil, but they do not normally receive visitors unless one plans on staying for the rest of his earthly life. Pruning season in the orchard is always a chore but sometimes the smaller and older tree becomes more fruitful. As I always remind my friends, one can usually see further in the dark provided they take the Poet's advice and "Choose Something Like A Star."
The Priory at Weston ?
To the many comments above it may be said when arts of the humanities
and sociology are taken to new heights you get Star Trek, Star Wars,
and Harry Potter and the latest sci-fi imaginations. Culture is just
that. It was there in the Lord's day and the apostles. What stands
for ever is the Head and Foundation of Christ Jesus' church. Believers follow.
bas I
I think it may be said when arts and humanities are taken to new lows you get Star Trek, Star Wars and Harry Potter. Although I am not ashamed of any of those particular works in so far as they go, I refuse to see them as new heights in sociology or the humanities. We can't even make a moving picture show of The Iliad with any insights other than the pale reflection of our own godless faces in the Greek mirror. But one thing Star Trek reminds us of, is that wherever we go in the world --Iraq, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Lebannon or outer space, we take ourselves along and more times than not that is as much the problem as the solution.
Yes, and at least Star Trek the Next Generation has the 'Prime Directive', which means, 'stay out of other peoples' affairs'. So I guess they really are more advanced than we are.
We must be the Ferengi. We're not manly enough to be Klingons anymore.
robert:
That was my point. Not having created them either, they are just
part of the cultural landscape we find ourselves in. Film does have a way of reminding and where we take ourselves is the choice.
Allen Wilson:
Again, we are given a choice.
Your responses are appreciated.
Why do you detest NPR and its programs? I find it a welcome left-leaning liberal point of view that aids in crystalizing my more conservative opinions. I like to get my news from a wider spectrum without dropping off the edge of the earth with Maddow/Oberman or Beck/Fox.