I happened to run across your ...
I don't get too many negative emails. Though when I do they are usually from some tolerant open-minded liberal Catholic. Today I got a good laugh when I opened up one email that started.
I happened to run across your misguided, fanatical website which condemns the Rev. Deb Halter for leaving the Roman Catholic church and writing about it in National Catholic Reporter.
Someone suggested I add "misguided, fanatical website" to my site's metadata tag after I posted this opening line on Twitter. Surely the author has read "How to Win Friends and Influence People" with such a charming intro.
You need to understand that you shouldn't criticize someone unless you've been in their shoes, ...
I was wondering where my shoes were. I guess the author of the email must have gone off walking in them. Though this is a very common thread in emails I do get from liberal Catholics in that I am taken to task for judging or criticizing someone while they are judging or criticizing me. The guy goes on to call me a "Yahoo". They will quote "Thou shalt not judge" while at the same time judging my motives and then insulting me.
Now I don't mind criticism when it is in the area of ideas. I try for the most part to make my commentary about ideas and actions and not resorting to making personal attacks on people. G.K. Chesterton managed to make sharp criticisms of his friends ideas while still remaining friend with them - that is my model. The article my emailer seemed to be upset about I think I did just that and then asked my readers to "pray for her." Pretty mean I guess.
Known as 
I only consider you fanatical and misguided when I disagree with what you write. So far I have yet to find you misguided and fanatical. Keep up the good work.
Your sea stories are great Jeff. Love listening to them at the scuttlebutt.
I have come to realise that sometimes a negative response particularly when it is couched in insulting and derogatory language is sometimes a very good sign It means I have pressed a button that stirred a slumbering conscience People in denial are usually quick to anger!Keep on keeping on!
While I haven't gotten EXACTLY that kind of email, I do wonder. It seems another tactic of libs is to end their posts or emails with the trite tag, "How Sad"
I'm thinking of instituting that as a tag on my own blog, so that at least, if I admit "how sad" at least they won't have to. Isn't that a form of charity? It saves their keyboard from the use of those 6 letters, and their fingers (esp. if they have carpal tunnel) from having to type those letters.
What do you think? Is that LIKE walking in their shoes?
Would that lib be willing to walk in my shoes? They are size 7 red pumps, better to have someone else break them in for me. * chuckle *
The National Catholic Reporter is always a fascinating read (though not in a good way!).
I find it difficult to understand why so many go through life railing at the Church with their fists shaking in the air, when deep down inside, they have to know the change they seek will never happen.
And why do they feel their opinion should supercede 2,000 years of Tradition that has been developed by some some of the finest minds the world has ever produced? It makes no sense to me.
Mr. H
http://www.allhands-ondeck.blogspot.com/
Twas I who Twitted that, but to be clear to the readers, it would be to increase traffic to your site. If nothing else, it should make for a more... lively readership that us run-of-the-mill fanatics. :)
Hmmm...does that mean that I shouldn't criticize a killer until I've bumped off a few people?
Mmmm ka-ay.
When the assistance pastor at my church, announced that he was taking a year off to discern( or should that be re-discern) his vocation, everyone clapped and cheered, everyone except me, I fumed
He was saying how being a priest is hard and it's hard and gosh darn it: it's so hard, and I seem to remember how seeing people with children was hard for him because he would never have any of his own, blah blah blah. DOn't get me wrong I know that being a priest is hard- heck being a wife and mother is hard, it's really hard, gosh darn it.
But what exactly would I be told if I said:
I'm going to take a year off being a wife and mother - go away and discern(ridiscern) iif this is my true calling or if my vows were a pile of complete a utter crap!
Oh wait: can't do that
That article the writer objected to was written about 3 years ago. Nice and timely reaction.
Wonder how things are going for ol' Deb? We never hear from her any more. She doesn't call, she doesn't write ...
The ol non judgmental judgment. Always play this card if you feel the slight touched by guilt and don't have a reasonable answer. One wonders if these people truly looked into the teaching on fraternal correction. A holy priest I know once said he had a stack of positive letters about a half an inch thick. His negative letters where about 3 inches thick. Because of this the priest knew he was preaching the Gospel in season and out of season.
The saying, of course, is "...until you have walked a mile in HIS shoes". (Singular antecedent requires singular pronoun.) For many liberals, grammar is just another patriarchal rip-off. While we pray for them, let us pray we do not become like them in respect of our writing.
Before you criticize someone,
walk a mile in their shoes.
That way
if they get angry
they will be
a mile away
and barefoot.
Keep on blogging Jester !
The Jester is just a big meanie.
It's funny how those who shout about judging are the ones judging your...judging. Wait. I mean that they're sitting in judgement on your judgement, and they've judged it injudicial.
There's got to be a cartoon in there somewhere.
Doesn't the NT say we're to make the "correct judgment"?
He obviously was mistaken in calling you a Yahoo. As a retired Navy Chief you are a GMale.
DAMN IT, CHIEF!! I thought I was the only one who ran a "misguided, fanatical website"!!??
You tryin' ta muscle in on my territory?