Open Forum: Catholics don't endorse book burning
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Opinion
Recently, a Facebook group advocating book burning claimed to be speaking for the Catholic Church at large. As president of the Catholic student association on this campus, I felt compelled to clarify the Catholic Church's position, and thus, the position of the Hillsdale College Catholic Society with regards to this issue.
The Catholic Church recognizes that Christ gave man his freedom as a gift, and with it, man can choose to draw closer to God, or he can choose that which will lead him astray. In keeping with the example of Christ, the Church never removes man's ability to choose as a means of "maintaining the peace and stability of a particular society," as claimed in the initial article. The Church sometimes warns the flock about books or media that may damage one's faith without a sufficient background of theological knowledge to recognize errors when they occur.
However, the Church will never take the further step of removing those things it has cautioned its members against. By studying the errors of each age, one can even sharpen his own understanding of Truth and apologetic skill.
The Catholic Church does not endorse book burning because it is not in accord with human nature. To stifle occasions of sin or doubt as "forbidden fruit" is merely an act of repression. The Church is not in the business of repression but of redemption - not removing man's distorted desires but untwisting them so that they can be rightly ordered toward what is good and holy - namely the Way, the Truth, and the Life, found in Jesus Christ.
Katie O'Donnell
President
Catholic Society
The Catholic Church recognizes that Christ gave man his freedom as a gift, and with it, man can choose to draw closer to God, or he can choose that which will lead him astray. In keeping with the example of Christ, the Church never removes man's ability to choose as a means of "maintaining the peace and stability of a particular society," as claimed in the initial article. The Church sometimes warns the flock about books or media that may damage one's faith without a sufficient background of theological knowledge to recognize errors when they occur.
However, the Church will never take the further step of removing those things it has cautioned its members against. By studying the errors of each age, one can even sharpen his own understanding of Truth and apologetic skill.
The Catholic Church does not endorse book burning because it is not in accord with human nature. To stifle occasions of sin or doubt as "forbidden fruit" is merely an act of repression. The Church is not in the business of repression but of redemption - not removing man's distorted desires but untwisting them so that they can be rightly ordered toward what is good and holy - namely the Way, the Truth, and the Life, found in Jesus Christ.
Katie O'Donnell
President
Catholic Society
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