The Barb Drops By - Prologue
Ms. Barbara Nicolosi - founder of ACT ONE and host of the CHURCH OF THE MASSES blog - found my LINK on her Othercott suggestion. Her comments are interesting, and I think deserve a bit more attention. I don’t find my opinion changed just yet, and I doubt I will alter her thoughts much - but a bit more discussion would help clear up my thinking on the matter, at least. And it might help me discover just exactly what my position is. I’m hoping I have a consistent one. (And I apologize in advance for the great length. Once I find a soapbox and get going, there’s no stopping me)
But before I start, I have two quick details to cover.
First, and probably most importantly, I am not a priest. Internet anonymity can be a good thing, and it’s something I actually want most of the time. But it can also lead to unhelpful misperceptions. In my rare brushes with electronic fame, I have felt compelled to mention the ORIGINS of my internet persona. Ms. Nicolosi will instantly recognize the reference, I am sure. And though it will probably reduce the authority of my arguments a good bit, the “Father” is something I can only hide behind when people know my “alter ego” - or at least know that I have one. Otherwise, it’s just not fair. (I once got into an argument about the Church’s position on the death penalty and the war. You can imagine what sort of impact the “Father” had on that conversation.)
Second, I have been fairly harsh with Ms. Nicolosi in the past. (Another thing made much easier by internet anonymity, I might add.) As I once observed to a friend of mine, I agree with her nearly 100% in general and nearly 0% in the particulars. As a result, I have often prefaced my comments to her links in ways that are fairly unflattering. The particular post she responded to is a good example of what I’m talking about, as is my tendency to call her The Barb - though that is meant to be at least partially complimentary.
But her response to my post was neither irritable nor dismissive. Some of that could have been connected to the “Father” misunderstanding, I suppose. But certainly not all of it. So I feel compelled to correct myself a bit. Well-played, Barbara. I appreciate very much the fact that you were able to overlook my own personal animosity to get at my point. I will strive to follow your example. And I look forward to having my opinion of you completely destroyed in the near future. Nothing would give me greater pleasure.
And now, further up and further in!
