The following blog post was provide to us by Martina Kreitzer, Austin Catholic New Media’s newest contributor.
I was chatting earlier today with an online Catholic “sista,” someone I’ve known through my online Catholic community for several years now. On her Facebook wall, she had posted a link from Abby Johnson, a friend and former Planned Parenthood director, author of the book UnPlanned. The link was to an article that talked about the Planned Parenthood myth that it provides mammograms. (Or “shammograms” as it’s been referred to in cyber space.) My friend, who I will call “Shmolly,” has close to 1200 folks in her friend count.
To say the link exploded into a fiery discussion would be an understatement. What was initially posted on Friday was still alive and kicking today on Thursday. More than 200 posts later, I came along whistling {maybe not so} innocently, hands in pocket, kicking virtual dirt. {Can you visualize Tom Sawyer overalls with all this potential mischief?} I’m interested in what happened. I’m nosy-ing around when I see how the discussion unfolded. Yes, I’m feeling the need to put in my usual $1.50 and a cup of coffee.
Must. Resist. Urge to evangelize. MUST!
Oh, who am I kidding? I am nothing if not in “evangelize” mode. So, I say my piece and the discussion continues despite one lady’s repeated “I’m done with this conversation” comments, followed by more arguing five minutes later. And on and on it goes. She is staunchly defending the right to murder the innocent by chalking it up to the emotion of “choice”. And is digging her heels in and talking about the injustices of the rest of the world. It’s a red herring meant to derail the discussion.
I like to think my sistas have learned to navigate discussions like this and won’t take the bait. But sometimes you have to take the bait to make a point. Yes, we are aware that there are starving children in third world countries. Yes, we know that all pro-life people must adopt homeless children to be taken seriously. No one is arguing injustices are not injustices. In fact, we have gone out of our way to agree with your points, but would it be ok if you could just answer how any of that justifies the murder of the innocent?”
No answer. Talking in circles. More talk about China. I’m on China overload. I’m hungry for Chinese food now. Sweet and sour chicken sounds good. And hot and sour soup, and a spring roll with house mustard, not the packet mustard. Mmmmm…
According to this pro-choice woman, it is unfathomable and downright criminal that Chinese women have abortions. Are you shaking your head at the hypocrisy? Yeah, me too. So, it’s okay for abortions to exist on U.S. soil because it’s a woman’s “choice,” but it’s not ok in China because it’s forced? I think someone’s litmus test for right and wrong is broken. As in, demand-your-money-back broken. Le sigh…
She finally bows out of the discussion, pleased with how she “handled” all of us. What appears to the average eye to be a fruitless discussion has likely resulted in seed planting. I’ve participated in online discussions and theological debates long enough to know that for every vocal dissenter, there are quite a few lookie loos just anxious to learn the Truth. And that is the reason why we do what we do.
I’m not sure who said we shouldn’t talk about religion and politics. They, of “They University” were wrong. Just wrong. If we, as a society are truly “tolerant,” then we should be free to talk about religion without fear of stink eye from secular friends and acquaintances. We should not be forced to compromise our beliefs lest we offend. Another woman on the Facebook discussion was upset the link was posted at all, saying her wall was not the right “arena” for the discussion. This was a Catholic friend, too.
The truth is, if there is one topic that should get Catholics’ dander up, it‘s abortion. If we are unable to talk passionately and with righteous anger about abortion as Catholics, our conscience has flatlined. No longer can we afford to be apathetic to the tune of losing our souls in the process. The days of not talking about politics and religion in polite company should be over.
Personally, I think the Catholic woman who objected to the post missed the point. I can’t think of a better way to evangelize about the Faith than to use Facebook as your evangelizing tool. As a stay-at-home mom, I find it difficult to evangelize while picking out eggs at the grocery store or cat-herding my five kiddos out in public. This is why I value the opportunities to share the Faith in an online public forum with the support of my friends in Christ.
So, how do we evangelize and witness in a world that is known for calling the faithful “zealots,” “judgmental,” “narrow minded,” and “intolerant?” Stay tuned for further details.