But there are appropriate times for making fun of people. I’d certainly be gentler when talking to a particular undergraduate face-to-face, but the truth is, 1) I don’t imagine very many people connected with the CCC actually read this blog, but 2) if they do, you’d probably need something pretty strong to make an impression. Some humor is important in this context to keep from seeming merely mean-spirited. But I honestly believe that a biting satire is more likely to have an effect on a whimsically passing undergrad than a gentle suggestion that perhaps the clergy involved with the CCC aren’t everything they should be. You must keep in mind that, in order to do anything about the situation in Ithaca, the individual must be rather determined. There’s no convenient alternative, and the chaplains there are not flexible about changing. Gentle advice may be shrugged off with “oh, there might be something in it, but what can I do?” Sterner words have a chance of sticking.

It’s a tactical question. I can respect that different people will favor different approaches. But Chesterton seems to have demonstrated that the “biting satire” approach can get some good results.

I don’t know; I agree that the negativity of traditional Catholics can at times feel oppressive, but I’m not above laughing at the CCC when they say truly ridiculous things. It’s the least they deserve for all the damage they’ve done. Take it in a Chestertonian spirit.

Desperate Housewife, are you familiar at all with the CCC? If so, by all means, offer your opinion of the situation. If not, then please, spare us the snarky remarks.

If you didn’t have the Cornell Catholic Community, you’d have to invent it.

“We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the World for the Rectitude of our Intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly Publish and Declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political Connection between them and the State of Great-Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

Er… states actually. “We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled…” (from the Declaration of Independence).

http://www.archives.gov/national-archives-experience/charters/declaration_transcript.html

This is an important (political) conservative point actually, because it emphasizes the sovreignty of the states and the federalist nature of our system of government in which only certain powers are delegated to the federal government by the states and certain matters not properly the purview of the federal government may be or in the past were allowed to be considered by the states, for instance, the establishment of religion at the time of the Founding. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion” but before the doctrine of incorporation, states had religious tests, etc.