What Does Catholicism, Racism, Gqeberha and My Lifelong Friend Have to Do With Stephen Fry?

I recently watched the video below featuring Stephen Fry debating a Motion for debate: “The Catholic Church is a Force for Good in the World.”

At the beginning of the debate 678 people were for the motion with 1102 against and 346 undecided. At the end of the debate 268 people were for the motion with 1876 against and 34 undecided.

Predictably the Catholic Church (with over One Billion members) came in for some flack over their poor record in terms of child abuse and their poor response to that.

It was whilst watching the debate that some parallels between the present political and racial climate became apparent to me – helped along by some wise words from a lifelong friend of mine.

From a young age this friend of mine wanted to enter the Catholic Seminary and become a priest. After struggling with this calling for a while he finally entered the Seminary as a relatively mature man having completed his National Service, been to University, sowed his wild oats, broken girl’s heart and completed a number of other work and vocational related courses.

Things went well and he really enjoyed the Seminary until the continued pressure from a priest in power to become a homosexual and possibly submit to being raped made him forsake the life of a priest and leave the Seminary.

He continued his work in the Catholic Church, got married and had children. It was then that I asked him one day why he continued to work and worship in the Catholic Church given his horrific experiences in the Seminary and it was his reply that made me realise that he is a far better man that I could ever be.

My friend said this; “Alan, it was not the Church that attempted to rape me but a member of the Church. I will not condemn an institution for the actions of one man and will continue to right the wrongs with my good work in the Church. I have forgiven the Priest and his actions and refuse to carry pain and resentment with me for the rest of my life!”

WOW!

We could all learn from my friend the next time we make a sweeping statement condemning any group based on the actions of a single or isolated number of members of that group.

So those condemning the Name Change of Port Elizabeth to Gqeberha based on the actions of a specific group need to shift focus, those people condemning White or Black or Coloured or Indian races for the actions of a few people from those races need to cease generalising, polarinsing and dividing.

Take a lesson from my friend and move on in genuine love and forgiveness.