Members of FEMEN, the feminst activist groups, this recently voice its support for Muslim women seekign equal rights, burst bare-topped into a debate on homosexuality that included Belgian archbishop André-Jozef Léonard. The ladies, bearng painting slogans reading "Stop Homophobia" (fine) and "Anus Dei Is Coming" (blasphemous and bizarre) poured water on the bishops from bottles shaped like the Virgin Mary.
Léonard took this all in stride, squeezing his eyes shut to block the sight of female flesh and folding his hands in prayer. After the attack, he picked up one of the BVM-shaped bottles a kissed it reverently.
At which point, you have to ask yorself who won the debate? I'd say the bishop came out on top, as the pro-Catholic websites are having a field day with this.
BRUSSELS, April 23, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In an astonshing display of gentleness in the face of a vile attack, the head of the Catholic Church in Belgium, Archbishop Andre-Joseph Leonard, remained calmly seated with eyes closed in prayer Tuesday as four topless women attacked him with shouts and curses and doused him with water.
It’s not the first time the bishop has been attacked for standing up for the Church’s teachings on homosexuality and expressing his concern for those who live the homosexual lifestyle.
I'd say "Nice going, ladies." You managed to a) derail a needed debate on an important topic (which might have revealed the archbishop to be using shopworn and irrelevent church talk, and b) equated support for homosexuality with scary, activist feminism, atheism and (to boot!) blasphemy.
There is certainly a place in this discussion of homosexuality for activist street theater. But when it plays into the hand of the opposition, and makes your enemy into a figure of pity, then you have blown it. Big time.
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