Responses from those who read the spiked 7/24 column

1- I liked it. It may be irreverent, but it's not objectionable (from local Jew)

2- I love it! ...particularly:

People sometimes ask the question “What would Jesus do?” I’m not sure I know the answer, but two guesses relative to what he wouldn’t do are “buy a Hummer, and pack heat.” (from local Jew) But then it was followed the next day by:

2a- Back to the issue of whether or not your column should have been printed in the Voice/Herald, or any Jewish publication. As I emailed you upon first reading, I loved it. But I have read it several times more and, in spite of my admiration of your column, I find myself gradually coming around to the conclusion that the right decision was made not to publish it in a Jewish outlet. I know you worked hard to inoculate yourself from criticism by establishing your own Christian creds, so coming from you it would not be offensive. Unfortunately, the Voice/Herald cannot slip on the same robe. It is a Jewish organ, and to publish a column critical of a Christian cleric for his faulty interpretations of Christian teachings is not in good taste, and could easily offend the Christian partner in a Jewish/Christian mixed marriage. It could also open the paper up to criticism from the Christian community.

On the other hand, if you were commenting on a Christian cleric's activities or pronouncements which affected Jewish interests or were directed in any way at the Jewish people, that would be another story. (No pun intended.) Fortunately, thank g-d, that is not the case here. Be comforted that you still wrote a brilliant piece. You might consider re-writing it for submission as a letter to the editor or guest column to the ProJo or the CSM epaper, where it would have even more validity and impact. Then, all your friends on your email list will know the true identity of the author. (If they hadn't already figured it out.)

3- In response to your colleague: "Of course this should be printed. There are three bureaucratic entities involved - the United States government, Judaism and Christianity. The U.S. government supports free speech and is founded upon working through dissent. In the Jewish tradition, scholars constantly disagree to get a more understandable solutiuon. In fact, in the Old Testament, man is allowed to argue with God (and win!). Christianity, unfortunately, survives purely on faith and following blindly without questioning. If you want to be a better Christian, perhaps the article is too blasphemous. But I don't think that is your intent." (from a distant Jew)

4- Read the article...a good one... (from a local Catholic)

5- I was raised a Christian and still consider myself to be one based on my understanding of the teachings although many within the church would not consider me so. In my view this is exactly the kind of article which should appear in a religious publication be it Jewish, Christian or any other faith. It is difficult to understand the editor's concern. My advice to editor ..."Be not afraid...". My advice to the writer ... submit the offending piece to the New York Times. (from a local Protestant)

6- I would not print the column. I would suspect many Christians would be insulted. The gun bearing pastor does not speak for all Christians. There is also a distinction between not believing and disbelieving. Last, it just doesn't do the Jewish community any good. So, no, I would not print it. (from a local Jew)

7- I liked the column, but then I'm not Christian, Jew, Muslim, or even, as I tell my students, a reformed Druid. I do believe, however, that we (whoever that may be) are allowing the fundamentalist jerks of the world freedom to publish their rants while we (again?) restrain ourselves, or are forced to by editors real and metaphorical. It's time that we use our power to oppose sloppy thinking. And if the 2nd amendment won't allow us to ban guns, then let's ban the bullets! (from a distant person born Christian)

8- I don't understand why the article wasn't printed. It reminds me of an editorial (for lack of a better word) that was printed in The Walrus a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, I don't remember the writer's name, but -- if I recall correctly -- he was posing as a conservative Christian arms enthusiast who believed that God was cool with guns. To support his theory, he alluded to the wisdom enshrined in a favourite Country and Western song: "His Finger's on Your Trigger (And It's Itchier Than Hell). "If I weren't so lazy, I'd try to track it down (the article -- not the song). (from a distant Protestant)

9- Hard to know what the Jewish press would have done, but I'd like believe (in fact I do believe) it would have been printed. I cannot for the life of me see anything unprintable in this. (from a local Jew)

10- Mmmn. Maybe you should try a Christian paper? I'm thinking there must be still be a few surviving Jesuits on the left side/social justice focused part of the Catholic church; maybe they have a good underground paper.

11- I don’t see why this column was nixed. For my part, this is unwarranted censorship which should especially concern Jewish newspapers. Where is your friend located on the West coast? LA, SF, Seattle? What newspaper. The curious want to know. Maybe even his name. (from a distant Jew)

12- My 2 cents. The editor used good sense. It is a fine article for a secular paper like the NY Times but not for a Jewish community paper. (from a local Jew)

13- As for your friend's article I agree with the editor that pulled it out of a Jewish paper
1) Why should a Jewish paper make such a big deal about Christian ethics. I am sure there are wiser Rabbis that can refute their beliefs better than the writer.

2)Of what interest is there for Jews to learn about the teachings of Jesus in a Jewish newspaper ?

3) and finally coming from the South (Florida ) I can see no harm in taking guns to Church [ but not the Synagogue ] The overwhelming number of gun-slingers are Goyim and so you need guns to go to church in the South (from a distant Jew)

14- After having read this, I enjoyed today's homily even more than usual and as best as I could keeping my 22 month old daughter entertained in the church's reading room. Our priest, a caring and thoughtful Pole with a thick accent, spoke about vocations, and that the basis of all vocations was found, among other places, in the most often quoted prayer of St. Francis of Assisi "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace." He said the entire prayer for those of us, such as myself, who were in need of a refresher, which made the message all the more powerful, and reminded me of my theology classes that I took at Providence College.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
In part I was also struck by the Beatitudes, which I sang in Latin several months ago during chapel service. They are increasingly a forgotten piece of faith, perhaps because of their simplicity. They do not mince words and there is no room for interpretation and are as close to the original sayings of Jesus and the Q document as biblical studies can achieve.

It is in this that I found the written piece so valuable, for it reminds me of how ever present the forces within my own religion, and all religions, have the potential to be so wrong, destructive and hateful. (I have always found it a paradox that we, the collective mob we, are fighting fundamentalists in Iraq and Afghanistan while fomenting fundamentalist behavior here with our own faiths.)

Any article which challenges the paths of fundamentalist religion should be welcomed. I have encountered in even here in New England and found it truly disturbing; the collecting of ammunition, stock piling weapons, voices of hatred against "Osama Obama." Truly disturbing; but perhaps a prelude of the next presidential race? Of course, it is here in this point of depressing thinking and forshadowing that the Beatitudes and the prayer of Saint Francis consoles me.

It should have been printed, but that is coming from me, a liberal Catholic whose grandparents subscribed to "The Catholic Worker" and voted the progressive ticket.

Thank you for sending this along,

15- It was perhaps a little bit of a controversial article - maybe that’s why the editor declined to publish it. It really called to light the level of hypocrisy and insanity reached by the fundamentalist Christian right. It appealed to me - even though I am a Christian - albeit a "bad" Christian who doesn’t believe in the historical accuracy of the bible but rather that the teachings are sound and true. Does the article maybe appeal to the wrong audience? Is it too "left" leaning?