I'm a little concerned, in fact I'm very concerned that Bishop Barron/Word on Fire is wading into the culture war. I admire his outreach on the internet and social media, but defending Flannery O'Connor's honor is a little much. Here's why: https://twitter.com/BishopBarron/status/1290696142917906433

Bishop Barron is making an oblique reference to @NewYorker's article about Flannery O'Connor's racism (link below.) It's a pretty compelling account of her rancid dislike of Black people, which she explored both in her work and private correspondence. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/06/22/how-racist-was-flannery-oconnor

I don't doubt O'Connor's faith and commitment to Catholic Christianity. I'm sure she was devout in her own way. The problem becomes the need to prevent "canceling" her and not looking critically at all aspects of her life, to include her racist views.

As far as I'm aware, O'Connor may have been a literary giant, but hasn't met the criteria for canonization. The discovery of her racism all but precludes that from happening. You can be a great writer and a Catholic and not fully grasp Jesus' ministry to the marginalized.

The Catholic Church, particularly in the last century, has had a lot of trouble looking inward when it comes to certain traditions and viewpoints they hold. It's an institution known for lashing out against even the gentlest of criticisms and suggestions to modernize.

And yet the Church wrings its hands and bemoans dwindling Mass attendance and wonders how to reach "young people." Well, if you lionize a woman who wrote in her own words that she "dislikes Negroes," you're going to scare people away. Why worship at a place that protects racists?

On a final note: conservative Catholics have spent far too much energy banging on about sexual ethics and have ignored other salient internal problems like rampant sexual abuse, corruption of Vatican finances, racism, sexism, and anti-modernism.

It's gotten to the point where parishioners have prioritized shaming the LGBTQ community and put natural family planning ahead of other things like feeding the poor, clothing the hungry, and welcoming the stranger.

Also: 160,000 people are dead of coronavirus, and Bishop Barron picks now to defend a writer who's been dead for decades? Read the room. End of thread.