UPDATE: I received a note from Martin Kochanski today explaining matters. I’ve written back asking his permission to post it. I’ll let folks know. It does seem that immediate action was taken, as the site carries a very different introduction today.
Universalis.com is a very good and worthwhile project. It makes available the entire Liturgy of the Hours and Mass readings each day on the internet and even downloadable to mobile phones. This site has linked extensively to Universalis, and will continue to do so in the future.
It was with no small amount of shock that I read the introduction to today’s feast, The Holy Innocents.
Read it here at Universalis for yourself.
A ghastly introduction.
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
“There is nothing to be said about the Holy Innocents. They were no-one because they never had the chance to become anyone: they just died.
“They may stand for the unimportant and unnecessary pawns that permeate the whole of human history, the ones who can be sacrificed for some greater cause because they don’t really matter; the eggs that were broken to make an omelette… or to make nothing at all…”
REALLY?!?! Your third paragraph creating a link to abortion is a non sequitur.
There is nothing to be said about the Holy Innocents? Well, Martin Kochanski, I suggest that you read my two posts today 1 and 2, to get yourself a clue.
They were no one?! So when God says He knew us before He knit us in our mother’s womb, we should tell Him to consult Universalis first.
If anyone is as outraged over this introduction to the Holy Innocents as I am, please contact Universalis.
wow am I ever disappointed with these statements.
I use Universalis all the time as I read the Divine Office. humbug.
I sent Universalis a compelling message. Hopefully, they’ll rise to the occasion.
I have never gone to Universalis before this, but wow, the message is so out of sync with our Catholic view that I have to wonder if it is some bizarre (but failed) parody of the culture of death. I mean, among other problematic issues, “what” someone will be is completely irrelevant because “who” they are is already been saturated with dignity, before they have even drawn a breath. No one can “never really matter”.
I would almost want to ask someone to check on the author and make sure he is okay. These are not the thoughts of someone who “gets it” about the human person – let alone the Holy Innocents. This sounds like someone who may be in depression. Let’s pray for him, at the very least.
It looks as if they rewrote it to make their point more clearly as when I clicked through today it does not read exactly as you quoted it.
let us know what comes of it (if anything)
double humbug….