One Astronomer's Noise

(Update at the bottom from 7/12)

Wow. So the Catholics are royally pissed at PZ Myers.

Those who frequent Pharyngula know PZ’s style of blogging. Some of it is super-cool biology, and some of it is commentary on the science-religion debates in the world and other topics. And frankly, his style can be abrasive, despite how mild-mannered he is when you actually hear him speak! I guess he fits in with the so-called “new atheists” who don’t think that any topic is above honest discussion and even humor. No holds-barred, and I totally respect that. Nothing is sacred, sorry folks.

So a few days ago he writes about a college student who smuggled a blessed host out of a Catholic service. The guy suffered death threats, and it was called a hate crime. PZ points out that it’s just a cracker… the murder of Matthew Shepherd is a hate crime. And as a “recovering Catholic” myself, I’m equally appalled at these comparisons, and I don’t think I would have ever been so indignant over such an issue. It’s absurd to compare this, even if you believe it’s holy, to kidnapping or murder, or to threaten violence over this! If you can put any religious prejudices aside, there are some very good points there in his post. To continue to point out the farce of the situation, PZ goes on to say that he’ll show them cracker sacrilege, just give him a chance! Funny stuff to most of his readers. So much so that there are multiple threads just to handle the comments.

Enter Bill Donahue, who apparently speaks for some Catholic group that I certainly never heard of when I was faithful, who threatened PZ Myers’s job for saying he would desecrate a Eucharist. Ok, Bill, go ahead and skip the biting commentary of the over-reaction and go right to the amusing “threat.” Oh noes, he’s going to be violent against FOOD. Sure, be indignant, send Myers hate mail, whatever. You can say whatever you want. But to demand his removal of tenure is just absurd. Donahue also doesn’t know the difference between a university webpage and a non-university webpage. And my favorite, “It is hard to think of anything more vile than to intentionally desecrate the Body of Christ.” Er, so hurting PEOPLE isn’t worse?!?!?!?! Next, PZ calls on his readers to write to his university president against Donahue’s ridiculous request.

But apparently, a mild-mannered biology professor is a violent scourge on humanity, and Virginia’s Thomas Foley requests additional security so that Catholics can worship without threat at the Republican National Convention 150 miles away from where PZ lives. Who-what-now? The persecution complex at work here is simply astounding. But then again, who better to understand persecution than a group that hangs a rather bloody symbol of it in the front of every church? (I’m so getting hate mail for that comment…)

The latest in this developing story is a good sample of the hate mail, the hundreds and hundreds of pieces of hate mail, that Myers is getting in regards to this issue. Something tells me that not one of these people actually ever read his blog. They were sent this link in an email or maaaybe saw it on the news and thought “OMG what a hateful attack!” and with no understanding of the issue at hand, the blog itself, or sometimes the basic tenants of their own religion, start spewing forth their opinion. THEY MISSED THE WHOLE POINT OF THE COMMENTARY! Now you can see how the college student who started this was quickly harassed for what was, in reality, not a huge offense.

I’m appalled and disgusted at the behavior of some of these people. And I’m saddened, but not surprised, by the blatant display of irrationality. Finally, I’m worried that those in academia will have to fear censure from their universities for expressing their opinions in private blogs. That last point is probably the most important in my mind, and I sincerely hope that the University of Minnesota, Morris, will understand that issue.

Update: Great coverage of this from blogger Zeno with more on the original case that started the craziness. Lousy coverage by the Washington Times, shame shame. And the battle rages on the comment threads still. It’s truly amazing…