A friend sends this quote from Father Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P.:
The Church is intolerant in principle because she believes; she is tolerant in practice because she loves. The enemies of the Church are tolerant in principle because they do not believe; they are intolerant in practice because they do not love.
The terms could be reversed, at least for the Church: She is also tolerant in principle because she believes and intolerant in practice because she loves.
September 9th, 2010 | 8:01 am
I like the quotation, but when I saw it earlier, I went looking for a citation as to where it can be found in Fr. Reginald’s work. I am still looking. I’m not sure he said it, as it doesn’t quite sound like him to me. It doesn’t sound bad, just not like him.
September 9th, 2010 | 10:52 am
If the Church is tolerant, it is not for those reasons. It is because the penalties for intolerance are simply too great.
After all, when Leo 13 wrote that “Error has no rights” he was not exactly expressing tolerance and he was rather taken aback at the response that as Catholicism was an error, Catholics should have no rights.
Intolerance can cut two ways. Tolerance is really the only practical option for everyone.
September 9th, 2010 | 3:59 pm
It seems to me there is much confusion as to the definition of “tolerance”. When many of my progressive/liberal associates demand tolerance, what they really mean is they don’t want to be criticized for certain actions, or they want to be affirmed in them (think homosexual marriage). This desire is in truth intolerant for it violates both freedom of speech and freedom of conscience.
The more accurate definition of tolerance is to allow someone to speak what they believe (not necessarily do what they wish to do)…but to love them enough to attempt to disabuse them of their error with the sometimes harsh voice of Truth.
September 9th, 2010 | 9:23 pm
Rather than say that “error has no rights”, it might be better to say that “the Truth has rights”. I believe it was Newman who pointed that out.
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