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December 18, 2005

Christmas in the Chancery

The Buffalo Diocese's "Christmas" cards have come out this year, surprisingly with no mention of Christmas in them at all. I know this, not because I received a card, but because the local paper published the faux pas in today's Local page in the column of quirky news on the front of that section.

Card Front - Image of an angelic violinist, with the words "Love, Peace, Hope"
Card Inside - "Wishing you a Beautiful Holiday Season and a New Year of Peace and Happiness."

What brilliant explanation did the diocese offer for this?

Apparently, the guy in charge of this decision said they were focusing on the message of peace. Right, who would ever want to focus on the message of Christ when you can focus on such an overused cliche as your message, particularly if you're supposed to be the witness of Christ on earth?

I don't buy the explanation that they weren't trying to avoid using Merry Christmas. What's left out is often just as telling as what's said, and if you can't find space in a Christmas card to make some mention of Christ, something tells me Christ is being left out of quite a few other things down in the chancery (which may be why you guys are looking at shuttering so many parishes in the near future - just a thought).

Adding insult to injury, the man added that the card was picked out in September, which he says was before some Christians got hot and bothered about Christmas being removed from seasonal advertising. Um, where has he been the last few years? This is hardly the first year of such protests.

Stunning ecumenical move guys - I'll bet all the committed Christians around the area are utterly thrilled at the message you sent this Christmas.

- Posted by in Catholic at 1:43 AM