At the mayor's request the Cardinal has appointed a commission (or to use the traditional term, ‘inquisition') which will investigate and then report to a 12 member "Council of Religious Leaders" who then, standing in for God, will rule on the morality of Valley Session.
Thank God the Mayor didn't ask for a moral judgment on all the political issues facing this city or we might have to reconsider the Reformation. I don't think we have enough priests and Rabbis to handle that. The deal making and political donations surrounding the reopening of the Sunshine Canyon Dump alone would wear out an army of holy men.
Meanwhile the Valley Vote folks have refused to surrender the moral high ground without a fight and have gathered community activists who can testify as to the existence of needy folks in The Valley starved for funds by the centurions in City Hall.
So both sides will now start waving alleged victims like battle flags and stop using words like "mistaken" and start using words like "sinful." And I'm not sure this entire discussion is a good idea. The last time the church got this involved in secular politics the sun still revolved around the earth, Leonardo Da Vinci had his library card canceled and Henry Tudor hired the world's first divorce attorney.
But why shouldn't religious leaders answer a simple question of morality? Well, as Machiavelli once wrote, "There is no such thing as a simple question posed by a crafty politician." Okay, Machiavelli didn't write that, I made it up, but it's still true. I'm not worried about the separation of church and state, I'm worried about the church part. Politicians (and their sins) are like copier toner; you can't touch them without getting covered with schmutz, which is not a good look with vestments.
Besides, the outcome seems pre-ordained. It's long been evident that City Hall supporters believe Jehovah is on their side. Lord knows the endless editorials against session run by The Times read as if they were discovered by the staff every morning carved in stone and still smoking. Mr. John. P. Crossley, director of the U.C. School of Religion, is clearly a Times reader. He defines session as "...designed to not care about those who need the greatest help...to care (only)about those who...want out of being obligated to help the more needy." There's a reasoned, logical judgment. It sounds as if he'd like to burn a few folks at the stake.
And even seen from The Valley side there are certain Exodus qualities to this situation; the downtown pharaohs are intent upon keeping us in bondage, burdening us with taxes, forcing us to rebuild courthouses without straw and locking us out of the Van Nuys Air Show.
Or to put it another way; those of us in The Valley are troubled that Mr. Crossley is not more troubled by the waste and greed of City Hall, by the one billion shekels in extra tribute The Valley has paid over the last decade - most of which never reached the afflicted on either side of the hill - and most importantly by Mr. Crossley's easy dismissal of the needy of Panorama City, Chatsworth, and Northridge. I don't wish to imply that Mr. Crossley is immoral, but he started it.
You see what I mean? Do we really want to get into a moral debate over a political issue? And so soon after the Pope apologized to the Eastern Orthodox Church for a similar discussion called the Crusades?
And what happens if those 12 religious leaders declare session immoral and the voters support it anyway? Do we get frogs and perpetual darkness over Encino? I think I could live with that as I live in North Hollywood.
Morality is always absolute only in the abstract, which is why religions tend to be concerned with forgiveness; even with guidance people often make mistakes. And I think the Council of Religious Leaders have been led into making a big one.
Kimit Muston's columns appear regularly in the Los Angeles Daily News. If you have any comments regarding his columns he may be reached at inditer.com
If you haven't used the 'Vox Populi', get started!
Send in your comments and critique on the work of Kimit Muston. Inditer.com is a community of like minded writers. Each wants and deserves the help of the other. Do it! It won't cost a dime! You'll be glad you helped!
email Kimit Muston - - - Visit Kimit' Main Page
- - -
