Welcome to the Church, Hadley Arkes!
It’s with considerable joy that I learn that Hadley Arkes was received into the Catholic Church this Easter.
Arkes, who is Jewish, explained the reasons for his decision to become Catholic. Robert George, writing at Mirror of Justice, provides an account:
The Church’s moral witness, especially on the sanctity of human life and on marriage and sexual morality—a witness that has in our time made the Church a “sign of contradiction” to the most powerful and influential elements of the elite sector of contemporary western culture—persuaded him that the Church is, despite the failings of so many of its members and leaders, fundamentally “a truth-teaching institution.” In teachings that many find to be impediments, Hadley found decisive evidence that the Church is, indeed, what she claims to be.
Arkes is an impressive mind and top-rate political philosopher who teaches at Amherst College. I have been blessed to have met him several times when I was a reporter for the National Catholic Register. I can testify to his warmth and humility. Congratulations, Hadley. And welcome home!
[Arkes is the brains behind the first piece of legislation passed by Congress that placed a limit on the so-called "right to abortion." It was the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act. Read his account of the legislation here.]
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Marcus Grodi should get him on EWTN’s Journey Home program for people who have converted….this guy is brilliant. All practicing Catholics and potential catechumens need to hear his ‘why’- it will be reaffirming for the former and convincing toward the latter.
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Wow! I listened to the Villanova debate between Prof. Arkes and Prof. Kmiec. Thank you, Mike Johnson, for the link to this revealing exchange. Now I think I understand the latter’s defection.
Kmiec barely gave a nod to the human child in the womb, her dignity and right to protection. Instead, he dwelled on social theory in an attempt to plaster himself with fig leaves. He also set up a false dichotomy between legal protection and pastoral care. But, pro-lifers would say it is not “either-or,” it is “both-and.” He should trace back his own words, “The creature disappears without his Creator,“ and find the face of God in the unborn child.
Arkes, after a reasoned defense of all innocent human beings (using slavery as a model), went forward explaining the importance of legal protection for innocent human life (including the unborn). He said that to leave, “undislodged,” the belief in the souls of our people that innocent human beings may be killed for the mere self-interest and convenience of others, disfigures us as individuals and as a people.
What is so sad about Kmiec is that, despite his rationalizations and belief that being inside a pro-abortion administration would give him access and influence, the price of admission was his endorsement of a candidate who fought to deny help to children who survived abortion. How do you spell “used”? Could he have been so naïve? Did he not realize that it wasn’t his advice that was wanted, it was his credentials to legitimate the illegitimate?!
The obvious respect and affection between these two men was overshadowed by an equally obvious disappointment that there was also a parting.
Wow! I listened to the Villanova debate between Arkes and Kmiec. Thank you, Mike Johnson, for the link to this revealing exchange. Now I think I understand the latter’s defection.
Kmiec barely gave a nod to the human child in the womb, her dignity and right to protection, and dwelled on social theory in an attempt to plaster himself with fig leaves. He set up a false dichotomy between legal protection and pastoral care. But, pro-lifers would say it is not “either-or,” it is “both-and.” He should trace back his own words, “The creature disappears without his Creator“ and find the face of God in the unborn child.
Arkes, after a reasoned defense of all innocent human (using slavery as a model), then put forward how important legal protection for innocent human life (including the unborn) is. He said that to let, “undislodged,” the belief in the souls of our people that innocent human beings may be killed for the mere self-interest and convenience of others, disfigures us as individuals and as a people.
What is so sad about Kmiec is that, despite his rationalizations and belief that being inside a pro-abortion administration would give him access and influence, the price of admission was his endorsement of a candidate who fought to deny help to children who survived abortion. How do you spell “used”? Could he have been so naïve? Did he not realize that it wasn’t his advice that was wanted, it was his credentials to legitimate the illegitimate?!
The obvious respect and affection between these two men was overshadowed by an equally obvious disappointment that there was also a parting.
Welcome! Now you have the best of both worlds! “We are all spiritually Semites,” –Pius XII. The Catholic Church wouldn’t have this reverence for life if it weren’t for our elder brothers and sisters in faith, the Chosen People, who despite their checkered history of unfaithfulness and faithfulness, gave us Jesus, the Light of the World, and thus blessed the whole world.
Welcome home Mr. Arkes!
Silly me, I thought he WAS Catholic, based on his brilliant debate with Catholyc Ambassador to Malta Doug Kmiec last year.
Part I:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDPJjZlyzWg]
Part II:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7lHLllfvck]
His commitment to the unborn and his clarity of thought are admirable. Glad to have him at the Lord’s table, too.
Mr Arkes, I attended your presentation at Blogs for Life in 2008 and was impressed by your brilliant arguments in defense of human life. I am delighted that the moral witness of my (now our) beloved Church brought you into the fold.
We are honored to call you a brother in Christ.
Welcome!
Congratulations Dr Arkes! I know that a person such as yourself has not arrived at this decision over night nor on a whim. May God richly bless your courage and make you a holy instrument in His hands for the sake of others.
[...] (h/t CatholicVoteAction) [...]
Woo!! Welcome my brother. 
Wonderful! Welcome! (You know, that happens to a lot of people who recognize the humanity of the pre-born.)
