Mr. Butker is the placekicker for the KC Chiefs and a devout Catholic. He spoke at the graduation ceremony of Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, and his speech has been getting a lot of reviews, both positive and negative. Here it is, if you want to read it (Full Text: Harrison Butker of Kansas City Chiefs Graduation Speech| National Catholic Register (ncregister.com)). I will tell you that it is well written and thought out, and he knew what he was getting into. Of course, the responses were typical; those who agreed with him have been extolling his traditional values, while those who did not have been, mostly, making fun of him. I am not going to do either. Of all the responses I have read, Whoopi Goldberg’s was, I think, the most balanced. Here is one report of that (Whoopi Goldberg says we should respect Harrison Butker for speaking (ew.com).)
I have no problem with Mr. Butker’s choices, and I love that he loves his wife so much that he was moved to tears; I have often been there too. The problem I have is his assumption that this kind of life is what most people want and can afford. He lives a privileged life, and his wife can stay at home and raise their children without having to work outside of the home, while the majority of Americans do not have that luxury. And while most people are heterosexual and many choose to have children, there are those who are not straight, those who choose not to have children (read this fascinating response – Harrison Butker’s commencement address denounced by Benedictine College nuns : NPR), and those who cannot have children. He attacked anyone who uses IVF in an attempt to do what he is extolling. He also called the Catholic Church to account, chiding it for its “weakness” and ” timidness”. Compassion, it seems, is off the table.
His worldview is why we are in such trouble; the assumption that one’s opinion is the only one that matters is what leads to dysfunction, suffering, division, and violence. If he had bothered to consider the words of Jesus; that call to treat others as we would like to be treated, he might have paused before making his pronouncements. If he had taken the time to actually love his neighbors, he would have realized that his neighbors have rights too. His attack on the LGBTQ community shows just how limited his understanding is; if he knew how many of his teammates (or their family and friends) are not straight, he might have tempered his speech with compassion.
But he didn’t. He told the world that almost all of us are wrong because we don’t celebrate the Latin Mass or are not Catholic. We are wrong because we accept people who are different from us. We are wrong because we don’t agree with his politics or his disdain for the way the world dealt with Covid. Like so many people promoting dogma, he missed the Gospel and chose his political bias. He chose his denominational views over the words of Jesus. I respect his right to have an opinion, even if it is different from mine. I wish he would do the same for me. But he doesn’t, and therein lies the problem.
Prayer – Holy God, You have created us to be unique, and to try to see You in those who are different. Even when that isn’t easy. Amen.
Today’s art is by Sumanth Reddy Lingampally.