This is a fascinating case. The President of Argentina has effectively sacked the Bishop to the Armed Forces there over some inappropriate comments. What did the Bishop say and why?
Well, the Health Minister had said that he favoured legalising abortion and so the Bishop’s response was that he deserved to have a millstone hung around his neck and should be “thrown into the sea”.
Now, stop for a moment. What does that make you think of? What was the Bishop saying?
The President of Argentina seems to think it harks back to the days of Argentina’s military dictatorship when opponents of the regime were killed by (for example) dropping them out of helicopters.
But, of course, that’s not what the Bishop meant at all. It should be obvious to one and all that he was referring to this;
Matthew 18:6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Now, of course, the Bishop has slightly misused this verse – abortion is not bringing little ones (in the context obviously children) to sin, it’s simply murdering them – but isn’t it obvious that he was quoting this?
damn those pesky meddlesome priests.
If it wasn’t for them….
I think it was obvious, but I’m finding more and more the things I find obvious, others are completely oblivious to.
It is quite obvious, yes.
Well, if your country has a history of dumping dissenters out of helicopters perhaps tying a stone around someone’s neck and dumping them in the ocean is not to far off. I would put that down to an injudicious use of a biblical quote. Sacking is the penalty. Play ball.