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A little lack of logic on Pope Benedict from the Guardian’s John Hooper

Over at the Guardian (Britain’s best daily, whether you like it or not!), Rome correspondent John Hooper writes an informative article about the upcoming beatification of Spanish journalist Manuel Lozano Garrido (1920-1971). I’d never heard of “Lolo”, as the saintly journo was known both during his life and afterwards, and was happy to be introduced to yet another shining star of Spain’s happy glut of twentieth-century saints & blesseds.

Lozano Garrido, Mr. Hooper informs us, “wrote his first article for — and went on to edit — a magazine called Cruzada (Crusade). That was a pretty loaded title for a publication of the time because, in the language of the dictatorship, ‘cruzada’ referred to the campaign Franco pursued with ruthless and bloody determination against any Spaniard who dared to hold opinions much to the left of fascism.”

Up to a point Lord Copper! For a Christian periodical — written by Christian journalists, read by Christian people, in a Christian country — to have the name “Crusade” hardly seem loaded at all, despite the Spanish state’s contemporaneous use of the word cruzada. But this is incidental and entirely beside the point.

Mr. Hooper wonders where Lozano Garrido fits in to the bigger picture of Spanish journalism at the time because, Hooper claims, “by approving his beatification, Pope Benedict is sending a message to the world about the sort of journalism that he regards as worthwhile”.

Well, in a word: no. As Hooper admits, “Lolo” isn’t being beatified because of his journalism but because of his heroic virtues exhibited in the face of suffering. In a sense, his journalism has nothing to do with it. If he had been a baker of rye bread instead of a journalist, would we extrapolate that Benedict XVI is sending a message to the world about the sort of bread he regards as worthwhile? Of course not. It simply does not follow.

Published at 10:00 pm on Thursday 25 February 2010. Categories: Benedict XVI Errant Thoughts Saints.
Comments

Perfectly just criticisms, Mr Cusack. But Hooper might be allowed the lesser point that Catholics may well become more interested in Garrido’s journalism if he is beatified, whether or not it gains thereby some sort of imprimatur, as he seems to suggest.

— Aaron Taylor 26 Feb 2010 1:57 pm

I hope and pray that the man was an unreconstructed Franco man.
Not perfect, Franco saved Spain from the horrors which the nations of Eastern Europe (not to mention Russia) suffered for many excruciating decades. His faults pale into insignificance in comparison with this undeniable historical fact.
a Cruzada? Si. And let us devoutly hope that there is another one on its way.

— Baron v Hetterscheidt 26 Feb 2010 2:02 pm

Sorry to be a little late on this one, but could you kindly explain your claim that the Guardian is Britain’s best daily?

While it is true that the title of “best newspaper in Britain” is not exactly a proud boast, this claim would seem extraordinary to a great many people.

— Patrick 5 Mar 2010 4:24 pm

“…in the language of the dictatorship, ‘cruzada’ referred to the campaign Franco pursued with ruthless and bloody determination against any Spaniard who dared to hold opinions much to the left of fascism.”

Much to the left of fascism? Why beat around the bush instead of calling it by its rightful name, Communism? Perhaps because it would make it sound less harmless? Why always introduce the fascism straw man into the equation in an attempt to give the far left some sort of credibility?

— Alberto C 19 Mar 2010 6:33 am

Hello, please is there a website where we can submit prayer requests to Manuel Lozano Garrido? I so loveeee him!

— Jacinta 19 Apr 2010 2:15 pm
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