From: Ruth I Gordon <druthgo>
Date: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 20:06:58 -0700

I was amazed--but not amused by some of the "I know what I know and will fight you to the last comma" chit and chat about--especially--"Chocolate War." It threw me back eons and decades to the years I taught Ch. Lit
(read "books") at a local Jesuit university (U.S.F.) One of those years was the year that "Chocolate War" was released. I had the class (all of senior or post A.B. standing) read the novel. It was fascinating to observe how the group tri-vided: One bunch--the non religious group
(neither sister, brothers, fathers), were quite neutral and examined the novel--as a novel. They were impressed with its power. A second group were religious folk (sisters, fathers, etc., etc.) most of whom worked in the parochial schools. They believed that Cormier's book described an exact and very unpleasant situation. The third group, religious folk
(sisters--and only sisters), all of whom also taught in the parochial schools, believed Cormier's book was an attack on the Mother Church and that it lied, and was probably slanderous.

I thought back to those fascinating discussions when I read the comments of one person in particular on this site. I wondered about her, and wondered if she had been/is, someone who might have joined the third group--those who thought Cormier was attacking Mother Church, the Pope and parochial schools, and tus could not separate emotion from a novel. Novels should always be read in a neutral gear as aesthetic objects, not emotional causes. Some of us will NEVER change our minds, e.g., the Curia.

As for my ex-students--all have left religious service and all now--as far as they tell me--think that Cormier sketched the situation of power in the Church exactly as it hs been--and is--alas.

Big Grandma

(Sorry--I keyboard poorly)

"You may not be able to change the world, but at least you can embarrass the guilty." Jessica Mitford (191796)
Received on Wed 29 Aug 2001 10:06:58 PM CDT