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The Joy(?) of Working for the Catholic Church, by Randall Smith – Brown Pelican Society of Lousiana

The Joy(?) of Working for the Catholic Church, by Randall Smith

Catholic Filmmaker Anthony D’Ambrosio Champions St. Maximilian Kolbe’s ‘Triumph of the Heart’, by Abigail Galván
August 5, 2025
Free Speech for Me But Not for Thee, by John Zmirak
August 5, 2025

The Comparison by Jehan George Vibert, between 1860-1900 [private collection]

By Randall Smith, The Catholic Thing, Aug. 5, 2025

Randall B. Smith is a Professor of Theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. His latest book is From Here to Eternity: Reflections on Death, Immortality, and the Resurrection of the Body.

Imagine you’ve worked for a company for over twenty years.  Your record of employment has been stellar; you’ve received numerous awards; and you are widely considered one of the top people in your field. Now imagine that one day, your manager calls you into his office and says: “We’ve decided to go in a different direction.”

What direction would that be?  The direction of less competent, less experienced people without a proven record of accomplishment?  Do you fire your winning quarterback and say, “We’re going in a different direction”?  Wouldn’t that be the direction of losing games?

Now imagine that you have a multi-year contract with your employer, something you needed to ensure security for your family.  Your first reaction to this “new direction” might be: “But you’re still going to respect and pay my contract, right?” …