Comments on: Out Of The Ashes

[rbrou-2009]

Mr. Kandra,

I have to say that I have read your post with a mix of revulsion and pity. The revulsion comes from the fact that as someone who is on the verge of becoming a Catholic Deacon your words appear to make light of what is one of the holiest seasons of the year. Those "smudges" you dismissively address just so happen to be the sign of the cross, for a Christian, the sign of the ulitmate sacrifice which God made for our redemption. Perhaps sir, you would have been at the foot of the cross admonishing Jesus to "save himself as he had saved others. I am wondering if your Catholic education which thinks of Ash Wednesday as the administration of "smudges", realizes that this is an outward sign of our repentance and preparation for the holiest of days, Easter.

My pity, comes from the fact that posts like this tend to divert people from the real meaning of the season. Sir, I believe before you become a deacon you need to examine what your beliefs are. If you believe that this symbol is nothing but "smudges and burnt markings", then I hope you reconsider your "calling". Remember the the sin that will not be forgiven, is the sin against the Holy Spirit. I will pray for you this season.

[lubknluvit]

CBS does not stand for the noble, traditional beliefs that this nation represents. I am not disappointed in CBS because it is expected of them and of the liberal media and celebrities who are often not only athesits but Christian haters. The haters can not believe in God because they believe that they are god.

It is true, these haters would not dare disparage Muslims because that would not be politically correct.

[rhjones5]

God has a Big Foot.

[jm1996a]

Dear mr kandra,

I read your blog.
I also read your bio, which is linked to your blog.

You claim to be not only a Catholic but on the verge of recognition as a Catholic Deacon. I presume you listed this as an accomplishment of which you are proud. You also claim to be a journalist, and indeed are a leading journalist at CBS.

Your article is an embarrassment, to even a one with a high school education and the most remedial research tools.

As an esteemed member of the media elite, and moreover as a Catholic leader, it is unforgivable.

Do you have any idea what Ash Wednesday represents? If so, why do you refer to your role as like a barber?

Get a clue.

Lead, follow or get out of the way.

[laman6]

Dear Mr. Kandra,

Your post really disappointed me. As a Catholic person I have attended Ash Wednesday for a long time - partly because this is a tradition from my family and partly as personal signal that Lent was starting.

But your comment..
"Here at CBS, your humble editor continued that tradition; I set up shop in one of the offices upstairs and invited those interested to come up and get smudged. (Frankly, I felt like a barber, waiting for customers...) About a dozen people wandered in -- including the President of CBS News and CBS Sports, Sean McManus -- and all walked away with the burnt marking on their brows."

Why is our religious tradition a joke for you. I will take any bet that as people came up for you to "smudge" them you laughed and joked around. Are the traditions of Judaism or Islam something that you mock in the newsroom as well?

For many Catholics and other religious people Ash Wednesday means something special - but based on your post it is something to mock. It is one thing to laugh at our tradition in your newsroom - it is another to announce it on your blog.

I am disappointed in the post and the CBS News organization for mocking my faith.

Not what I used to believe CBS News stood for.

[theanchores]

"So CBS News employees performed and participated in a religious ritual on their premises? And this was permitted? Reprehensible and unforgivable."

I bet you think you're one of those tolerant types, don'tcha?

Yes...it's so reprehensible and unforgiveable for human people who have faith to dare give witness to it in the secular world.

Remind me, I keep forgetting - who are the oppressive types, again?

Oh, yeah. They must be the ones who throw pies at speakers, shout down invited debaters and mouth pieties about "freedom of expression" while trying to shut down any expression they don't like.

Which is, in fact...reprehensible.

But thankfully everything is forgiveable.

[phballou]

Thanks, oneash, for that quotation. It reminds me of what I was taught about humility a couple of decades ago now. Humility is not about putting yourself down. It's about recognizing your proper place in creation -- how you shine as well as how you stumble. I am dust, both the detritus of my physicality and the stuff of the cosmos. Yes, I am truly dust. What a good reminder.

[AmIDumbOrWot?]

So CBS News employees performed and participated in a religious ritual on their premises? And this was permitted? Reprehensible and unforgivable.

[gregkandra]

Many Christian denominations -- including Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans and Anglicans -- distribute ashes. It's becoming more common, and more widespread.

Ask anyone who attends Ash Wednesday services and they'll tell you: yep, the churches are crowded with congregants. It's like Christmas and Easter rolled into one.

Greg Kandra
Editor, "Couric & Co."

[matukonyc]

"Christians of all stripes?" Don't you mean Roman Catholics of all stripes? To my knowledge, Protestants don't, as a rule, ritualize the ash distribution in quite the same way.

"Churches are packed?" On what factual basis are you making this statement? Are you just making this stuff up?