RE: the poster about being a sociopath 

I was thinking about the complaint that the good bishop's comments were directed to the president while she was in the pulpit and such things have no place in that meeting. She should have had the decency to speak to him privately. 

Well - that notion is false BECAUSE - if she was witnessing--in real time--one of the presidents men harming someone IN the back of the cathedral--while she was addressing the public--she would absolutely have spoken up to intervene and interrupt the assault...she would have defended them on the spot, and no doubt would have condemned the inappropriateness of the abuse. Not to do so would be VERY strange indeed, and any witnesses would condemn her for not defending the person being assaulted. SO - the matter is NOT one of her speaking up at the wrong time, or in the context of her homily, its a matter of PROXIMITY. Here's what I mean.

When the crime is right in your face, right in the same room, in real time, it is considered obligatory to speak up and to act on behalf of the one(s) being attacked. But if the same, or worse, offenses are happening hundreds of miles away, or in a place where you cannot actually SEE it happening, "then" it is inappropriate and rude to mention it. Think about that for a second. People are complaining about how indecent her comments were -- how disrespectful and improper. That is the hypocrisy of proximity. She did not speak out of turn, she just showed them the crimes they are getting ready to commit. THAT is the real offense. 

It is always right and appropriate, in any situation, to defend the powerless, the assaulted, the victims of harmful actions -- including harmful policies of government officials against any people or group. She was well within her rights...and she did it with gentleness and dignity. That takes some kind of self-control and courage. Those who protest against it are clearly in the wrong, and ought to repent for the hardness of their hearts.